The Minnesota volleyball team will play three televised matches as part of the Big Ten television package that was announced on Thursday, August 10. Minnesota will play two matches on tape-delay on Comcast Chicago and one tape-delayed match on ESPN 2.

Minnesota’s first televised match will be at No. 3 Penn State on Comcast Chicago on Friday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. That match will be shown on a tape-delayed basis on Comcast Chicago on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 12 p.m.

The Golden Gophers’ second televised appearance will be at home against No. 16 Purdue on ESPN 2 on Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. That match will be shown on a tape-delayed basis on Sunday, Oct. 15 at 1 p.m.

Minnesota’s final match in the Big Ten package will be at home against No. 23 Ohio State on Comcast Chicago on Friday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. It will be shown on a tape-delayed basis on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 12 noon.

There is also a wildcard match that is undetermined at this time that will take place on either Friday or Saturday, Nov. 24 or 25. That match would be tape- delayed on Sunday, Nov. 26 at a time to be announced later. The past three seasons, the Golden Gophers have been a part of the wildcard television match (once against Penn State on Nov. 29, 2003, at Illinois on Nov. 26, 2004 and against Purdue on Nov. 26, 2005).

Comcast Chicago can be seen on DiRECTV channel 640 to customers that have the Premium Sports Package.

Minnesota’s three matches as part of the Big Ten television package are tied for the most with Purdue and Penn State.

The Golden Gophers enter the 2006 season ranked No. 22 in the CSTV/AVCA Preseason Top 25. Last year Minnesota was 25-8 overall, and finished tied for third in the Big Ten with a 14-6 record.