We're switching things up this week. Going topsy-turvy, if you will.

I'll be taking Tuesday night off from volleyball coverage, giving way to a key match on Thursday within the Western Big Six Conference: when Quincy visits Moline.

Today's feature story in the Quad-City Times sports section focuses on the unbeaten Maroons, and in that story, coach Tim Albrecht and his players talk about what it would mean not only to beat Quincy, but to hang a conference championship banner in Wharton Field House.

That's not to say there isn't plenty of action on the Iowa side of the river, though. For the first time this season, three MAC teams are ranked; in fact, Central, Bettendorf and Muscatine round out the final three spots in last Thursday's IGHSAU poll.

I've handicapped this week's matchups below, complete with my new-and-improved predictions box. I enjoyed catching a little flak for my picks last week; just lets me know you guys are reading! (But again, remember, try as I might, I can't pick all 16 MAC/Big Six teams to win!)

Western Big Six Conference ~ Tuesday's schedule (all matches begin approximately 7:30 p.m.)

Quincy (22-2, 5-0 Big Six) at Rock Island (1-6)

Trap game, perhaps? Nah. Rocky's got some skill, but you have to imagine Barb Crist will have her girls prepared for this one before Thursday's biggie. Quincy in two.

Rock Island Alleman (2-4) at United Township (1-5)

Callyn Dittmar's Panthers have steadily collected wins outside the Big Six, but somehow, it hasn't seemed to translate with familiar foes. Alleman in three.

Thursday schedule in the Big Six

Quincy at Moline (24-0, 7-0) (Wharton Field House)

In my limited historical knowledge of Big Six volleyball - bear with me here, this is still my first fall in the QC - the Blue Devils sound like a rock-solid progress. But 24-0 is, well, 24-0. And it's a home match for Marquisha Harris' "thirsty" Maroons. Moline in three.

Rock Island at Rock Island Alleman

Bill Churchill told me his group would take some lumps early in the season. It's no longer that early stretch, so let's see if the Rocks can maintain some momentum for next year. Rock Island in three.

Mississippi Athletic Conference

No. 13 Davenport Central (15-9, 7-0 MAC) at Clinton (13-10, 4-3)

Eye on the prize, Central. Clinton is a tough customer this season, but who am I to pick against the Blue Devils after doubting them last week? Davenport Central in four.

No. 14 Bettendorf (20-9, 6-1) at Burlington (12-12, 3-4)

On the other hand, the Bulldogs have some preparing to do in anticipation of the regional, when Bettendorf will re-host Central. Burlington might steal a game since it's hot, but Bettendorf should stay the course. Bettendorf in four.

North Scott (5-14, 3-4) at No. 15 Muscatine (25-3, 5-2)

Streak is up to a lucky 21. The Lancers are young and are expected to compete next year, but the Muskies are looking for Double Deuce. Muscatine in three.

Pleasant Valley (14-12, 4-2) at Davenport North (4-16, 1-6)

One of just two games in town here. The Spartans looked strong against Clinton last week, and they'll be looking to continue building against the Wildcats. PV in three.

Davenport Assumption (6-14, 1-5) at Davenport West (1-22, 0-7)

Ah, a chance for West to get a conference victory this season ... but Knights setter Kelly Divita is putting together a case for a second straight all-conference selection. Assumption in five.

NOTE: In the only MAC match in October not played on Tuesday, the PV Spartans will host the Assumption Knights Thursday night. At the conclusion of that contest, every MAC team will have just one match remaining, with the season wrapping up Oct. 20.

Three things you should remember going into this week

1 Moline isn't the only team around that has forgotten how to lose. Muscatine is now on a 21-match winning streak that now officially has extended over a month and more. The Muskies' last defeat was a four-game affair at first-place MAC foe Davenport Central, back on Sept. 8.

Muscatine has won the Keokuk and Burlington Invitationals, and just last weekend took the Durant event as well, along with five conference victories along the way.

2 Illinois pairings are out. For 4A, Moline will take on No. 4-seeded in Pekin, and No. 2 Quincy will play No. 3 United Township in the Moline regional and Normal sectional. Winners play each other.

In Class 3A, Rock Island will take on top seed and host Geneseo. While Galesburg is hosting a region, it has to play No. 1 seed Dunlap to open things. Alleman has a 3-seed in Class 2A, and will begin with Monmouth-Roseville.

3 We'll be off from coverage of a volleyball match for Wednesday's paper, but obviously, we'll have a story from the Quincy-Moline match. I can't promise a whole bunch right now, but we're hoping to have as much coverage as we can of the upcoming regionals on both sides of the river. Certainly, feel free to discuss your favorite team through the comment boards on this post, or any other volleyball story on QCVarsity.com.

Three players I'll be watching at the Quincy-Moline match

Sara Fetter, Sr., S, 5-9. Well, duh. She's kind of our cover girl Tuesday. We'll see what kind of gameplan Tim Albrecht has put in place for Fetter to execute against Quincy.

Lauren Arnold, Jr., OH, 5-11. She's come on later in the season, leading the Maroons in kills a couple of times. Of course, as the story indicates, there are several other Moline players that could go in this space too.

Hannah Kvitle, Sr., S, 6-0. I have heard good things. A 6-foot setter? In high school? That's got to be something to watch, for sure. Should be a good battle between Kvitle and Fetter.

Three players you should keep an eye on (since yours truly can't be at every match)

Kayla Daugherty, Sr., MH, 5-9. We haven't gotten a chance to talk about Kayla more in this space or in other stories, but she's still been one of the best players in the Big Six.

Emily Hasken, Sr., MB, 6-0. She's risen to the top of the kills leaderboard, and has emerged as a great second threat besides Haylie Franklin as the Muskies extend that winning streak.

Kelly Divita, Sr., S, 5-6. As mentioned earlier, she's one of the top returning players in the conference, and leads an Assumption team still trying to scrape up some more late-season victories.

As always, you can find complete stories, results, standings and statistics at QCVarsity.com. Check the scoreboard page of Tuesday's Quad-City Times for a MAC leaderboard.

That's all for the Prep Talk. Now let's leave everything out on the court.