Volleyball | 8/1/2022 10:00:00 AM
CHICAGO, Ill. — University of Minnesota fifth-year senior libero CC McGraw and junior outside Jenna Wenaas both landed a spot on the Preseason All-Big Ten team, it was announced today by the conference office. It is both McGraw and Wenaas’ first preseason nod.
Minnesota was tabbed to finish third in the league standings, voted on by the conference coaches. Wisconsin was predicted to win the conference, followed by Nebraska in second, Minnesota in third, Ohio State in fourth and Penn State to round out the top five. The Gophers have finished third-or-better in each of the past seven seasons and in nine of coach McCutcheon’s 10 seasons at the helm.
A two-time All-America honorable mention, McGraw’s fabulous 2021 season landed her on the All-Big Ten First Team for the second time in her career (2019). McGraw led the Gophers and ranked second in the Big Ten with 4.59 digs per set. She was the only Gopher to play in every single set during the regular season. McGraw topped her previous season-best of 4.39 digs per set (2020-21) and had a Big Ten-best three matches with 30+ digs in 2021. The rest of the conference combined had four players eclipse the 30-dig mark this season. She ranks No. 5 all-time in digs at Minnesota (1,554) and chose to return to the ‘U’ in 2022 to complete her eligibility and finish her master’s degree in sport and exercise science.
Wenaas, a rising junior from Frisco, Texas, was named Second Team All-Big Ten in 2021 after a breakout season that saw her average 3.28 kills and 2.60 digs per set. She ranked second on the team with 336 kills and combined with Stephanie Samedy to form the most productive attacking duo in the Big Ten Conference. Wenaas reached double digit kills in 24 of 31 matches and tallied 11 double doubles in 2021. One of her most memorable performances was a 22-kill, 19-dig outing (both then career-highs) in a five set win over Nebraska on Oct. 30.
The Gophers open the season on Friday, Aug. 26 against Baylor in the Big 12/Big Ten Challenge in a rematch of the 2021 Sweet 16 in Madison, Wis. The ‘U’ finished 23-9 (15-5 Big Ten) last season.
2022 BIG TEN VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Wisconsin
2. Nebraska
3. Minnesota
4. Ohio State
5. Penn State
6. (tie) Illinois
(tie) Michigan
8. Purdue
9. Northwestern
10….
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