It was disappointing that the Gopher Men’s & Women’s basketball, hockey and swimming teams, the wrestling and gymnastics teams, etc. were unable to complete their seasons last year due to the coronavirus. And I feel terrible for Gopher Spring-Sport athletes who will missed their entire seasons. (What that must have felt like for these poor student-athletes?) But none (except the women’s hockey team?) had a reasonable expectation of a National Championship. Our volleyballers do!
This “pandemic season” will be unique, to say the least. Four major conferences, the Big 12, Sun Belt, ACC and SEC, played their volleyball seasons last fall. But 30 conferences, including the Big 10 and the Pac 12, the two conferences that dominate Women’s College Volleyball, will be playing their 2020 seasons in the winter/spring of 2021. And the 2020 NCAA Championships (reduced from 32 Conference Champions and 32 “at-large” teams to 32 Conference Champions and 16 “at-large” teams) including teams that played last fall, will be held in April of 2021. The Gopher schedule will look very different also. (see SCHEDULE)
Making the April Final Four with at least an opportunity to win it all won’t be an over-achievement for this squad; it’s an expectation. Keep your fingers crossed that the athletes stay healthy and the season and the Championship Tournament proceeds.