The Big Ten Conference will crown its first women’s volleyball tournament champion in Fishers this month.
The inaugural Big Ten Volleyball Tournament is set for Nov. 20-25 at the Fishers Event Center, home of Major League Volleyball’s Indy Ignite. The top 15 teams in the conference’s regular-season standings will qualify. It will be the first time the conference’s volleyball programs, among the best in the nation, have gathered in one venue for a tournament.
The tournament opens with three first-round matches, followed by four second-round matches. Play then moves to the quarterfinals and semifinals, with the championship match scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 25. One off day is built into the schedule. The official bracket will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 17.
Free Fan Village at the Amphitheater
Fans without tickets can still be part of the week. The Big Ten has announced a free Big Ten Fan Village at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, open daily throughout the tournament.
The village will show every tournament match. It will also have official merchandise, photo spots, grass volleyball courts, crafts and activities, food trucks and bonfires.
Each day has its own theme:
- Friday, Nov. 20 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.): Opening Celebration Day, with a concert by Toy Factory
- Saturday, Nov. 21 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.): Family Day, with Indy Ignite appearances and youth activities
- Sunday, Nov. 22 (10 a.m. to 10 p.m.): Girls in Sports and Leadership Day
- Monday, Nov. 23 (about 6 to 9 p.m.): Explore Hamilton County and the Major League Volleyball Draft, hosted by the Indy Ignite
- Tuesday, Nov. 24 (4 to 10 p.m.): Semifinals Watch Party
- Wednesday, Nov. 25 (5 to 10 p.m.): Championship Watch Party
More information on the Fan Village is available at bigten.org.
Bringing the tournament to Fishers classrooms
The Big Ten is also taking the tournament into local schools. The Big Ten School Visits program will reach about 5,000 Fishers students at 19 schools.
The program includes reading visits at 13 elementary schools for kindergarten through fourth grade and volleyball instruction at three intermediate schools for grades five and six. Four junior high schools will hold morning pep rallies for students in grades seven and eight. Every student will get a Big Ten drawstring bag and pencil.
The visits are a joint effort with the city of Fishers and the Indy Ignite, including the team’s mascot, Pepper, and the Firestarters. They began Oct. 28 and run through Nov. 20.
For tournament and venue information, visit fisherseventcenter.com.