University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Set to Compete at NCAAs
12/3/2015 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
NCAA Tournament Preview
Written by Rachel Timmerman. Athletic Communications Student Intern
Friday night, the No. 2 seeded University of Minnesota volleyball team will make its 20th appearance in the NCAA Tournament, hosting the first two rounds at the Sports Pavilion.
Friday also marks the first time in school history the Gophers will play the Jackson State Tigers.
"We are excited to be hosting the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament this weekend," head coach Hugh McCutcheon said. "Having finished the Big Ten portion of our season, we're very happy to be here at the tournament and see where we go from there."
If the Gophers defeat Jackson State on Friday night, they'll face the winner of the Marquette/University of Northern Iowa match.
But Minnesota is taking it one match at a time.
"All of our energy and teaching is on the first opponent, then from there we get to the second and so on and so on," McCutcheon said.
The No. 2 overall seed marks the highest seed for the Golden Gophers in school history, topping the previous best No. 4 in 2004.
Winning the Big Ten Conference, it was known that the Gophers would be seeded high, but the team didn't have that in mind.
"I don't think we had any expectations," senior outside hitter Daly Santana said. "It's great that we got that seed and it caps a great season, but I don't think it really defines us."
Minnesota recently earned post-season awards, including Big Ten Player of the Year, Daly Santana; Freshman of the Year, Samantha Seliger-Swenson; and Big Ten Coach of the Year, Hugh McCutcheon.
"I think we knew that we had a chance to be great, but we just took it day by day and put in the work," junior outside hitter Sarah Wilhite said.
After coming up short of the tournament last season, the team knew changes needed to be made.
"We had a very high number of close sets we were involved in and came up short a bunch [last year]," McCutcheon said. "This year, it has kind of been the opposite of that."
Thanks to a productive spring season, the team learned how to be cohesive and really work together, McCutcheon said.
"It's amazing to be a part of [this team], seeing how much we've grown from last year and going through the spring together and then this season," Wilhite said.
The new "culture" on the team has had a noticeable difference on the team's ability to play for each other, impacting the way it competes everyday, Santana said.
"When you get a group that is as connected as this team is, then I think all things become possible," McCutcheon said. "You can have talent, but without the culture that supports it, it's difficult. Once you get a group that wants to battle with each other and for each other, you don't know what you will get, but it's possible that something great could come of it."
The Gophers are 13-0 this season at the Pav, and will hope to remain that way after the weekend.
"I just have complete confidence in this team and there's so much trust behind it," Wilhite said. "This group is unlike any other group that I have played with and I think that has helped us accomplish what we have so far."
