/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47249982/COoOJFcVAAATjhG.0.0.jpg)
The Season so Far
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4089934/CO5OJXsWsAAxsjm.0.jpg)
Via Twitter.com/GopherVBall/media
Results
After a 0-2 start to the season with losses at the Stanford Invite to Texas A&M and Stanford (currently ranked #32 and #8 respectively) the Minnesota Volleyball team has been on the rise, winning 8 straight to improve to 8-2. Better yet, the last 7 games have been won in straight sets! This impressive streak has been noticed on the Gophers are now ranked #21 in the nation for the Coaches Poll. But that was non-con, and today is the start of the Big Ten season, and the Big Ten is perhaps the premiere volleyball conference with 8 teams in the top 25 (Minnesota 7th highest.) and two just outside the top 25. The Gophers will play two of the best this week, Ohio State today & Penn State on Saturday.
@PointUBoosters @TheGopherBlock @MinnesotaOnBTN - @GopherVBall & @bigten looking pretty good in women's volleyball! pic.twitter.com/TdaaQWUiWR
— Rolf Addy (@Norsk_Gopher) September 23, 2015
Awards
The play of individual Gopher players has not gone unnoticed. Setter Samantha Seliger-Swenson and libero Dalianliz Rosado were awarded the B1G setter and defenseive player of the week awards on September 7th. Seliger-Swenson also recieved the B1G's freshmen of the week honor that week. The next week Daly Santana, who has been a force to be reckon with this year, recived the B1G's Co-Big Ten Player of the week (she was also the MVP of the Diet Coke Classic)while Seliger-Swenson again recieved the freshmen of the week honor. Seliger-Swenson would make it three in a row on September 21st when she was again named Big Ten Freshman of the week.
For the third-straight week, Seliger-Swenson garners B1G honors. Read more about it here. http://t.co/NYI4svFS56 pic.twitter.com/XonCAOfA7v
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) September 21, 2015
Big Ten Play
Via Twitter.com/GopherVBall
@ Ohio State - Wednesday, September 23rd - 6:00 pm Central (BTN Plus)
The Ohio State are good, no doubt about it. The Buckeyes are ranked #12 in the nation and are second atop of the Big Ten conference with their 11-1 record having won the last 11 in a row. Their only loss game was their season opener at Wyoming, who are now ranked #27, in a 3-1 match. Three of the Buckeye wins have come over presently ranked teams, with two wins over #17 Florida State and one win over #14 Arizona. This will be a tough match, especially on the road.
Via Twitter.com/GopherVBall
@ Penn State - Saturday, September 26th - 7 pm Central (BTN Plus)
What's tougher than Ohio State on the road? Penn State on the road....or anywhere. Penn State sits atop the Big Ten leader board with a perfect 11-0 record and are the consensus #1 team in the nation. They are a dynasty. The good thing is that they have to take on #16 Wisconsin today, so maybe the Badgers can do the Gopher's a solid and tire them out.
So how can Minnesota find a way to win this weekend. First, be inspired by the Gopher Soccer team which beat both of these schools (#20 & #4 at the time) last weekend, both on the road. Second, with plays like this.
Check out this great save by @AlyssaGoehner as she's our WOW this week. http://t.co/ijXkaZuw0M
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) September 22, 2015
Final Thoughts
Get hyped!!!
#PACKTHEPAV (well, not really as they are road games)
#DIGDEEP
#GOGOPHERS
#SKIUMAH