University of Minnesota Athletics
No. 6 Minnesota Volleyball Defeats Michigan in Three Games
11/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The Golden Gophers also moved their school record Big Ten winning streak to nine matches, while also becoming the first team to defeat the Wolverines at home this season.
Minnesota jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the match by taking game one 30- 26. The first 20 points of the game featured 10 ties, and saw the two teams tied at 10. Michigan scored seven of the next 10 points to go up 17-13. However, the Golden Gophers answered with an 8-0 run to go up 21-17. From that point Minnesota never led by less then two points, as it moved on to take game one. Cassie Busse (Prior Lake, Minn.) led the way with eight kills in the game, while Lindsey Vander Well (Prinsburg, Minn.) had 15 assists and eight digs. The Golden Gophers outhit the Wolverines .298 to .116 in the game.
The Golden Gophers moved up 2-0 in the match by taking game two 30- 24. Minnesota came out of the gates strong with a 6-1 run. The Golden Gophers would lead by no less then three points the rest of the way, as it moved on to the six-point victory in game two. Erin Martin (Ames, Iowa) led the way with five kills in the game.
In game three Minnesota fought off a game point to win game three 32- 30 to take the match 3-0. The game featured 20 ties and nine lead changes, but with Michigan leading 29-28 Minnesota turned the tide with a kill from Trisha Bratford to tie the score at 29. The Golden Gophers proceeded to score three of the last four points to take the game.
Minnesota was led by Busse who had 16 kills, eight digs and three service aces. Martin had 15 kills, a season-high nine digs and four blocks, while Bratford had 11 kills. Vander Well had 45 assists and was one off a career-high in digs with 16. Paula Gentil (Fortaleaza Ceara’, Brazil) also had double-figure digs with 10.
The Golden Gophers outhit the Wolverines .260 to .154 on the night, and also had 57 kills to Michigan’s 42.
Michigan was led by Erin Moore who had 12 kills and eight digs on the night.
Minnesota will finish up its road trip when it takes on Michigan State on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. With a win over the Spartans, the Golden Gophers would clinch a tie for their first ever Big Ten volleyball title
