The Gophers volleyball team climbed five spots — from No. 11 to No. 6 — in the weekly poll released by the American Volleyball Coaches Association on Monday.

This is the highest Minnesota has been ranked since the 2010 AVCA Preseason Poll, which also placed the Gophers at No. 6.

Minnesota (3-1) swept then-fourth-ranked Texas at home this past weekend, winning both matches in straight sets. The Longhorns (2-2) fell to No. 10 in the poll.

Two Big Ten teams rank above Minnesota: No. 2 Penn State and No. 4 Illinois. Both the Nittany Lions and the Illini went 3-0 this past weekend.

Rounding out the Top 10 are California (1), Stanford (3), Washington (5), Florida (7), UCLA (8), and Southern California (9). Northern Iowa, which hosts Minnesota on Sept. 10, is ranked No. 15.

Senior libero Jessica Granquist, the defending Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, won her fourth Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week award, capping off a weekend in which she averaged 6.17 digs per set. Granquist averaged 5.18 digs per set during the 2010 season.