University of Minnesota Athletics
NO. 20 GOPHER VOLLEYBALL DEFEATED AT NO. 11 PENN STATE
10/12/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The Penn State defense was the difference in the first game. The Nittany Lions collected 13 digs, forcing the Gophers? attack percentage down to .200. Meanwhile, Penn State hit .395, posting a 21-13 advantage in kills. Minnesota held a 9-7 lead before Penn State fought back to tie the score at 11-11. A Minnesota hitting error scored the Nittany Lions' next point and Penn State never trailed after that point in winning game one, 30-22.
Though the Penn State defense continued to play well in the second game, it was unforced errors that hampered the Gopher offense. Minnesota landed only nine kills, compared to 12 errors in the game to hit for a negative.068 attack percentage. Minnesota led only once at 1-0, on an Erin Martin kill. The Gophers trailed by eight points at 18-10, but scored eight of the next 12 points to rally to 22-18. A tip by Trisha Bratford sailed just long to halt the Gophers scoring streak, followed by Penn State scoring the next five points to put the game out of reach. Penn State won the game by a score of 30-19.
The third game was a close battle. The game was tied 11 times, the last at 21-21. Two Penn State kills gave the Nittany Lions a two-point edge they used to pull out the victory at 30-27. Minnesota had one chance to tie the score, but a long rally was ended by a two-ball tip by PSU setter Jess Hayden to give the Lions a 27-25 lead. The Lions hung on for a 30-27 win in the deciding game.
Stephanie Hagen was the only Gopher in double figures with 10 kills. Setter Lindsey Berg played the entire match, returning to action after suffering a sprained ankle last weekend in the Illinois match, to tally 48 assists.
Minnesota hit just .129 for the match, to .319 for Penn State. The Nittany Lions also benefited from a 54-34 advantage in digs.
The Gophers complete their doubleheader weekend of Big Ten play at Ohio State on Sunday.
