Oct. 19 vs. Iowa
The Gophers jumped out to a strong 5-2 lead over Iowa Wednesday night after a kill from Ellie Husemann and two blocks from Taylor Landfair. After an Iowa timeout, the Hawkeyes rallied together to go on a 7-4 run putting them down by only three.
Iowa tied the set at 22, but kills from Landfair and Naya Gros sealed the set for Minnesota with a final set score of 25-22.
Minnesota started set two on fire, scoring six of the first eight points. The Gophers showed no signs of slowing down with an 8-0 run that put them up 11-2. Iowa had some moments throughout the set, but Jenna Wenaas would eventually seal it for Minnesota with a kill to put the final score at 25-15.
The Gophers were able to maintain their momentum, scoring six of the first seven points in set three. They continued to look unstoppable scoring 12 of the next 16 points, resulting in an 18-8 lead.
The Gophers were never really in danger of losing the set. Wenaas ended it after a block and two kills to put the final set score at 25-11.
The Gophers now have an all time record of 84-11 against the Hawkeyes and have won 50 straight matches against Iowa dating back to 1995. CC McGraw led the team in digs. She’s now up to 1,736 in her career, which is just two behind Jessica Granquist for fourth all time in Minnesota program history.
Oct. 22 vs. Purdue
After getting swept in West Lafayette, Indiana, late last month, the Gophers were hoping to even things out in a top 15 rematch.
The two teams met at Maturi Pavillion and began by switching off who had the lead for the first few points of the game. The Boilermakers began to pull away with a 15-12 lead.
A pivotal kill from Mckenna Wucherer, a block from Husemann and a Purdue attack error cut the lead to 22-20. Purdue managed to make it to set point at 24-21, but blocks from Gros and Wenaas tied the set at 24, and two Purdue attack errors led Minnesota to take set one 27-25.
Purdue began set two on fire, scoring five of the first six points. A Wenaas kill and Husemann block helped to bring Minnesota within one point of the Boilermakers at 5-4. The Boilermakers had a seven point lead just before a late scoring run brought the Gophers back in the game at 22-19. A Purdue attack error brought Minnesota within one point, but a block from Purdue’s Raven Colvin and Madeline Koch would ultimately seal Purdue’s set two win 25-23.
The Gophers started set three with a 4-2 advantage over Purdue after pivotal kills from Arica Davis and Wucherer, with an ace by Melani Shaffmaster. Lauren Crowl also hit her first kill in Big Ten play, helping to put the Gophers up 11-6.
After exchanging runs, a kill from Gros and a Purdue attack error sealed set three for Minnesota 25-22, forcing a fourth set.
The two teams continued going back and forth, but Minnesota would get its first two point lead at 10-8 in set four. The Gophers would ultimately come out on top after Wucherer threw down her 16th kill to claim the set and match for Minnesota.
For Shaffmaster, this was her second 20+ dig match. Mcgraw passed Granquist for the No. 4 spot all-time at Minnesota in digs. This match brought her to 1,753 for her career in digs.
The Gophers return to Maturi Pavilion on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for another rematch against Michigan State after beating them in East Lansing earlier this month.
