(FULL SCHEDULE BELOW) The long off-season behind us, the Gopher Volleyball Season starts THIS SATURDAY, Aug., 24, at 3:00, with an exhibition (FREE ADMISSION) at the Pav vs Iowa State. Over half of the non-conference matches and ALL Big 10 matches will be televised (though many on BTN-Plus). Not counting the ISU exhibition, the schedule starts tough with back-to-back matches (in Milwaukee) vs Stanford and Texas. And after some softer non-conference opponents, the Big 10 season opens with Wisconsin at the Pav. (Glad we’re not Freshman-heavy.)
2024 GOPHER VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE
NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE (10+ matches)
Sat, Aug 24, 3:00, Iowa State at The PAV (exhibition)
Sun, Sept 1, 2:00, Stanford, in Milwaukee, on FS1
Mon, Sept 2, 6:30, Texas, in Milwaukee, on FS1
Fri, Sept 6, 7:00, at Baylor (TV?)
Sat, Sept 7, 4:00, TCU at Baylor (TV?)
Tue,, Sept 10, 7:00, St.Thomas at The PAV, B10+
Thur, Sept 12, 7:00, Long Island at the Pav, B10+
Fri, Sept 13, 6:00 Auburn at The PAV, B10+
Thur, Sept 19, 7:00, At UW-Green Bay, ESPN+
Fri,, Sept 20, 5:00, North Dakota At Green Bay (TV?)
Sat, Sept 21, Noon, Chicago State At Green Bay (TV?)
BIG TEN SCHEDULE (20 matches)
Wed, Sep 25, 8:00, WISCONSIN at The PAV, BTN
Sat, Sep 28, 5:30, Purdue at The PAV, BTN
Fri, Oct 4, 9:00,, at UCLA, , BTN+
Sat, Oct 5, 10:00, at Southern Cal, , BTN
Fri, Oct 11, TBA, INDIANA at The PAV, BTN+
Sat, Oct 12, TBA, MARYLAND at The PAV, , BTN
Fri, Oct 18, 6:00, at RUTGERS, , BTN+
Sun, Oct 20, TBA, at PENN STATE, BTN+
Wed, Oct 23, 8:00, NORTHWESTERN at The PAV, BTN
Sun, Oct 27, Noon, at OHIO STATE, BTN+
Fri, NOV 1, 5:00, at MICHIGAN STATE, BTN+
Sun, NOV 3, TBA, at MICHIGAN, BTN+
Thur, NOV 7, 7:00, WASHINGTON at The PAV, BTN+
Sat, NOV 9, TBA, OREGON at The PAV, BTN
Thur, NOV 14, TBA, at NEBRASKA, BTN
Sun, NOV 17, 2:00, MICHIGAN at The PAV, BTN+
Wed, NOV 20, TBA, at WISCONSIN, BTN
Sat, NOV 23, TBA, IOWA at The PAV, BTN+
Wed, NOV 27, 7:00, at ILLINOIS, BTN+
Fri, NOV 29, TBA, OHIO STATE at The PAV, FS1
END OF REGULAR SEASON
INSIDE SCOOP
Reader D.S. reports running into Coach Keagan Cook at a park (D.S. with his grandkids, Cook with his kids), and striking up a conversation. D.S. shared that he was a fan and quizzed Cook, who he found friendly and appreciative of D.S.’s interest in the Gophers.
D.S. did not ask (or get an answer to) the most pressing question in my mind, how will the Gophs use Melanie Shaffmaster AND Stella Swenson in the upcoming season? Will Cook stay with his 5-1? If so, who plays and who sits? Does Cook expect them to “battle it out?” Is there another position that one of them can play? Or will Cook play both using a 6-2? My idea (pretty unlikely) – the ‘24 Gophs will play the extremely rare 5-2! I assume we will see some experimentation during the non-conference schedule.
Here’s what D.S. did hear:
- The Gophers had a great experience on their European Tour. They lost every match, versus “professional” teams, but played well. Cook was encouraged.
- Recruiting is easier in Minnesota than it was in Washington because the in-state talent is so good. And because of this, the future is bright.