University of Minnesota Athletics
No. 9 Minnesota Upends No. 8 Penn State 3-0
10/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Minnesota jumped out to a 1-0 lead by winning the first game 30-27. The Golden Gophers ran out to a 20-16 lead, but Penn State cut the deficit to just one to bring the score to 23-22. Minnesota capitalized on a 4-0 run to go up 27-22 and eventually won the game. Trisha Bratford (Reseda, Calif.) led the way tallying six kills on the game.
In game two, Minnesota won 30-20 to gain a 2-0 advantage. With the score at 6-5, Minnesota ran off 13 of the next 19 points to take a 19- 10 lead. From that point, the Golden Gophers led by no less than five points. As a team, Minnesota dominated Penn State outhitting them .436 to .154. Jessica Brynes (Minnetonka, Minn.) and Cassie Busse (Prior Lake, Minn.) each totaled five kills for the game.
In game three Minnesota sealed the match with a 30-19 win. The Golden Gophers jumped out to a 23-9 lead and never looked back. Minnesota held the Nittany Lions to a negative hitting percentage at -.067.
Minnesota had four players with double figure kills led by Busse who had 14, along with nine digs. Brynes also posted a .625 hitting percentage with 11 kills on the night. Bratford and Erin Martin (Ames, Iowa) had 11 and 10 kills respectively. Lindsey Vander Well (Prinsburg, Minn.) had 41 assists and 11 digs, while Paula Gentil (Forteleaza Ceara’, Brazil) led the match with 12 digs.
The Golden Gophers had 53 kills to Penn State’s 36, while scoring seven service aces for the match. Minnesota hit .343 and held Penn State to .123, over .200 points below their season average. It marks the first time in school history that Minnesota has defeated three Top-10 teams in a single season.
“We knew we had to serve aggressively,” Coach Hebert said. “I thought our blocking was pretty close but not exactly on target in the first game. We started blocking better in the second game. I think we played about as well as we can play. This was a great win for our program; it showed what we can do. It feels great.”
Penn State was led by Cara Smith with 12 kills and five blocks.
Minnesota will travel to Ohio State on Friday, Oct. 25, and Indiana on Saturday, Oct. 26.
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