University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Opens up NCAAs vs. Louisville
12/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The Minnesota volleyball team (24-8) will travel to the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in six years, as it heads to Knoxville, Tenn.
Minnesota will face Louisville (21-10) on Friday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. (CT). The other first round matchup will feature host Tennessee against Duke. The winners of the two matches will play in the second round on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. (CT).
All of the Golden Gophers postseason matches can be heard in the Gold Zone.
Florida State, who is the overall No. 3 seed in the tournament, is the top team in the Minneapolis Region. Washington is the No. 6 seed, the Golden Gophers are No. 11 and Oregon is No. 14. Florida State (hosts Alabama A&M, Florida A&M, Jacksonville State), Kentucky (Michigan State, Clemson, Oregon), Tennessee and Colorado State (Middle Tennessee, Northern Colorado and Washington) will be the hosts for the first and second rounds.
Those sites will feed into the Minneapolis Regional on Dec. 11-12. The Regional Semifinals will take place on Friday, Dec. 11 at 5 and 7 p.m. and the Regional Final will be on Saturday, Dec. 12 at 5:30 p.m. on ESPNU.
All Session tickets are on sale for $25 for chairbacks, $20 for general admission and $15 for senior or student rates. Tickets can be purchased over the phone at 1-800-UGOPHER or online at gophersports.com.
Minnesota received a No. 11 national seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament, and a No. 3 seed in the Minneapolis Region. It marked the sixth time in eight years that the Golden Gophers have received a national seed. Since seeding the top 16 seeds begin in 2000 in the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament, Minnesota has been seeded No. 13 or higher seven times.
The Golden Gophers qualified for their 11th straight NCAA Tournament with this year’s selection. Minnesota is one of 11 programs in the nation to make 11 or more NCAA Tournaments in a row.
Minnesota enters the NCAA Tournament with an 8-8 record against the field. The Golden Gophers are 2-3 against teams from the Gainesville Regional, 2-2 against teams from the Stanford Regional, 2-2 against teams from the Minneapolis Regional and 2-1 against teams from the Omaha Region.
The Golden Gophers are led by junior middle blocker Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minn.) who is one of two players in the nation to be ranked in the top 10 nationally in hitting percentage (.409) and blocks (1.49). Gibbemeyer, who was named First-Team All-Big Ten on Nov. 30, is second in the Big Ten hitting percentage (.409), eighth in points (4.17 pps), is third in blocks (1.49 blps) and 10th in kills (3.26).
In conference play, she was second in hitting percentage at .399, fourth in conference play in points (4.36 pps), fourth in kills (3.49 kps) and fourth in blocks (1.45) in Big Ten play. Gibbemeyer was the only player to be ranked in the top five in all four catetories in conference play.
Senior libero Christine Tan (Safety Harbor, Fla.) received Honorable-Mention All-Big Ten honors, and leads the Golden Gohpers in digs with 3.73. She is ninth in the Big Ten in digs, tied for sixth in serve-receive percentage (.966) and was eighth in digs in conference play. Freshman Tabitha Love (Dauphin, Manitoba) was named to the Big Ten All-Freshmen Team, and enters the NCAA Tournament averaging 2.34 kps and 0.51 blps.
Senior setter Taylor Carico (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) was second in the Big Ten with 11.08 aps in conference play. She is also fifth in the Big Ten in assists at 10.39 aps, is tied for second in service aces on the team and is third in blocks per set. Junior outside hitter Hailey Cowles is averaging 1.17 kps and 2.69 dps.
As a team, the Golden Gophers lead the Big Ten in digs (15.47 dps) and are second in blocks at 2.81 blps.
Louisville claimed the automatic bid out of the Big East, after defeating Syracuse, Notre Dame and Cincinnati in the Big East Tournament. The Cardinals enter the NCAA Tournament with a 21-10 overall record and finished fourth in the Big East during the regular-season at 10-4.
Louisville joins Minnesota as one of 11 teams in the nation to have qualified for 11 or more NCAA Tournaments in a row. The Cardinals will be making their 12th straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Louisville is led by Lola Arslanbekova who is averaging 4.35 kps and 1.64 dps. Lecia Brown leads the team with 1.50 blps and has 2.08 kps. Justine Landi is also averaging 2.20 kps, 2.41 dps and 0.74 blps. Lindsey Mango leads the team in digs with 3.61 dps.
Duke received an at-large bid out of the ACC after going 27-5 overall and finishing second at 17-3 in conference play. The Blue Devils have won 12 of 13 matches heading into the NCAA Tournament, with its only loss coming in five sets at the No. 3 seed Florida State. Duke is led by Rachel Moss who has 3.38 kps and 2.96 dps. Recci Burling leads the team with 0.98 blps and is averaging 2.83 kps. Sophia Dunworth also has 2.61 kps on the season. Setter Kellie Catanach is averaging 10.53 aps, 1.79 dps, 0.85 kps and 0.52 blps. Claire Smalzer leads the team in digs with 3.98 dps.
Tennessee comes into the NCAA Tournament with a 23-7 overall record and finished second in the SEC with a 16-4 record. The Lady Vols received an at-large bid out of the SEC after going 23-7 overall and finishing third at 16-4 in conference play. Tennessee enters the NCAA Tournament having won 13 of its final 15 matches. The Lady Vols defeated Kentucky twice and Florida once in that stretch. Tennessee is led by Nikki Fowler who has 3.78 kps, 3.27 dps and 0.88 blps. Kayla Jeter is also averaging 2.88 kps and 0.58 blps. Farren Powe leads the team with 1.21 blps and 1.79 kps. The Lady Vols have had three different players set at different times this year. Kelsey Mahoney set in the final two matches, and is averaging 6.82 aps and 1.96 dps.
The Lady Vols are coached by Rob Patrick who is 266-142 in his 13th season with the program. Minnesota leads the series against the Lady Vols 3-1, however Tennessee won the last meeting between the two teams. In that last match, the Golden Gophers lost in five sets to the Lady Vols in the second round of the NCAA Tournament on Dec. 3, 2005. Minnesota led 2-1 and 25-20 in fourth set, before Tennessee rallied to win in five sets.
