The Golden Gophers volleyball team hosted the Ohio State Buckeyes and Illinois Fighting Illini at Maturi Pavilion on Wednesday and Saturday. They fell short in three sets against the Buckeyes but returned to the winning column against the Fighting Illini.
Oct 12 vs. Ohio State
Wednesday’s matchup began with the Buckeyes scoring the first four points of the game, giving them an early lead. Minnesota was behind most of the set but managed to narrow Ohio State’s lead to 14-13 after a kill from Taylor Landfair. Minnesota managed to get within one point again, but Ohio State ultimately won the first set 25-20
Minnesota scored three straight points to begin the second set. Ohio State, however, did not allow Minnesota to run away and went on a 5-1 point run.
After a mid-set media timeout, Ohio State went up by as much as six points, and an attack error from Taylor Landfair closed out the set for Ohio State 25-21.
Set three had the Buckeyes taking an early lead as they scored five of the first six points. After an attack error from Jenna Wenaas, it was 8-2 in favor of the Buckeyes. Gophers head coach Hugh McCutheon called a timeout to regroup his team.
Minnesota was able to find a rhythm and go on a 4-0 point run, which cut its deficit to three. After going back and forth, a kill from Carter Booth finally cut the Gophers’ deficit to 23-22. Ohio State, however, was able to cap it off and win the set and game with a final set score of 25-22.
That evening, the Gophers hit a season low of .097 with 28 attacking errors. They are now 48-37 all-time against Ohio State.
Oct 15. vs Illinois
Saturday afternoon volleyball began with Minnesota taking a 4-2 lead over Illinois. Kills from Landfair, Booth and Wenaas strengthened Minnesota’s lead 15-10 just before a media timeout. Minnesota began to lead, going up as much as 19-11 and eventually taking the first set 25-19.
Early kills from Landfair and Wenaas helped give Minnesota the initial lead in the second set.
Illinois was not about to let Minnesota get by so easily this time and went up 18-15. After a few exchanges of points, Minnesota would ultimately take the set 25-23.
The start of the third set had the Gophers giving up the first three points, but they quickly rebounded scoring the next six. Illinois, however, would score nine of the next 12 points giving them the lead at 12-9. Kills from Naya Gros, Melani Shaffmaster, and a CC McGraw ace tied the game at 12.
The two teams went back and forth until kills from Landfair and Wenaas sparked a three point run for the Gophers, putting the score at 18-15. The Fighting Illini cut the score close at 24-23 in the later part of the set, but a kill from Wenaas sealed the match for Minnesota with the final set score at 25-23.
Minnesota has now won seven consecutive matches against Illinois and have moved to an overall record of 43-40. Taylor Landfair attained double digits in kills for the 16th time this season and has become one of two players in the country to make double digit kills in every match.
The Gophers will hit the road this week as they travel to Iowa City on Wednesday, Oct. 19 to take on the Iowa Hawkeyes at 6 p.m.
