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Gophers Land Three on Preseason All-Big Ten
8/14/2018 10:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The University of Minnesota landed three individuals on the 2018 Preseason All-Big Ten Volleyball Team, announced today by the conference office. Samantha Seliger-Swenson and Stephanie Samedy were unanimous selections, while Alexis Hart was also named to the preseason team. It is Seliger-Swenson's third-straight honor, Hart's second and Samedy's first. Minnesota was also tabbed to finish third in the Big Ten preseason coaches' poll.
Hart, an outside hitter from Kansas City, Mo., is coming off an All-America performance as a sophomore last year. Named a 2017 All-Big Ten selection, she finished the year with 446 kills, averaged 3.78 kills per set and hit .278 in 1,105 attempts. Last season, Hart averaged 4.10 kills per set against Big Ten opponents, hit .302 and had 287 kills against league teams. She was also a Preseason All-Big Ten in 2017 after she claimed Freshman All-Big Ten in 2016.
Samedy, an opposite hitter from Clermont, Fla., had a breakout 2017 rookie season. An AVCA First Team All-America selection, Samedy was also named the AVCA North Region Freshman of the Year. She was also named a unanimous All-Big Ten selection and was a part of the All-Big Ten Freshman team. In her rookie season, Samedy played in all 34 matches and 118 sets. Paving the way for the Gopher offense, Samedy had a team-best 478 kills, averaged 4.05 kills per set, hit .303 and added a team-best 1,203 attempts. Posting 15 double-doubles last season, Samedy led the Gophers in match kills 24 of 34 times this season and 22 of 34 times in match points.
Seliger-Swenson, a setter from Minnetonka, Minn., received her third-straight All-America award in 2017. Seliger-Swenson averaged 12.21 assists per set her junior season, which ranked second nationally and first in the Big Ten. She aided the Gophers to hit .285 as a team as they produced 14.69 kills per set. Seliger-Swenson had 14 double-doubles on the season and ranked third on the team in digs (317) and digs per set (2.69) and second on the team in assists. The only junior in Division I to register over 4,000 career assists, Seliger-Swenson now has 4,416 career assists, which ranks seventh in school history.Â
Minnesota opens the season Aug. 24-25 at the Target Center as it hosts the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Minnesota opens the 2018 season against Florida State, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m., and follows on Aug. 25 against North Carolina, also at 7 p.m. Tickets are now on sale for the tournament HERE.
2018 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Ali Bastianelli, ILL
JORDYN POULTER, ILL
Taylor Louis, IOWA
CARLY SKJODT, MICH
Alexis Hart, MINN
STEPHANIE SAMEDY, MINN
SAMANTHA SELIGER-SWENSON, MINN
MIKAELA FOECKE, NEB
Kenzie Maloney, NEB
Taylor Leath, PSU
Kendall White, PSU
SHERRIDAN ATKINSON, PUR
DANA RETTKE, WIS
Tionna Williams, WIS
UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN CAPS
2. Wisconsin
3. Minnesota
4. Penn State
5. Illinois
6. Michigan
7. Purdue
8. Ohio State
9. Michigan State
  Iowa
11. Northwestern
12. Indiana
13. Maryland
14. Rutgers
Hart, an outside hitter from Kansas City, Mo., is coming off an All-America performance as a sophomore last year. Named a 2017 All-Big Ten selection, she finished the year with 446 kills, averaged 3.78 kills per set and hit .278 in 1,105 attempts. Last season, Hart averaged 4.10 kills per set against Big Ten opponents, hit .302 and had 287 kills against league teams. She was also a Preseason All-Big Ten in 2017 after she claimed Freshman All-Big Ten in 2016.
Samedy, an opposite hitter from Clermont, Fla., had a breakout 2017 rookie season. An AVCA First Team All-America selection, Samedy was also named the AVCA North Region Freshman of the Year. She was also named a unanimous All-Big Ten selection and was a part of the All-Big Ten Freshman team. In her rookie season, Samedy played in all 34 matches and 118 sets. Paving the way for the Gopher offense, Samedy had a team-best 478 kills, averaged 4.05 kills per set, hit .303 and added a team-best 1,203 attempts. Posting 15 double-doubles last season, Samedy led the Gophers in match kills 24 of 34 times this season and 22 of 34 times in match points.
Seliger-Swenson, a setter from Minnetonka, Minn., received her third-straight All-America award in 2017. Seliger-Swenson averaged 12.21 assists per set her junior season, which ranked second nationally and first in the Big Ten. She aided the Gophers to hit .285 as a team as they produced 14.69 kills per set. Seliger-Swenson had 14 double-doubles on the season and ranked third on the team in digs (317) and digs per set (2.69) and second on the team in assists. The only junior in Division I to register over 4,000 career assists, Seliger-Swenson now has 4,416 career assists, which ranks seventh in school history.Â
Minnesota opens the season Aug. 24-25 at the Target Center as it hosts the Big Ten/ACC Challenge. Minnesota opens the 2018 season against Florida State, Aug. 24 at 7 p.m., and follows on Aug. 25 against North Carolina, also at 7 p.m. Tickets are now on sale for the tournament HERE.
2018 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL TEAM
Ali Bastianelli, ILL
JORDYN POULTER, ILL
Taylor Louis, IOWA
CARLY SKJODT, MICH
Alexis Hart, MINN
STEPHANIE SAMEDY, MINN
SAMANTHA SELIGER-SWENSON, MINN
MIKAELA FOECKE, NEB
Kenzie Maloney, NEB
Taylor Leath, PSU
Kendall White, PSU
SHERRIDAN ATKINSON, PUR
DANA RETTKE, WIS
Tionna Williams, WIS
UNANIMOUS SELECTIONS IN CAPS
2018 BIG TEN PRESEASON POLL
1. Nebraska2. Wisconsin
3. Minnesota
4. Penn State
5. Illinois
6. Michigan
7. Purdue
8. Ohio State
9. Michigan State
  Iowa
11. Northwestern
12. Indiana
13. Maryland
14. Rutgers
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