After closing out their regular season on a high note, the Gophers volleyball team solidified the No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament. 

With the seven seed, Minnesota will host the first and second rounds as well as the regional round of the tournament at Maturi Pavilion. The Gophers finished the regular season with a 23-5 record (17-3 Big Ten). In their first matchup of the tournament Friday, the Gophers take on Fairfield. Fairfield finished the regular season with a 24-5 record (17-1 Metro Atlantic Athletic) and won their conference. An unfamiliar team for Minnesota, but with the regular season in the rear-view mirror, the Gophers are ready for the postseason. 

“We have had a pretty up and down season with lineups and everything, but we’re figuring things out and we are connected more than we have ever been in the past,” said middle blocker Taylor Morgan. “We’re just figuring things out, slowly but surely and it’s going to be really awesome. And I’m really excited to see what we have in store.” 

The action at the Pav begins Friday at 4:30, with Creighton and Iowa State. The Gophers will take on Fairfield at 7:00, following the conclusion of the Creighton match. If the Gophers survive Fairfield, they’ll play the winner of Creighton and Iowa State Saturday. 

“We’ll start with Fairfield and see where we go from there,” said head coach Hugh McCutcheon. “We’re excited to have a good seed and we’ll get ready for the weekend and see what happens. Hopefully play some good volleyball Friday, and see if we can tie up our laces again and have another crack at it on Saturday.”