Fishers set to host first ever Big Ten Volleyball Tournament in November

MADISON, WISCONSIN - NOVEMBER 1: Taylor Landfair #12 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers spikes the ball in a game against the Wisconsin Badgers at the Wisconsin Field House at University of Wisconsin - Madison on November 1, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Gomez/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Yet another sporting event is coming to the Indianapolis area this year. The Big Ten is set to introduce the first ever conference volleyball tournament this season with the event taking place November 20-25, 2026, at the Fishers Event Center in Fishers, Indiana, per an official release.

“For the first time in its history, the Big Ten Conference will determine its volleyball champion with a postseason tournament featuring the best volleyball teams in the country,” Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said in the release. “We look forward to bringing the nation’s top talent together for an entire week of exhilarating competition culminating in the crowning of the inaugural Big Ten Volleyball Tournament Champion.”

The tournament will welcome the top 15 teams in the regular season standings with three matches in the opening round and four in the second round leading up to the quarterfinals, semifinals and championship match. To account for this, the Big Ten’s regular season schedule will decrease from 20 matches to 17, allowing for a true round robin format.

The Fishers Event Center opened in 2024 and seats 7,500 fans. The Big Ten will continue its existing, longstanding partnership with Indiana Sports Corp, which has organized conference basketball tournaments and the Final Four, among other events, in hosting the tournament.

“Fishers is a volleyball city, and today’s announcement brings us one step closer to delivering an unforgettable experience for fans,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said. “This fall, our city will become the epicenter of Big Ten women’s volleyball as many of the nation’s top programs come together in one venue for the first time. We can’t wait to welcome passionate fans and outstanding student-athletes to Fishers for what promises to be an incredible showcase of the sport.”