Coming off its best season since the pandemic, the Michigan volleyball team has reason to expect another strong year. But Big Ten volleyball is a gauntlet, and nothing will come easily.
The Wolverines are projected to finish 11th in the conference this season. It’s not an undervaluation of their abilities. Eight of the 10 teams selected above them are also nationally ranked, making up over a third of the AVCA Preseason Top 25.
If Michigan wants to make waves in a crowded conference, it’ll have to get used to playing against top competition. So a showdown with the best player in the country isn’t the worst place to start.
In a return match of sorts, All-American opposite hitter Olivia Babcock and No. 4 Pittsburgh come to Ann Arbor Saturday after ending the Wolverines’ 2025 season in the NCAA Tournament last December. Here’s what to watch for as Michigan kicks off its preseason this weekend against one of the most talented rosters in the nation.
What does ‘exhibition match’ mean?
Saturday won’t count toward the official record of either team, but it’ll still be scored and contested like an actual game, so expect to see near-full strength rotations on the court. Wolverines coach Erin Virtue has been vocal about using the preseason as an opportunity to watch some of the younger players who are expected to play larger roles this year.
“Those seven (underclassmen) haven’t had an opportunity yet to suit up and play,” Virtue said Aug 3. “… So they’ll get to put a jersey on, and in the exhibitions, we’re going to treat those as we would a match, so we get to learn as much about our team as we can. We’ll see who earns minutes as we go through these next couple weeks.”
Who are some key players to watch?
For Ann Arbor volleyball fans, the most exciting aspect of the match will undoubtedly be Babcock. The 6-foot-4 opposite hitter averaged over five kills per set last season for the Panthers, and enters her senior year as the favorite to win a third consecutive AVCA Player of the Year award.
It’ll be equally interesting to see how Michigan deals with Babcock’s presence. Former star outside hitter Allison Jacobs struggled to defend her last year, and the mismatch was a major factor in the second-round loss. But senior Sydney Schnichels is the same height as Babcock, and she’s expected to kick over from the right side to help replace Jacobs in the Wolverines’ rotation.
Junior outside hitter Ella Demetrician will headline Michigan’s offense as its top returning kill leader. Like Jacobs, she’s an uber-talented attacker but isn’t necessarily an imposing presence at the net. So seeing how Schnichels and the Wolverines’ middle blockers fare against Babcock and company will indicate a lot about the strength of their front row.
What formations will the teams play?
Since Virtue plans to experiment throughout the preseason, she has yet to officially name her starters. But one of Michigan’s strongest position groups is setter, where it returns senior Morgan Burke and junior Camille Edwards. Michigan found considerable success last year in a 6-2 formation with two setters and three permanent front-row attackers. Burke and Edwards should continue in their previous roles, with junior Ellie White coming in as a serving specialist and rotational option.
“(Morgan’s) certainly capable of running the show on her own,” Virtue said. “With the personnel we have, we haven’t decided what system we’ll run. I love the fact we have choices and depth.”
Saturday also marks Pitt setter Izzy Starck’s first game in a Panthers uniform. In 2024, Starck started all 37 matches for Penn State’s national-championship squad as a true freshman before stepping away from the Nittany Lions for mental health reasons. Expect Starck to feature as the primary playmaker in Pitt’s 5-1 formation, allowing her to play all the way around the court.
If the Wolverines continue with a 6-2 arrangement, the contrasting rotations will also be an interesting look into the fast-and-loose playstyle Michigan employs to stamp its authority on games. The Wolverines’ efforts to force the Panthers out of system and hold up defensively will give a preview to how they’ll approach the Big Ten’s top offenses — Starck is far from the only elite setter they’ll face this season.
Is there a score to settle between Michigan and Pitt?
Since they last locked horns in the NCAA Tournament, the two teams have embraced the spirit of friendly competition. The Wolverines actually returned to Fitzgerald Field House April 11 to play the Panthers in a low-stakes spring game. For Michigan’s players, their recent connection with one of the nation’s premier programs has helped them cut their teeth in the offseason.
“I think it’s going to be interesting to see how much we have developed even over the summer since we last played them,” Schnichels said. “Like Ella said, it will be a great challenge, a good way to figure out where we are as a group right off the bat at the start of the season.”
The Wolverines will be Pitt’s sole competition before the Panthers face off against No. 3 Kentucky in a showcase later this month. It may not count as a mark in the win column, but with tough competition looming, it’s unlikely either team will view the exhibition match casually.
“It’s going to challenge us in ways that not every team can,” Demetrician said. “We’re just looking forward to getting tested and playing some great volleyball.”
By kicking off its season against the team that ended the last one, Michigan has shown it isn’t afraid to get its feet wet early. Saturday may not be a dramatic revenge match, but it should be hard-fought, must-watch volleyball.
