University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Defeats Baylor in Four Sets
9/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The Minnesota volleyball team (4-0) defeated Baylor (3-2) in four sets by scores of 25-16, 25-19, 20-25, 25-22 at the Sports Pavilion on Friday, Sept. 3.
With the victory, Minnesota started out 4-0 for the first time since 2000 season when it jumped out to a 15-0 start.
The Golden Gophers were led by Tabi Love (Dauphin, Manitoba, Minn.) who had a match-high 17 kills and 11 digs for her first career double-double. Senior middle blocker Lauren Gibbemeyer (St. Paul, Minn.) hit .424 (15-1-33) with 15 kills and four blocks, while Ashley Wittman (Shakopee, Minn.) had 10 kills, a career-best19 digs and three assists. Freshman Tori Dixon (Burnsville, Minn.) also had had 12 kills on the night. Junior Jessica Granquist (Blaine, Minn.) finished with 14 digs and three assists.
Minnesota jumped out to a dominant start limiting Baylor to a -.179 hitting percentage (6-11-29) in the first set, while the Golden Gophers hit .241 (12-5-29). Love and Gibbemeyer helped pace the Gophers to a 25-19 victory in the second, as they collected 13 kills in 20 errorless swings.
Baylor responded by hitting .400 in the third set to send the match to a fourth set. With the score tie at 17 in the fourth set, Wittman delivered consecutive kills to make it 19-17. After the Bears tied it at 19, they committed errors on back-to-back points. Dixon delivered a kill to make it 22-19. Baylor cut the lead to 23-21, but Love delivered a kill to make it match point at 24-21. After the Bears fought off the first match point, Love delivered another kill to give Minnesota the four-set victory.
The Gophers outhit Baylor .268 (59-19-149) to .173 (49-23-150) in the match, and had 66 digs to 59 for the Bears. The two teams were even in blocks at six, but Minnesota had a season-high five service aces to three for Baylor.
On the night, Baylor was led by Allison King who had 10 kills and nine digs. Elizabeth Graham also had nine kills and three blocks. Kate Harris had a match-high 14 digs, while Ashlie Christenson had seven kills and 13 digs.
Minnesota will resume action when it faces No. 22 Northern Iowa on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 11 a.m. Baylor and Dayton will face each other at 1:30 p.m. Northern Iowa will take on Baylor at 5:30 p.m. and the Golden Gophers will wrap up the tournament against No. 22 Dayton at 8 p.m.
