The Minnesota Golden Gophers volleyball team came in at No. 18 in the AVCA Preseason Poll. The Gophers have now been ranked in the preseason poll in nine straight seasons and 23 of the last 25.
The last time Minnesota was unranked in a preseason poll was before the 2015 season in which they went on to make the Final Four. In 2023, the first year under head coach Keegan Cook, Minnesota went 17-13 (12-8 Big Ten) and won an NCAA Tournament match for the ninth consecutive season before falling in the Round of 32 to Creighton. The Gophers finished the season unranked for the first time since 2014.
Opponent-wise, Minnesota will play 10 matches against top-25 ranked teams in 2024. They’ll play five matches against top-five ranked teams, squaring off against No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Nebraska, No. 3 Wisconsin (twice) and No. 5 Stanford. They’ll also take on top-10 ranked teams Penn State (7), Purdue (8) and Oregon (10). The Gophers will travel to No. 21 USC and No. 24 Baylor this year as well.
Six Big Ten teams are ranked in the poll, including five of the top 10. The Gophers were picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten Preseason poll, behind Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue.
Minnesota competes against Iowa State in an exhibition match at Maturi Pavilion this Saturday, Aug. 24 at 3 p.m. Admission is free and no stream will be available. Their regular season begins on Sunday, Sept. 1 in Milwaukee, Wis., against No. 5 Stanford.
Gophers History in the AVCA Preseason Poll (Since 2000):
2024: 18th
2023: 7th
2022: 5th
Fall 2021: 7th
Spring 2021: 7th
2019: 3rd
2018: 4th
2017: 4th
2016: 3rd
2015: UR
2014: 12th
2013: 6th
2012: 16th
2011: 12th
2010: 6th
2009: 11th
2008: 16th
2007: 9th
2006: 22nd
2005: 6th
2004: 5th
2003: 6th
2002: UR
2001: 15th
2000: 11th
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)
