University of Minnesota Athletics
MINNESOTA VOLLEYBALL IMPROVES TO 2-0 WITH SWEEP OF CALIFORNIA
9/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nicole Branagh had 16 kills to lead Minnesota's offense, which hit .405 for the match. Branagh increased her career kill total to 1,763, moving her into 10th place on the Big Ten's all-time kill list. Lindsey Berg surpassed the 3,000-assist plateau for her career in the match with 47 assists. Stephanie Hagen contributed 14 kills, seven digs and seven assists, while Charnette Fair added 11 kills.
California took the early lead in the first game, scoring the first three points. The Golden Bears held their last lead of the opening game at 5-4, as Minnesota scored ten of the final 11 points of the first game. The Gopher offense tallied 24 kills in the opening stanza, with Branagh, Hagen and Fair each earning six kills. Minnesota held a .362-.205 advantage in hitting percentage in the first game.
The teams split the first 10 points of the second game, before Minnesota ran off 10 of the next 11 points to win the second game. Minnesota hit .563 in the second game, with Branagh collecting seven kills in 10 attempts and Hagen smashing six kills in eight attempts.
The Gophers left no doubt in the third game, scoring the first 11 points and holding on for the sweep. Minnesota forced 13 California hitting errors in the final game and limited the Golden Bears to a -.079 hitting percentage. Eight different Gophers had kills in the third, including three kills in three attempts from first-year player Cassie Busse.
The Gophers conclude play in the Silver Legacy/Ray Wersching Invitational late Saturday night against the University of Nevada. Minnesota will resume its season Thursday with a match at Georgia State beginning at 6 p.m.
BIG TEN STANDINGS Illinois 0-0 2-0 MINNESOTA 0-0 2-0 Purdue 0-0 2-0 Wisconsin 0-0 2-0 Indiana 0-0 1-0 Michigan 0-0 1-0 Michigan State 0-0 1-0 Ohio State 0-0 1-0 Penn State 0-0 2-1 Iowa 0-0 0-1 Northwestern 0-0 0-1 Saturday's Result Minnesota d. California, 3-0 (15-6, 15-6, 15-5) Friday's Results Illinois d. Charleston Southern, 3-0 (15-4, 15-6, 15-4) Illinois d. Southern Mississippi, 3-1 (13-15, 15-13, 13-4, 15-9) Indiana d. Cincinnati, 3-0 (15-12, 15-10, 15-11) UCLA d. Iowa, 3-0 (15-3, 15-9, 15-3) Michigan d. Maryland, 3-0 (15-6, 15-7, 15-8) Michigan State d. Rutgers, 3-0 (15-11, 15-7, 15-11) Nebraska d. Northwestern, 3-0 (15-4, 15-7, 15-6) Ohio State d. Colgate, 3-0 (15-3, 15-2, 15-8) Penn State d. Arkansas, 3-0 (15-3, 15-9, 15-12) Purdue d. Eastern Kentucky, 3-0 (15-3, 15-3, 15-9) Purdue d. Western Michigan, 3-2 (15-7, 16-14, 3-15, 10-15, 18-16) Wisconsin d. Ball State, 3-0 (15-10, 15-4, 15-8) Wisconsin d. UNLV, 3-0 (15-5, 15-0, 15-1)
