Northwestern volleyball begins significant third year under Tim Nollan
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 21, 2026, 5:13 PM
Last updated Aug 21, 2026
Northwestern's volleyball team under coach Tim Nollan enters its third season, aiming to build on a successful year two that saw a 17-17 overall record and improved conference performance. After the departure of eight players, the team faces challenges with inexperienced newcomers and weak blocking statistics. Northwestern must secure at least five or six conference wins to qualify for the inaugural Big Ten Conference Tournament this season. The 2026 AVCA preseason poll features eight Big Ten teams in the top 25, complicating the Wildcats' path to improvement.
- •Northwestern finished 14th in the Big Ten last season with a 7-13 record.
- •The team aims for at least 30% of conference wins to qualify for the tournament.
- •Coach Nollan's roster lacks collegiate experience after significant player departures.
- •Blocking performance remains a critical concern for the Wildcats this season.
- •Eight Big Ten teams are ranked in the preseason poll, raising competition levels.
- 5:13 PMYahoo Sports — Set Point #1: The dawn of year three
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