University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Gophers Set for Big Ten Media Days
8/2/2026 8:33:00 PM | Volleyball
Coach Cook, Stella Swenson and Mckenna Wucherer will attend
Minnesota head coach Keegan Cook will be joined on Monday by junior setter Stella Swenson and fifth year outside hitter Mckenna Wucherer. The trio will go through media stations throughout the day, including 'At the Net' sit downs, a studio sit down on Big Ten Network, a press conference and much more. They'll be on stage in the main studio on BTN from 3:15-3:35 p.m.
The team's press conference is set for Monday, Aug. 3 from 4:30-4:50 p.m.. Media interested in attending and asking questions can do so through the attached Zoom link.
The Big Ten Conference announced its 2026 volleyball preseason honors and preseason poll on Thursday, ahead of the fifth annual Big Ten Volleyball Media Day on August 3 at Big Ten Network Studios in Chicago.
Nebraska was the unanimous favorite to repeat as Big Ten Champions while Minnesota was picked to finish fifth behind the Huskers, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue.
Gophers sophomore Carly Gilk was named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team, one of 19 student-athletes receiving recognition. She played in 29 matches as a freshman, averaging 2.31 kills, 1.68 digs, 0.59 blocks and 0.26 aces per set while hitting .290. She made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and was an AVCA All-Northwest Region selection.
Minnesota heads into the 2026 season after making the Sweet 16 for the first time since the 2022 season. The Gophers finished the year with a 24-10 (12-8 Big Ten) record, tied for sixth place in the Big Ten Conference.
The 'U' earned a final ranking of 15 from the AVCA. Led by Second Team All-American Julia Hanson, the 'U' withstood four season-ending injuries to starters and rallied for its first second weekend of the NCAA Tournament appearance under third-year head coach Keegan Cook.
The preseason poll and all-conference teams were voted on by the conference's 18 head coaches. Nine members of the preseason all-conference team are scheduled to attend Big Ten Volleyball Media Day next week. Media interested in attending the event can apply for credentials here .
The complete list of Big Ten volleyball preseason honors is as follows:
2026 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. NEBRASKA
2. Wisconsin
3. Penn State
4. Purdue
5. Minnesota
6. Indiana
7. USC
8. Oregon
9. UCLA
10. Illinois
11. Michigan
12. Michigan State
13. Washington
14. Northwestern
15. Iowa
16. Ohio State
17. Rutgers
18. Maryland
2026 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Jaidyn Jager, So., OH, Indiana
Teodora Kričković, So., S, Indiana
Carly Gilk, So., OPP, Minnesota
ANDI JACKSON, Sr., MB, Nebraska
HARPER MURRAY, Sr., OH, Nebraska
BERGEN REILLY, Sr., S, Nebraska
Alanah Clemente, So., OPP, Oregon
Valentina Vaulet, Sr., OH, Oregon
KENNEDY MARTIN, Sr., OPP, Penn State
Alexis Stucky, Sr., S, Penn State
Taylor Anderson, Sr., S, Purdue
Grace Heaney, R-Jr., OPP, Purdue
Kenna Wollard, Sr., OH, Purdue
Lola Schumacher, Jr., L, UCLA
Marianna Singletary, Sr., MB, UCLA
Adonia Faumuina, R-Sr., OH, USC
Abigail Mullen, So., OPP, USC
Jaela Auguste, Jr., MB, Wisconsin
Charlie Fuerbringer, Jr., S, Wisconsin
Unanimous Selection in ALL CAPS
* - additional players due to tie in voting