Minnesota Volleyball Moves Into the Top 10 in CSTV/AVCA Poll

The Minnesota volleyball team (21-7, 15-3) moved into the top 10 for the first time this season in the CSTV/AVCA poll on Nov. 20. Minnesota had 957 points in this week’s poll, which was its highest total of the season.

Minnesota’s No. 10 ranking, moved the Golden Gophers into the top 10 for the first time since Oct. 10, 2005. The last time Minnesota was in the top 10, it was the Golden Gophers’ 24th straight week as a top 10 team.

The Golden Gophers have now been ranked in 71 of the last 79 top 25 polls dating back to the 2002 season. Minnesota has also been ranked the last eight weeks, moving up to No. 10 this week from No. 12. The Golden Gophers also ranked No. 22 in this year’s preseason poll.

This past week Minnesota went 2-0, claiming a road victory and season sweep over then No. 10 Wisconsin on Nov. 15. Minnesota also finished its regular-season home campaign with a four-game victory over Iowa on Nov. 18.

With two matches remaining in Big Ten play, the Golden Gophers sit in sole possession of second place in the Big Ten at 15-3. Penn State is in first place at 16-2, while Wisconsin sits in third at 14-4. If Minnesota finishes in second place, it would mark the sixth time in the last eight years that the Golden Gophers have finished second or higher in conference play.

There were five Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25 this week. Penn State was the highest ranked team at No. 5, followed by No. 10 Minnesota, No. 12 Wisconsin, No. 19 Ohio State, and No. 22 Purdue.

Minnesota will finish up its conference slate on the road. The Golden Gophers will face No. 22 Purdue on Friday, Nov. 24 at 6 p.m. (CT). Minnesota will then finish the Big Ten slate at Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. (CT). Both matches will be webcast on gophersports.com.