Northwestern volleyball heads into a two-match weekend still seeking its first Big Ten win: the Wildcats visit Illinois on Thursday, then host Rutgers for Senior Night on Saturday. First-year setter Ellie Stiernagle has passed 700 assists, offering a bright spot as Northwestern looks to build momentum against conference opponents.

By the Numbers
  • Northwestern: 7-14 overall, 0-10 in Big Ten play.
  • Illinois: 14-7 overall, 6-4 in the Big Ten; Rutgers: 10-12 overall, 1-9 in conference play.
  • Stiernagle has more than 700 assists and six double-doubles this season.
  • Northwestern is 33-67 all-time against Illinois and 14-2 against Rutgers.
Yes, But

Northwestern has lost both of its Big Ten matches to date, but its young players have shown promise. The Wildcats beat Illinois in their 2025 season finale, ending a 12-match losing streak in Champaign, while they’ve won eight of their last nine meetings with Rutgers.

State of Play
  • Illinois won both matches last weekend after losing four of its previous five.
  • Rutgers has lost seven straight conference matches and visits No. 11 Purdue before traveling to Evanston.
  • Thursday’s match at Illinois starts at 8 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network; Saturday’s Senior Night match begins at 7 p.m. on B1G+.
What’s Next

After the weekend, Northwestern heads west to face Washington next Friday at 9 p.m. CT and Oregon on Sunday at 8 p.m. CT.

Bottom Line

Northwestern’s record leaves little margin for error, but a road win over Illinois or a Senior Night victory over Rutgers would give the Wildcats a needed lift before their West Coast trip.