University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Set to Close out Regular Season
11/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
Nov. 22, 2016
| #2 Minnesota vs. #1 Nebraska | #3 Wisconsin | |
| MATCH 1 | Minnesota vs. Nebraska (Wednesday | 8 p.m.) |
| Sports Pavilion | Minneapolis | |
| Sold Out | |
| TV: BTN | Watch Online | | Live Updates | |
| MATCH 2 | Minnesota vs. Wisconsin (Saturday | 7:30 p.m.) |
| Sports Pavilion | Minneapolis | |
| Sold Out | |
| TV: BTN | Watch Online | | Live Updates | |
| SOCIAL MEDIA | @GopherVball | Facebook |
Weekly Notes
GOPHERS CLOSE OUT THE REGULAR SEASON
The University of Minnesota is set to face Nebraska and Wisconsin this week at the Sports Pavilion. The pair of home matches marks the end of the regular season as the NCAA Championships begin Dec. 2-3. The Golden Gophers host the Cornhuskers, Wednesday, 8 p.m., while the Badgers come to town, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Matches this week will be televised live on the Big Ten Network. Both matches also have a game day live page on gophersports.com
GOPHERS FACING BIG TEN'S BEST
Not only does Minnesota face the top two teams in the conference, the Gophers are facing two of the top three teams nationally. Minnesota is currently third in the Big Ten standings and second in the AVCA poll. Nebraska (17-1) and Wisconsin (16-2), are ahead in the Big Ten standings and currently rank No. 1 and No. 3 nationally.
ABOUT NEBRASKA
Nebraska enters the Minnesota match with a 26-1 overall record and 17-1 mark in the Big Ten. Ranked No. 1 in the AVCA poll, the Huskers' lone loss came to Ohio State on Oct. 1 and have not dropped a set in the past five matches. The Huskers are balanced in attacking as Kadie Rolfzen leads the team with 283 kills (3.11 kills per set), followed by Mikaela Foecke (259), Briana Holman (219), Andie Malloy (218) and Amber Rolfzen (184). Setter Kelly Hunter averages 11.29 assists per set, while libero Justine Wong-Orantes averages 4.08 digs per set. The Huskers also average 2.87 blocks per set.
ABOUT WISCONSIN
Wisconsin enters the week with a 24-3 overall record and are 16-2 within Big Ten play. The Badgers played the Iowa Hawkeyes prior to the Minnesota match. As a team, Wisconsin is hitting .264 and average 14.16 kills per set 2.51 blocks per set. Molly Haggerty leads the team with 303 kills, followed by Haleigh Nelson (235), Lauryn Gillis (222) and Romana Kriskova (219). Lauren Carlini averages 11.66 assists per set and leads the team with 30 aces. Kelli Bates leads the team with 390 digs.
ALL-TIME SERIES AND LAST TIME
The Golden Gophers fell to the Cornhuskers in five (Oct. 23) during their last meeing and are 6-33 all time against Nebraska since 1975. In the Oct. 23 loss, Minnesota had four players with double-digit kills. Sarah Wilhite led the Gophers with 20 kills, nine digs and four blocks. She also had a career-most 68 attempts. Alexis Hart followed with 15 kills. Molly Lohman and Hannah Tapp each had 10 kills.
The Gophers hold a 47-30 all-time record against Wisconsin, dating back to 1975. Minnesota won the last meeting between the two teams, 3-0, in Madison, Wis. (Oct. 12). Minnesota was led by Sarah Wilhite with 12 kills and eight digs. Hannah Tapp and Paige Tapp both added five blocks, with H Tapp establishing 11 kills (hit .429) and P Tapp with nine (hit .438).
HOME, SWEET HOME
Minnesota is 11-0 at home this season, including five wins against Big Ten opponents. Minnesota also went 15-0 last year at the Sports Pavilion.
GOPHER SENIORS
Minnesota will honor its six seniors Saturday night, following the Wisconsin match. The 2016 class is the largest Gopher senior class since 2004. Katie Schau (DS/S), Hannah Tapp (RS/MB), Paige Tapp (MB) and Sarah Wilhite (OH) have been with the Gopher program since their freshman year, while Erica Handley and Margaret Eggert transferred to Minnesota. Of the six, four will graduate this semester.
NCAA SELECTION SHOW
The full NCAA seedings will be announced at the end of the regular season on Nov. 27, televised live on ESPNU, 8 p.m. CT. The 2016 championships marks the first time NCAA has not distinguished pre-determined regional sites. Followinig the NCAA First and Second Rounds, NCAA regions will be hosted at the remaining highest seed in each region. Winners of each region advance to the NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship will be held at Nationwide Arena in Columbus Ohio. The national semifinals will be held December 15 at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m (ESPN2). The national championship will take place December 17 at 9 p.m. (ESPN2).
GOPHERS RANKED FOURTH IN RPI
Minnesota is ranked No. 4 in the NCAA's RPI, which is updated each Monday throughout the remainder of the season. In the top 25 alone, Minnesota has or will face 10 teams in the top 25 of the RPI: Wisconsin (1), Nebraska (3), Stanford (9), North Carolina (10), San Diego (13), Michigan State (14), Michigan (17), Purdue (22), Penn State (23) and Texas A&M (24).
Of Minnesota's 23 wins this season, eight have come against Top 25 RPI teams, five against top 50 RPI teams and two against top 100 RPI teams.
GOPHERS RANKED SECOND IN RECENT AVCA POLL
Minnesota is ranked No. 2 in the recent American Volleyball Coaches' Association poll. The Gophers have faced 10 teams 13 times who are currently ranked in the top 25.
GOPHERS IN NCAA RANKINGS
Setter Samantha Seliger-Swenson ranks eighth nationally in assists per set and second in the Big Ten. The sophomore averages 11.49 aps. Sarah Wilhite averages 4.13 kills per set, which ranks 38th in the NCAA. She is second in the Big Ten, trailing only Penn State's Simone Lee (4.18). Minnesota's blocking ranks second in the Big Ten and 16th nationally as the Gophers average 2.79 per set.
Players Mentioned
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Middle Blocker
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Middle Blocker
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Outside Hitter
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