University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Set to Open 2017 Campaign
8/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
| #4 Minnesota (0-0) vs. #11 North Carolina | vs. Louisville (0-0) | |
| MATCH 1 | Minnesota vs. North Carolina (Friday | 4:30 p.m.) |
| Watch Online | Live Stats | Live Updates | |
| MATCH 2 | Minnesota vs. Lousiville (Saturday | 4 p.m.) |
| Watch Online | Live Stats | Live Updates | |
| LOCATION | UW Fieldhouse | Madison, Wis. |
| SOCIAL MEDIA | @GopherVball | Facebook |
Notes
GOPHERS SET TO OPEN 2017
The University of Minnesota opens the 2017 season at the Big Ten/ACC Challenge in Madison, Wis. Minnesota plays No. 11 North Carolina to kick off the season, followed by Louisville, Aug. 26. Both matches are streamed on BTN Plus.
RETURNING GOPHERS
Minnesota returns 11 letter winners from last year and graduated six. The Gophers lost three starters in Hannah Tapp, Paige Tapp and AVCA National Player of the Year Sarah Wilhite. Also finishing her collegiate career was defensive specialist Katie Schau, who played in over 114 matches during her four-year tenure. Along with starters in Hart, Lohman and Seliger-Swenson, the Gophers also return a steady back court in Alyssa Goehner and Dalianliz Rosado. Goehner played in 109 sets and added 193 digs last year. Rosado led Minnesota with 511 digs and ranked second on the team in assists (121) and third in aces (26).
ADDING DEPTH
Regan Pittman red-shirted the 2016 season and is ready to go for the 2017 campaign. She competed over the summer with USA Volleyball's Under-20 Junior National team in Mexico. The Gophers add six freshmen to the mix this season, which was touted as the No. 4 recruiting class in the nation. Minnesota welcomes Lauren Barnes, Sydney Kleinman, Jasmyn Martin, Sara Nielsen, Stephanie Samedy and Alice Zeimann.
BTN/ESPN ANNOUNCES TV SCHEDULE
The University of Minnesota volleyball program will have seven Big Ten matches televised this season, including one on ESPN, announced by Big Ten Network and the conference office. Four matches have also been reserved at the end of the volleyball season as BTN wild card selections.
Minnesota's first television match of the season comes on Sept. 24 when ESPN is set to broadcast the Minnesota's home match against Michigan State at noon. The Gophers will be on BTN for the remaining six matches. First up against Nebraska at 5 p.m., Sept. 29. On Wednesday, Oct. 4 against Wisconsin, the Gophers and Badgers battle at 7 p.m., also on BTN. Minnesota hosts Purdue on Oct. 11 for a 6 p.m. tilt. Minnesota is on the road at Ohio State Oct. 18 and will compete in a 7 p.m. match CT, while the Gophers will face Wisconsin on Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. Minnesota's last scheduled televised match is set for Oct. 25 at 8 p.m., when Illinois visits Maturi Pavilion.
Times have been determined for the 2017 season, with the exception of two Big Ten matches, due to potential campus scheduling conflicts. The match at Michigan (Oct. 7) and home against Penn State (Nov. 25) will be announced at a later date.
BIG TEN/ACC CHALLENGE HISTORY
The 2017 season marks the fourth year of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, dating back to the 2014 season. Minnesota hosted the first tournament, followed by Louisville in 2015, North Carolina in 2016 and now Wisconsin in 2017. Minnesota, Louisville and Wisconsin have participated in the event all four years. Notre Dame competed in the 2014 tournament, while North Carolina took its place the following three. Since its inception, Minnesota has gone 5-1, as it dropped one match to Louisville in 2014.
ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA
Ranked No. 11 in the AVCA Preseason Poll, the 2016 ACC Champion Tar Heels are the unanimous favorite to repeat as conference champions in 2017 behind returning ACC Player of the Year and Second-Team All-American Taylor Leath and ACC Freshman of the Year Julia Scoles. Both were named preseason All-ACC, while Taylor Fricano was also named to the list. UNC adds three true freshmen and a junior transfer to the roster, while U.S. Women's Junior National Team member Holly Carlton seeks her first collegiate action after redshirting in 2016. Joe Sagula is in his 37th year as a head coach and 28th with the UNC program. He holds a 577-309 record with the Tar Heels. Last year, UNC held a 29-4 overall record and were 19-1 in conference play.
ABOUT LOUISVILLE
Under first-year head coach Dani Busboom Kelly (former assistant coach at Nebraska) she brings in six newcomers on the roster including two transfers. Last year, the Cards held a 12-18 overall record and 7-13 in the ACC. Tess Clark and Molly Sauer were named to the Preseason All-ACC team. Clark, a senior middle blocker, is a two time All-ACC second team selection. Sauer, a junior libero, was 2015 ACC Freshman of the Year and 2015 ACC Defensive Player of the Year.
