University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHER SPIKERS NEED JUST 76 MINUTES TO SWEEP PURDUE
11/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Minnesota was led once again by a strong performance by its middle blockers, Stephanie Hagen and Bethany Brafford. The two combined for 24 kills and a .564 attack percentage as Hagen landed 13 kills and Brafford swatted 11 kills in 17 attempts without an error.
The Gophers shook off a sluggish start to the match, coming back from a 7-1 early deficit to take their first lead at 19-18 on a Brafford kill. Minnesota outscored the Boilermakers, 12-1, from that point on to capture game one 30-21. Brafford finished the first game with five kills.
Sophomore outside hitter Cassie Busse served 12 points for the Gophers in the second game, a 30-19 victory. Busse stepped to the service line with the game tied at 6-6 and two service aces, two Hagen kills and three Purdue errors led to seven straight points and a 13-6 lead. Busse would serve five consecutive points later in the game, adding her third service ace of the game.
Hagen blasted seven of her match-high 13 kills in the third and deciding game. Minnesota won game three by a tally of 30-23. Trisha Bratford also came off the bench to add five kills in eight swings without an error in the game. Minnesota took an early 10-4 lead and held a seven-point advantage twice, the last at 26-19 on a Bratford kill. Purdue closed the gap to 26-22, before the Gophers scored the winning points on a Boilermaker service error, two Hagen kills and a final service ace by Busse.
Minnesota hit .310 as a team, compared to just .069 for Purdue. The Gophers also doubled up the Boilermakers in the blocking game, building a 12-6 advantage. Gopher setter Lindsey Berg tallied 37 assists and a team-high 10 digs in the match, while Hagen led the Gophers with seven total blocks.
The Gophers play the final match of a six-match homestand, Sunday, when they host Minnesota-Duluth at 2 p.m. in the Sports Pavilion.
