Iowa Volleyball Needs Two Wins to Reach Big Ten Tournament
The Hawkeyes sit 17th in the 15-team Big Ten standings with three regular-season matches remaining.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Volleyball
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Iowa volleyball, now 13-15 overall and 2-12 in Big Ten play, needs at least two wins over its final three matches to reach the conference tournament. The Hawkeyes trail Maryland and Rutgers in the standings, and the Big Ten tournament begins next week.
Why it matters
Iowa's position depends on its own results as well as those of its conference rivals, since Maryland holds the tiebreaker over Iowa and Iowa holds it over Rutgers. For Iowa City fans, the remaining matches determine whether the season extends into the conference postseason.
The Big Ten standings show Iowa at 2-12 in conference play, placing it 17th among 15 teams, with Maryland at 3-11 and Rutgers at 12-14 overall. Whether Iowa can climb past both teams remains unresolved, as the final tiebreaker outcomes depend on how the remaining three matches unfold.
The players
Liv Mogridge
Liv Mogridge is a fifth-year middle hitter for Iowa and is the team's lone expected departure after the season.
The details
Iowa plays Northwestern, 7-18 overall and 0-14 in Big Ten play, on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois. The Hawkeyes then host Illinois for senior night on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. at Xtream Arena, with all three matches available on Big Ten+ and the Hawkeye Radio Network.
Timeline
Thursday, 7 p.m.: Iowa at Northwestern, Welsh-Ryan Arena, Evanston, Illinois.
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 6 p.m.: Illinois at Iowa senior night, Xtream Arena, Iowa City.
Next week: Big Ten volleyball tournament begins.
Season Trajectory
Iowa is expected to return nearly its entire roster next year and is adding a new recruiting class that signs tomorrow, which positions this season's struggles as a transitional year rather than a reset. The Hawkeyes' remaining matches therefore matter both for Big Ten tournament eligibility and for the momentum carried into the next season.
Iowa's remaining three matches decide whether the Hawkeyes reach the conference tournament, and fans can follow all of them on Big Ten+ or the Hawkeye Radio Network. Two wins are required, and results from Maryland and Rutgers will also determine the final seeding picture.
The takeaway
Iowa's path depends on winning two of its final three matches while watching how Maryland and Rutgers finish, a reminder that conference standings often hinge on outcomes beyond a single team's control.
What happens next
Iowa plays at Northwestern on Thursday, hosts Illinois for senior night on Tuesday, Nov. 17, and the Big Ten tournament begins next week.
Further reading
Follow the team's progress in our Volleyball coverage.
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