Minnesota seniors Lindsey Berg and Stephanie Hagen were selected to the 2001 Preseason All-Big Ten Volleyball Team. As a team, the Gophers placed fourth in the preseason conference poll.

Berg has led the Big Ten in service aces for the past three seasons and is on pace to become the conference’s all-time leader in assists.

Hagen led the Big Ten with 1.56 blocks per game last season.

Both athletes were two-time All-Big Ten picks.

Minnesota opens its season at the Jefferson Cup Invitational in Charlottesville, Va., against Stanford on Aug. 31.

Middlebrooks signs

Former Minnesota cornerback Willie Middlebrooks, a first-round draft pick, agreed to a five-year contract with the Denver Broncos last Thursday.

An NFL source said the deal includes a $3 million signing bonus and a $100,000 reporting bonus. With incentives, base salary and bonuses, the contract is worth about $8.4 million.

Middlebrooks, a three-year starter for the Gophers, was the 24th pick in the April draft.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report