We are a mere 3 weeks (plus a couple of days) from the start of the season. On Saturday, Aug 20, our currently 7th ranked Gophers are holding an open-to-the public, intra-squad scrimmage at the PAV (I think it will be free). I will likely not be able to attend due to my (hopefully) temporary disability*; it would be great if a GOPHER V-BALL ROCKS READER would attend and write it up for us.
- My story about this, not really a volleyball story, is available under the “JOHN WHO?” tab.
And 6 days later, the Gophs open their non-conference season at the Big 12 Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, where they will play # 10 Ranked Baylor on Aug 26th, TCU on the 27th,, and #5 ranked Texas, in Austin, on the 31st. (As of now, it does not appear that any of these matches will be televised.)
Then the Gophs will be back at the PAV for matches against:
- #15 ranked Florida on Sept 4;
- #24 ranked Oregon on Sept 9;
- #21 ranked Stanford on Sept 10;
- Pepperdine on Sept 15; and
- #23 ranked Washington St. on Sept 17.
And then the Big 10 Season starting at #6 ranked Purdue on Sept 23, and back home to host #1 ranked Wisconsin at the Pav on Sept 25. (I think this is the match where we kick some Sconnie butt.)
That’s right, 8 of our first 10 opponents are ranked in the top 25, nationally, 4 in the top 10! We should learn a lot about this team between Aug 26 and Sept 25. I think you’re going to love this team.