The Minnesota volleyball team will play three matches on television as part of the Big Ten television package that was announced on Wednesday, Aug. 24. Minnesota will play two matches on tape-delay on Comcast Chicago and one on ESPN 2.

Minnesota’s first televised match will be at Illinois on ESPN 2 on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. That match will be shown on a tape-delayed basis on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 1:30 p.m. (CT). Last year, the same two teams played in front of the largest crowd to see a collegiate volleyball match in 2004, as 10,927 fans packed Williams Arena.

The Golden Gophers’ second televised appearance will be their home match against No. 12 Ohio State on Comcast Chicago on Friday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. That match will be broadcast on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 4:30 p.m. (CT). The meeting will be a rematch from last year’s NCAA Regional Final, which Minnesota won in five games at the Sports Pavilion last season.

Minnesota’s final match in the Big Ten package will be at Penn State on Friday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. (CT). That match will be broadcast on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 4:30 (CT). The Golden Gophers’ matchup against Penn State features the programs that have claimed the past three Big Ten titles, with the Nittany Lions claiming the last two and Minnesota winning in 2002.

The Golden Gophers enter the 2005 season ranked No. 6 in the CSTV/AVCA Preseason poll. Minnesota is coming off a 2004 season that saw it go 33-5, advance to the national title match and go 17-3 in Big Ten play.