University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Ready for Road Action in Michigan
11/20/2013 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
| Minnesota (23-6, 11-5) at Michigan/Michigan State | |
| Match | Minnesota at Michigan |
| Date/Time | Friday, November 22 / 6 p.m. (CT) |
| Location | Ann Arbor, Mich. |
| Live Stats | |
| Live Blog | Game Day Live |
| Match | Minnesota at Michigan State |
| Date/Time | Saturday, November 23 / 5:30 p.m. (CT) |
| Location | East Lansing, Mich. |
| Live Stats | |
| Live Blog | Game Day Live |
| Social Media | @GopherVball | Facebook |
Nov. 20, 2013
GOPHERS READY FOR ROAD ACTION IN MICHIGAN
The No. 11 University of Minnesota volleyball team travels to No. 18 Michigan and No. 17 Michigan State, Friday and Saturday nights. Friday's game against the Wolverines begins at 6 p.m., followed by a 5:30 p.m. Saturday tilt against the Spartans. Friday's game will be available on Gopher All-Access and a blog is available for both matches.
ON THE DOCKET
Minnesota returns to the Sports Pavilion confines Wednesday, Nov. 27, at 7 p.m., to face No. 14 Wisconsin. The Gophers will then travel to No. 20 Illinois to close out the Big Ten regular season. Match time is also at 7 p.m. against the Illini.
GOPHERS IN THE RPI
Minnesota ranks 14th in the recent RPI, a system used to help determine the NCAA postseason. Holding the No. 1 spot is Texas, followed by Penn State, Washington, Florida and Nebraska. Minnesota also faced Kentucky (9) and Duke (16) earlier this year in non-conference play.
GOPHERS ON THE ROAD
Of Minnesota's six losses, four came against ranked teams on the road. The Gophers fell at Kentucky (9/14), at Nebraska (10/4), at Penn State (10/9) and at Wisconsin (10/23), while they dropped two contests at home to the Huskers and Nittany Lions. Overall, Minnesota is 5-6 against ranked teams this season.
MINNESOTA HOME ATTENDANCE
Minnesota has drawn well this year at the Sports Pavilion. In 12 home matches this season, the Gophers have averaged 4,225 fans this year. In fact, last Saturday's match against Penn State ranked as the second-highest volleyball match at the Sports Pavilion. In a sellout, the Gophers drew 5,748 fans Saturday. Prior to that, the season's best attendance came on Oct. 19 when the Gophers packed in 5,638 fans against Michigan. On the season, the University of Minnesota ranks third in average attendance.
GOPHERS AT HOME
Minnesota continues to play well on its home court. The Gophers are 65-11 in the last five seasons at the Sports Pavilion. Minnesota fell just once at home last year and boasted a 15-1 home record. In 2011, the Gophers were 10-5 and went 16-2 in 2010. The loss to Nebraska (11/10) ended a 19-match home win streak, dating back to the 2012 season. The Gophers are 9-2 this year at home.
LOHMAN SIGNS WITH THE GOPHERS
Head volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon announced that Molly Lohman (Mankato, Minn.) has signed a National Letter of Intent and will join the Golden Gopher Volleyball program in the fall of 2014. Lohman, a 6-foot, 3-inch middle blocker, completed her senior year with Mankato West High School this fall. An all-state selection in her final year, Lohman was also an all-conference selection as she helped Mankato West to a Big 9 conference title. Her 115 blocks this year ranked second in the state of Minnesota, while her 365 kills ranked ninth. Lohman finished her scholastic career with 853 kills, 51 assists, 94 aces, 250 blocks and 307 digs. As a member of the Northern Lights club team, Lohman was an AAU All-American as a part of the 17-1 team in 2013 where the team placed fifth. On the list of Prep Volleyball's Top 100, Lohman was ranked 38th. She was also a part of the Northern Lights 16 AAU National Championship team.
