University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Heads to Iowa for Midweek Contest
10/5/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The Minnesota volleyball team will return to the road as it travels to Iowa on Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. That match can be seen live on the Big Ten Network.
Minnesota will also face No. 24 Northwestern on Sunday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. The Gophers also travel to Ohio State and Penn State next week. Minnesota currently on a stretch where they are playing 12 of 14 matches on the road. The Gophers are 8-2 in that stretch with its only losses at No. 23 San Diego and No. 22 Michigan.
Entering the week, Minnesota tied for second in the Big Ten at 3-1, and is 13-3 overall. Iowa is tied for eighth at 1-3, and has a 6-7 overall record. Northwestern is tied for second in the Big Ten at 3-1 and is 13-2 overall.
The Gophers are led by Tabi Love who has 3.91 kps, 1.98 dps and 0.65 blps. Freshman Ashley Wittman has 3.54 kps, 3.30 dps and 0.81 blps after collecting six solo blocks against Purdue on Oct. 1. Tori Dixon has 1.15 blps and 2.31 kps, while Katherine Harms averaged 3.14 kps in two matches last week.
Junior libero Jessica Granquist leads the Big Ten in digs both in conference (5.80 dps) and overall (5.07 dps). Sophomore setter Mia Tabberson also has 10.72 aps and 1.21 dps, while Stephanie Nucci is averaging 10.94 aps and 1.88 dps.
The Golden Gophers enter the week as the only team in the Big Ten to be in the top five in hitting percentage (2nd at .297), assists (second at 13.09 aps), blocks (third at 3.05 blps),opponent hitting percentage (third at .143) and kills (third at 14.12 kps). Minnesota is the only team in the conference to be in the top five in five of the six categories listed (hitting percentage, assists, blocks, opponent hitting pct., kills and service aces). Michigan Ohio State, Penn State and Wisconsin each appear in the top five in four of the six categories.
Iowa enters the week tied for eighth place in the Big Ten at 1-3 and have an overall record of 6-7. The Hawkeyes won in five sets at home over Indiana on Oct. 1 and lost to Purdue in three sets on Oct. 3. Iowa is led by Becky Walters who has 2.63 kps and 0.96 blps, while Mallory Husz is averaging 2.58 kps and 0.92 blps. Bethany Yeager leads the team with 4.73 dps, while Paige Stevens (7.39 aps and 2.17 dps) and Nikki Daily (3.07 aps and 2.30 dps) are splitting the setting duties. Minnesota leads the all-time series 64-21 and has won 29 straight meetings in the series dating back to Sept. 22, 1995 which is the last Hawkeye victory over the Gophers.
Northwestern enters the week ranked No. 24 in the nation, are tied for second in the Big Ten at 3-1 and are 13-2 overall. Last week, the Wildcats won at Wisconsin in three sets and lost in five at No. 7 Illinois. Northwestern is led by Naomi Johnson who has 3.32 kps and is hitting .382. Sabel Moffit leads the team in blocks at 1.54 blps, has 3.16 kps and is hitting .372. Setter Elyse Glab has 11.63 aps, 2.00 dps and 0.75 blps, while Julie Chin leads the team with 3.59 dps. Minnesota leads the all-time series 45-16 after winning both meetings last year. The Gophers have won five straight meetings.
