University of Minnesota Athletics
GOPHER VOLLEYBALL WINS SAN DIEGO INVITATIONAL, SPLITS FINAL TWO MATCHES
9/8/2001 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Minnesota tied with San Jose State and San Diego with 3-1 records, but the Gophers were declared the tournament champions based on games won. The Gophers' Lindsey Berg was named the tournament MVP, and Kathy Tilson and Stephanie Hagen were named to the all-tournament team.
Tilson led Minnesota against the Toreros with a season-high 20 kills, while Hagen added 15 kills, 11 digs, five service aces and five blocks. Berg added 60 assists and four service aces. Erin Martin had a double-double with 13 kills and 12 digs. San Diego held a slim .215-.211 advantage in hitting percentage and a 13-9 edge in team blocks.
The Toreros erased a 1-0 Minnesota lead in the final game with four consecutive points to take a 4-1 lead. The Gophers scored the next four points, the final point on a kill by Kathy Tilson, to take a 5-4 lead. San Diego scored the next two points to take a 6-5 lead and eventually increased the lead to 11-7. Minnesota's Stephanie Hagen scored the next three points on a kill and two service aces to pull the Gophers within 11-10. However, the teams traded sideouts for the remainder of the match, as a San Diego block of a Tilson attempt ended the match.
San Diego scored the first five points of the match and led for the first two-thirds of the first game. The game was tied at 13-13 and 17-17 before Minnesota earned its first lead at 21-20 on a Tilson kill. The Gophers extended the lead to 24-20, but the Toreros scored the next six points to regain a 26-24 advantage. Minnesota fought off three game points and tied the game 29-29 on a Lindsey Berg service ace, but the Toreros used a kill and a service ace to win the first game, 31-29. Similar to the first game, San Diego led from the start, extending the lead to six points twice at 15-9 and 19-13. The Gophers scored the next six points to get even at 19-19 and took their first lead of the game at 25-24 on a kill by Cassie Busse. Tilson added another kill to increase the Minnesota edge to 26-24, but San Diego scored the next four points to retake a 28-26 lead. The teams traded sideouts, with San Diego winning the game, 30-28, on a Minnesota service error.
The Toreros broke out to the lead in the third game, extending the margin to 13-9. Minnesota scored the next seven points, three on Stephanie Hagen aces, to take a 16-13 lead. The Golden Gophers extended the lead to seven points twice, the last at 29-22 on a Berg ace. San Diego scored the next seven points to get even at 29-29, erasing seven Minnesota game points. After an exchange of service errors, Lisa Axel served an ace to give Minnesota a 32-30 win on its ninth game point. The Gophers led for the entirety of the fourth game, consistently earning sideouts while gradually buidling a lead. Minnesota allowed San Diego just four points on its serve in the fourth game in winning, 30-19.
Against Brown, Minnesota first-year setter Lindsey Vander Well made her first career start, and directed the Gophers to a .296 hitting percentage. Tilson led Minnesota with 10 kills and hit .500 for the match. Bethany Brafford set a career high with 11 blocks, leading Minnesota's 15-1 block advantage.
The Gophers never trailed in the first game and allowed Brown just two points on its serve. Minnesota hit .323 in the first game and held Brown to a -.059 hitting percentage. The Bears jumped out to the lead in the second game and led by four points on four occasions, the last at 11-7. Minnesota went on an 18-4 run to take a commanding lead at 25-15. Brown pulled to with 27-23, but the Gophers earned three conseuctive sideouts to end the game. Minnesota jumped out to a 9-2 lead in the third game and held on to complete the sweep.
