The Minnesota volleyball team is starting the season ranked No. 22 according to the CSTV/AVCA Preseason Top-25 poll, which was released on Tuesday, Aug. 8. Minnesota received 393 points in the poll.

It marks the sixth time in seven years the Golden Gophers have been ranked in the preseason top 25. Minnesota was ranked No. 11 in the 2000 preseason poll, No. 15 in the 2001 preseason poll, No. 6 in 2003, No. 5 in 2004 and No. 6 in 2005.

Last season, Minnesota finished the year ranked No. 21 after going 25-8, getting knocked out in the second round of the NCAA Tournament and finishing tied for third in the Big Ten at 14-6.

The Golden Gophers were among five Big Ten teams that were ranked in the preseason poll. Penn State was ranked No. 2, Wisconsin No. 9, Purdue No. 16 and Ohio State No. 23. Northwestern also received votes in the preseason poll.

Along with playing the teams from the Big Ten that are in the poll, Minnesota will also travel to preseason No. 1 Nebraska on Sunday Sept. 10 and face No. 12 Louisville in Lincoln, Neb on Saturday, Sept. 9. The Golden Gophers will also face three teams that received votes in LSU, Northern Iowa and Texas A&M.

With the ranking, the Golden Gophers have now been in the top 25 for 41 consecutive weeks dating back to Oct. 20, 2003. That streak is the longest stretch that the Golden Gophers have been ranked in the top 25.

Minnesota starts its preseason practice on Aug. 11. Minnesota will host its media day on Monday, Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. For more details on practice times or other team related information please call volleyball media relations contact Steven Geller at 612-624-9396.