University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
14-2, 2-1BIG 10
Nebraska
10-2, 3-0BIG 10
Nebraska Hands Gophers First Conference Loss
10/4/2013 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
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Oct. 4, 2013
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The No. 8 University of Minnesota volleyball team fell to No. 10 Nebraska tonight in front of 8,223 fans at the Devaney Center in Lincoln, Neb. With the loss, the Golden Gophers drop to 14-2 this season and 2-1 in the Big Ten, while Nebraska improved to 3-0 in league action and 10-2 this season.
Tori Dixon had 12 kills, while Daly Santana had 10. Alexandra Palmer had 32 assists, as Minnesota had four players with a team-best six digs. Nebraska led the match in hitting percentage (.385 to .226), blocks (9.5 to 2.5) and a three-dig margin (39 to 36).
Minnesota looks to return to the win column tomorrow night as it plays Iowa in Iowa City.
Set Breakdown:
Set 1: As Minnesota led, 7-5, Nebraska took a timeout, which ended the Gopher run. Nebraska would add three-straight points for an 8-7 lead. Later tied at 12 all, Nebraska would go on a 5-1 run to push its lead to 17-13. Minnesota, however, would battle back when it went on a five-point run to tie the set at 21. The Huskers took a timeout and would finish with a 4-1 run over the Gophers to win the first set and take a 1-0 lead. Minnesota was narrowly out hit, .318 to .314, as each team had one block. The Huskers also had one more dig, 17-16, than the Gophers.
Set 2: Minnesota pulled out to a 12-9 lead during Santana’s serve rotation, but the Huskers came back and tied up the set as they had two blocks and the Gophers had an attack error. After trading points, Nebraska added back-to-back kills to go up 16-14. Minnesota would close it to one on a kill from Adrianna Nora (18-17), but the Huskers would go on a 7-2 run to solidify the second set and go up 2-0 against Minnesota. The Huskers hit .464 in that set, while they limited Minnesota to .214.
Set 3: Nebraska would go up 14-11 as the Gophers called a timeout. Minnesota would get the side out for a one-point deficit before Nebraska put the set at 17-14. The Gophers would again close the gap to one on a kill from Nora and a bad set by the Huskers as Nebraska called a timeout. However, the Huskers would come out of the break and add back-to-back points to go up three at 20-17, which set the pace for the eventual win.
