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Minnesota Volleyball - Gophers Kick Off Big Ten Season

The #21 Minnesota Golden Gophers Volleyball team goes on the road to start the Big Ten season today.

By Norsk_Gopher

The Season so Far

Gopher Volleyball 2015

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.

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.

Big Ten Play

Minnesota Volleyball vs Ohio State

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.

Minnesota Volleyball 2015

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.

Final Thoughts

Get hyped!!!

#PACKTHEPAV (well, not really as they are road games)

#DIGDEEP

#GOGOPHERS

#SKIUMAH

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