Big Ten women's volleyball is getting increasingly competitive as the second half of the conference season begins this weekend.

No. 6 Wisconsin and No. 7 Minnesota are still tied for first-place, while No. 13 Ohio State dropped to third with a loss to No. 11 Penn State. No. 23 Michigan State is hanging on as the Big Ten's final Top 25 ranking.

Injury bug

Illinois (11-10, 2-8 Big Ten) has not had much luck this year.

And it just got worse.

After struggling through the first half of the season and losing starting outside hitter Sue Webber to an anterior cruciate ligament tear in her knee, the Fighting Illini received the news of losing another player.

Ironically, it is Webber's replacement, Melissa Vandrey, who will miss the rest of the season. Vandrey was absent entering the year due to a knee injury, but was cleared to participate just prior to conference play. She will undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair damaged cartilage in her left knee.

Setting the mark

Minnesota's season has been full of firsts and bests, including an all-time Gophers record 15-game winning streak. With its victories last week, Minnesota has its best overall record after 21 matches, with a 20-1 mark.

The Gophers' 9-1 mark in the conference is their best first half of the Big Ten season.

Players of the Week

Part of Minnesota's success this season has been due to middle hitter Stephanie Hagen. The Big Ten recently named her conference Player of the Week, the second time for Hagen this year.

She was well deserving of it, as she averaged 4.71 kills, 2.14 digs and 2.14 blocks per game.

However, Hagen didn't take the award by herself. She had to share it with Iowa outside hitter Fabiana de Abreu.

Abreu was the force behind the victories against Michigan and Michigan State.

Her two triple-doubles helped Iowa (10-8, 6-4) climb back from 0-2 deficits against both teams. The stat line was impressive, as Abreu recorded 18 kills, 33 assists and 20 digs against the Wolverines, and 24 kills, 27 assists and 16 digs against the Spartans.