Original Publish Date/Outlet: August 10, 2026 | Minnesota Star Tribune
The Gophers volleyball program is ready to take the next step.
A season filled with injury adversity and dependent on young, inexperienced players rising to the occasion culminated in the program’s first Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament since 2022.
With 11 athletes who received regular playing time returning for this season, coach Keegan Cook is focused on continuing to improve in the first few days of official practice.
“I just love the progress we’ve made already,” said Cook, whose team was ousted by eventual national runner-up Pittsburgh last December. “Probably the most curriculum we’ve gotten through in five days since being here. And probably because of the familiarity of the athletes and the work they did over the summer to get their bodies ready.”
Texas A&M was last year’s national champion.The Gophers were 24-10 last season and tied for sixth at 12-8 in the Big Ten. They were picked fifth in the Big Ten coaches preseason poll for 2026, behind top pick Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue.
The first step is a pair of exhibition matches against top programs. The Gophers are in Austin on Monday to play Texas, the 2022 and ’23 national champion, and will be at Iowa State on Aug. 22 after beating the Cyclones in the round of 32 in last year’s NCAA tournament. Both were tournament teams last season, and the Longhorns won NCAA titles in 2022 and 2023.
Taking the next step for Cook meant scheduling the top volleyball programs in the nation early in the season. For the first time, the Gophers will take on the University of Texas in Austin on Monday, Aug. 10, before traveling to Ames, Iowa, to play Iowa State on Aug. 22 for two exhibition games.
Both Texas and Iowa State were tournament teams last year. The Gophers beat the Cyclones in straight-sets during the second round. The Longhorns, who won back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023, reached the Elite Eight before losing in straight sets to Wisconsin.
Cook’s decision behind adding exhibition games was to acclimate his group to high-level play.
“We wanted to get this season going quickly and make sure that we’ve aimed our sights correctly for this group,” Cook said.