University of Minnesota Athletics
#9 MINNESOTA SWEEPS TENNESSEE, VOLLEYBALL IS 9-0
9/15/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Minnesota held the advantage in just about every statistical category, including a .300-.116 advantage in hitting percentage. The Golden Gophers received nine kills each from Charnette Fair, who hit .750 with no errors, and Stephanie Hagen, who led Minnesota with four blocks. Lindsey Berg tallied 40 assists and served three aces, leading Minnesota in both categories.
Tennessee scored the first point of the first game, but the Gophers scored the next three points and did not trail for the remainder of the game. At 5-4, VanOort served eight consecutive points to put the game out of reach. Branagh had six of Minnesota's 12 kills in the opening stanza, and the Gophers outblocked the Lady Vols 5-0. Minnesota held Tennessee to a negative .029 hitting percentage in the first game.
Minnesota scored the first four points of the second game, including two aces by Berg, and never trailed. The Gophers scored the final seven points of the game. VanOort led Minnesota in the second game with five kills at a .500 hitting percentage, and six of the Gophers' 15 digs. Minnesota hit .394 in the second game.
Tennessee put up a fight in the third game, forcing four ties and two lead changes. The Lady Vols took a 9-6 lead with a 7-1 run, but the Golden Gophers scored nine of the match's final 11 points. Six different Gophers had three or more kills in the final game, led by Fair, Hagen and VanOort with five kills apiece.
The Golden Gophers will complete their non-conference schedule with two matches Saturday. Minnesota will play Seton Hall at 1 p.m. and Akron at 8 p.m. Akron defeated Seton Hall, 15-6, 15-9, 15-8, in the night's first match.
2000 DIET COKE CLASSIC Sports Pavilion, Minneapolis Friday's Matches Akron d. Seton Hall, 3-0 (15-6, 15-9, 15-8) Minnesota d. Tennessee, 3-0 (15-5, 15-5, 15-11) Saturday's Matches Tennessee (6-2) vs. Akron (5-4), 11 a.m. Minnesota (9-0) vs. Seton Hall (4-3), 1 p.m. Tennessee vs. Seton Hall, 6 p.m. Akron vs. Minnesota, 8 p.m.
