Both of this weekend’s scheduled matches vs the Michigan Wolverines has been “postponed” due to Covid issues at Michigan. This is not Michigan’s first Covid-related postponement; they have only played 5 matches so far, while the Gophers and most others have played 10.
Officially, the term is “postponed.” Some make-up matches have been played mid-week, and I think that if this match figured to have implications for the conference championship or an NCAA invitation, there would be more pressure to reschedule. But with our Gophers one of the top teams, and Michigan an also-ran, I’m guessing that we will not play Michigan at all this season.
This does not mean that there will not be any Big 10 V-ball worth watching this weekend, as Nebraska, who the Gophs split with last weekend at Lincoln, travel to Madison for Friday-Saturday matches against the #1-rated Badgers. (Both matches on BTN, I think — not sure about the times.) Wisconsin may very well be the best team in the country, setter Hilley and middle Rettke are both spectacular, but they haven’t played Minnesota, Nebraska, Penn State or anyone else really strong. They took both matches from a good Purdue team, at home, the first weekend of the season, but Purdue was missing their best player. We should know more about Wisconsin after this weekend’s matches vs Nebraska.
UP NEXT FOR THE GOPHERS
Next weekend, March 5 & 6, the Gophers are scheduled to travel to Columbus for Friday-Saturday matches against Ohio State. (Both matches scheduled for 5:00, Mpls time, no news yet re TV coverage.) Hard to know what to think about the Buckeyes; they’re unbeaten, so technically ahead of the Gophs, but they’ve played a really soft schedule so far (Rutgers, this weekend), and despite being unbeaten in the country’s strongest conference, they are not nationally ranked.