University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Open Season With Victory Over Denver
8/28/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The sixth-ranked Gopher volleyball team (1-0) defeated Denver (0-1) in three sets by scores of 25-15, 25-9, 25-15 at the
Sports Pavilion on Friday, Aug. 27. In the earlier match, Marquette defeated Stony Brook in three sets by scores of 25-16, 25-20, 25-19.
Sophomore Tabi Love (Dauphin, Manitoba, Minn.) finished with a team-high 14 kills and also had four blocks, while senior middle blocker Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minn.) collected a match-high nine blocks, nine kills and hit .412 (9-2-17). In her long awaited collegiate debut, Ashley Wittman (Shakopee, Minn.) had a double-double with 11 kills and 12 digs, and hit .588 (11-1-17). Wittman became only the fourth Gopher freshman to have a double-double in her debut, and the seventh to collect double-figure kills since 1981.
Sophomore setter Mia Tabberson (Muncie, Ind.) had 32 assists, nine digs and two blocks, while Jessica Granquist (Blaine, Minn.) had seven digs and one service ace in her first match as the full-time libero. Freshman Tori Dixon (Burnsville, Minn.) finished with five kills, four blocks and hit .556 (5-0-9) in her first collegiate match. Steffi Sotter (Santa Cruz, Calif.) also collected two digs in her collegiate debut.
Minnesota stifled Denver at the net in the first two sets with 13.0 blocks. The Gophers limited the Pioneers to 14 kills, and forced them into 24 errors in 76 swings in the first two sets.
The Gophers picked up where they left off in their final match at the Sports Pavilion in 2009 limiting their opponent to a single-digit tally in the second set. The Gophers, who limited Florida State to seven points in the second set of the 2009 Regional Finals, held the Pioneers to nine in the same set tonight.
Overall, Minnesota limited Denver to a -.010 (24-25-104) hitting percentage and hit .367 (43-10-90) on the night. The Golden Gophers also outblocked the Pioneers 13.0-to-2.0.
The second day of the Gopher Invite will begin with Marquette facing Denver at 10:30 a.m. followed by Minnesota taking on Stony Brook at 12:45 p.m. Denver will face Stony Brook at 3 p.m. and the Golden Gophers will wrap up the tournament against Marquette at 7 p.m.
