University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Second in Big Ten Preseason Poll
8/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The Minnesota volleyball team was selected to finish second in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches poll on Thursday, Aug. 13 according to an announcement by the conference office.
Six-time defending Big Ten champion and two-time defending national champion Penn State was picked to win the conference. Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Purdue claimed the next spots in that order behind Minnesota. This marked the first year the coaches chose only the top six teams, instead of picking where each team would finish.
Minnesota also joined the Nittany Lions as one of two teams in the conference to have three or more players named to preseason All-Big Ten team. Penn State paced the conference with four, while Brook Dieter, Lauren Gibbemeyer and Christine Tan gave the Golden Gophers three representatives. Illinois was the only other team in the conference with multiple representatives claiming two preseason All-Big Ten honorees.
Dieter also ended up as one of five unanimous preseason All-Big Ten honorees by the coaches. Dieter was joined by Laura DeBruler (Illinois), Vanessa King (Michigan State), Alisha Glass (Penn State) and Megan Hodge (Penn State) on that list.
Last year, Dieter, Gibbemeyer and Tan all claimed First-Team All-Big Ten honors.
2009 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
1. Penn State
2. Minnesota
3. Illinois
4. Michigan
5. Wisconsin
6. Purdue
2009 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Name School Yr. Position
Michelle Bartsch Illinois So. Outside Hitter
LAURA DEBRULER (2) Illinois Jr. Outside Hitter
Ashley Benson Indiana Jr. Middle Blocker
Lexi Zimmerman (2) Michigan Jr. Setter
VANESSA KING Michigan St.Sr. Middle Blocker
BROOK DIETER (2) Minnesota Jr. Outside Hitter
Lauren Gibbemeyer (2) Minnesota Jr. Middle Blocker
Christine Tan Minnesota Sr. Libero
Blair Brown Penn State Jr. Outside Hitter
ALISHA GLASS (2) Penn State Sr. Setter
MEGAN HODGE (3) Penn State Sr. Outside Hitter
Arielle Wilson (2) Penn State Jr. Middle Blocker
Kristen Arthurs Purdue Jr. Middle Blocker
Brittney Dolgner (3) Wisconsin Sr. Outside Hitter
UNANIMOUS SELECTION IN CAPS
(3) Three-time selection
(2) Two-time selection
Six-time defending Big Ten champion and two-time defending national champion Penn State was picked to win the conference. Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Purdue claimed the next spots in that order behind Minnesota. This marked the first year the coaches chose only the top six teams, instead of picking where each team would finish.
Minnesota also joined the Nittany Lions as one of two teams in the conference to have three or more players named to preseason All-Big Ten team. Penn State paced the conference with four, while Brook Dieter, Lauren Gibbemeyer and Christine Tan gave the Golden Gophers three representatives. Illinois was the only other team in the conference with multiple representatives claiming two preseason All-Big Ten honorees.
Dieter also ended up as one of five unanimous preseason All-Big Ten honorees by the coaches. Dieter was joined by Laura DeBruler (Illinois), Vanessa King (Michigan State), Alisha Glass (Penn State) and Megan Hodge (Penn State) on that list.
Last year, Dieter, Gibbemeyer and Tan all claimed First-Team All-Big Ten honors.
2009 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
1. Penn State
2. Minnesota
3. Illinois
4. Michigan
5. Wisconsin
6. Purdue
2009 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Name School Yr. Position
Michelle Bartsch Illinois So. Outside Hitter
LAURA DEBRULER (2) Illinois Jr. Outside Hitter
Ashley Benson Indiana Jr. Middle Blocker
Lexi Zimmerman (2) Michigan Jr. Setter
VANESSA KING Michigan St.Sr. Middle Blocker
BROOK DIETER (2) Minnesota Jr. Outside Hitter
Lauren Gibbemeyer (2) Minnesota Jr. Middle Blocker
Christine Tan Minnesota Sr. Libero
Blair Brown Penn State Jr. Outside Hitter
ALISHA GLASS (2) Penn State Sr. Setter
MEGAN HODGE (3) Penn State Sr. Outside Hitter
Arielle Wilson (2) Penn State Jr. Middle Blocker
Kristen Arthurs Purdue Jr. Middle Blocker
Brittney Dolgner (3) Wisconsin Sr. Outside Hitter
UNANIMOUS SELECTION IN CAPS
(3) Three-time selection
(2) Two-time selection
Players Mentioned
MB
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