GOPHERS AT MICHIGAN/MSU
Minnesota will look to buck the trend this week at Michigan and Michigan State. The Gophers fell in three last year to the Wolverines on Nov. 10 at Cliff Keen Arena. In the last decade, the Gophers have held just a 4-6 record against Michigan on its home court. The Gophers are 52-15 all-time against the Wolverines, dating back to 1975.
Minnesota fell in four the last time the Gophers visited East Lansing, Mich. on Nov. 9. Minnesota has suffered just two losses to the Spartans in the last decade, both of which has come on their home court. The Gophers boast a 49-17 all-time record since 1976.
THIS GIRL IS ON FIRE
Adrianna Nora has had 103 kills in the last eight matches. Of the eight, Nora has had double-digit kills in six and posted nine in the win at Indiana (11/2). Hitting .328 this season, Nora has played in 68 sets and has had 175 kills in 399 attempts. She also posted her first ace of the year against Purdue (11/1) and had six blocks in the win. In the Nebraska match alone, Nora had 18 kills, 41 attempts and six blocks, all of which were her best as a Golden Gopher.
ABOUT THE WOLVERINES
Michigan enters the week with a 17-10 record and a 7-9 mark within conference play. The Wolverines are coming off a weekend split at Iowa and Nebraska, as they defeated Iowa in three and lost to Nebraska in four. Michigan is hitting .241 as a team, averages 13.67 kills per set and 2.29 blocks per set. Michigan is led by Jennifer Cross, who is hitting a team-best .315 in 105 sets played. She and Krysalyn Goode lead the team in blocks per set at .99 and 1:04, respectively. Lexi Erwin has taken the most attempts and has a team-best 324 kills in 980 swings, while Molly Toon follows at 281 kills. Starting setter Lexi Dannemiller has 1127 assists, 79 kills, 19 aces and 212 digs. She has also accumulated 42 blocks. Tiffany Morales leads the Wolverines with 422 digs, followed by Ally Sabol at 264.
ABOUT THE SPARTANS
Michigan State enters the weekend with a 20-8 overall record and are 9-7 in the Big Ten. Producing a 10-3 record at home, the Spartans return home for the first time in three weeks. As a team, the Spartans are hitting .254 and averages 1.52 aces per set, as their 150 aces ranks at the top of the Big Ten. Since the Gophers defeated MSU in October, the Spartans have gone 3-6. Lauren Wicinski leads the team with 435 kills, 4.44 kills per set, 1075 attempts, 512 points and 42 aces. Alexis Mathews hits a team-best .415 and averages 1.46 blocks per set. Four Spartans rank in triple-digit assists. Kristen Kelsay has a team-best 673, followed by Hallie Peterson (323), libero Kori Moster (111) and defensive specialist Rylan Hubbard (109). Moster also leads the team with 466 digs.
THE LAST TIME
Daly Santana and Lindsey Lawmaster each had career-high nights as they helped Minnesota to a 3-1 win over Michigan on Oct. 19. Minnesota fell in the first set, 15-25, but won the next three, 25-20, 25-22, 25-23. Santana had a career-high 18 kills and 55 attempts, while she also had a double-double with 10 digs. Lawmaster came into the match during second set and had a career-high 17 digs, which also tied a match-high. Ashley Wittman also had 10 kills and eight digs. Hannah Tapp had eight blocks. Alexandra Palmer added 25 assists, while Sydney Howard had 14 in the win.
Minnesota handed then-No. 5 Michigan State its first loss of the conference season when it won, 3-2, Oct. 17, in front of 4,782 fans at the Sports Pavilion. Minnesota fell in the first set, 23-25, won the second, 25-21, fell in the third, 24-26, won the fourth, 25-22 and won, 15-7, in the fifth and deciding set. Between the two teams, 72 attack errors were committed, 32 by Minnesota and 40 by MSU. Santana paced the Gophers with a double-double when she had 11 kills and 16 digs, and tied a career high with seven aces. Adrianna Nora came off the bench and led the team with 12 kills in 26 attempts and just one error when she hit a team-best .423. Morgan Bohl and Ashley Wittman led the Gophers with 20 digs and Tori Dixon had eight total blocks. Alexandra Palmer added a match-best 31 assists.
