University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Announce 2018 Schedule
4/25/2018 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
2018 SCHEDULE
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The University of Minnesota volleyball program announces its 2018 schedule, which highlights three home nonconference tournaments and 10 Big Ten home matches this year. Times have been set for the opening Big Ten/ACC Challenge and Diet Coke Classic tournaments. All remaining contests and television/streaming will be announced at a later date. Please note, the 2018 schedule could change due to television requests. Please check back to gophersports.com for the most up-to-date schedule.
Minnesota will play a total of 29 regular season matches this season. In that span, the Golden Gophers will face seven Big Ten opponents twice and six foes in a one-time match up. Of Minnesota's 22 opponents on the docket, 10 made the 2017 NCAA Tournament and 12 made an appearance in the American Volleyball Coaches polls.
Minnesota opens the 2018 campaign hosting the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, Aug. 24-25, at Target Center. Wisconsin, North Carolina return for this year's event, while Florida State joins the fifth-annual challenge in 2018. Two matches will be held on both Aug. 24 and 25 as the Gophers and Badgers face UNC and FSU in four total matches. The Gophers face Florida State on Friday, Aug. 24, followed by North Carolina on Saturday, Aug. 25.
The Gophers return to the Maturi Pavilion confines Aug. 31-Sept. 1, when they host Arkansas, Georgia Southern and North Dakota State as a part of the annual Diet Coke Classic. The Gophers hit the road for the first time in 2018 when they compete in the Pac 12/Big Ten Challenge that features Stanford, Oregon and Penn State, Sept. 7 & 9. Minnesota closes out the nonconference schedule with another home tournament as it hosts Kansas State and Green Bay, Sept. 13-15.
Minnesota opens the Big Ten schedule at home against the Penn State Nittany Lions, Sept. 19, followed by a Sept. 22 match versus Maryland. The Gophers battle the Wisconsin Badgers, Sept. 26 before going on the road for three straight. Minnesota plays at Indiana (Sept. 29), at Northwestern (Oct. 3) and at Nebraska (Oct. 6) before it returns home for back-to-back weekends. Minnesota welcomes Illinois and Iowa to the Pavilion, Oct. 12-13, and Iowa and the Huskers, Oct. 19-20.
In the second-half of the Big Ten schedule, Minnesota faces five opponents for the first time this season. The Gophers play at Michigan State (Oct. 26) and at Michigan (Oct. 27) before facing familiar foe, Wisconsin, Oct. 31, at home. The Gophers then close out their regular season home matches in early November. The Michigan State Spartans come to town Nov. 3, followed by Indiana and Purdue, Nov. 9-10. Minnesota finishes the final four regular season matches on the road. The Gophers visit Maryland (Nov. 16) and Ohio State (Nov. 17) before closing out the Big Ten season at Penn State (Nov. 23) and Rutgers (Nov. 24).
Three weekends of NCAA Championships will be held starting the weekend of Nov. 30-December 1. All teams look to punch their ticket to the tournament at a chance for a national championship, held at the Target Center, Dec. 13-15 right here in Minneapolis. Tickets are on sale, with a promotion code, through Target Center and AXS.
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Big Ten/ACC Challenge Aug. 24-25
Due to these matches being held at Target Center, tickets for this event are not included in 2018 season ticket packages and must be purchased through AXS. All Gopher season ticket holders will receive exclusive pre-sale access on May 8 to purchase seats. Gopher Score members and 2018 NCAA Volleyball Championship ticket buyers will have access to purchase on May 9-10. On May 11, tickets will open for sale to the general public. Additional details on pricing and tournament packages will be shared via email and on gophersports.com prior to the exclusive season ticket pre-sale on May 8.