Gophers volleyball ranked 18th in AVCA preseason poll

The Minnesota Gophers volleyball team has again been included in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) top-25 preseason poll.

The AVCA poll was released Monday, putting Minnesota at 18th.

It’s the ninth straight season — and 23rd out of the last 25 — that the Gophers have been ranked in the preseason poll. Six other Big Ten teams were ranked by the AVCA: Nebraska (2), Wisconsin (3), Penn State (7), Purdue (8), Oregon (10) and USC (21).

This season will be the second of the Keegan Cook era after the squad went 17-13 (12-8 in conference play) and won an NCAA Tournament match for the ninth year in a row.

Minnesota will play 10 matches against teams currently rated in the top 25 and five against top-5 teams.

The Gophers open the season this Saturday in an exhibition match at Maturi Pavilion against Iowa State before the regular season begins on Sept. 1.