University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Close Out Road Stretch at Michigan
10/6/2017 12:00:00 AM | Volleyball
| #6 Minnesota (14-2, 3-2) at #20 Michigan (12-5, 2-3) | |
| MATCH 1 | Minnesota at Michigan (Saturday | 12 p.m. CT) |
| Cliff Keen Arena | Ann Arbor, Mich. | |
| Live Stats | Live Updates | |
| SOCIAL MEDIA | @GopherVball | Facebook |
GOPHERS CLOSE OUT ROAD STRETCH
For the second time this week, the University of Minnesota volleyball program is back on the road as it takes on Michigan, Saturday, at 12 p.m. CT. The contest marks the end to a four-match road stretch for the Gophers.
FOLLOW THE GOPHERS
The match will also feature a game day live page on gophersports.com, for in-game updates and stats.
ON THE DOCKET
The Gophers are back at home after a two-week hiatus next week. Minnesota hosts No. 18 Purdue and Iowa, Wednesday and Sunday afternoon. Both matches are televised on Big Ten Network. Wednesday night's match is the Gophers' annual Dig Pink event, which brings awareness to breast cancer as Minnesota pairs up with the Side Out Foundation.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Minnesota has a few individuals that rank high in the Big Ten statistical categories. Samantha Seliger-Swenson leads the pack in assists per set as she averages 12.23 per set, while Stephanie Samedy ranks third in kills per set (4.16). Molly Lohman ranks fifth in Big Ten blocks per set (1.41), and Dalianliz Rosado ranks third in digs per set (4.48).
NCAA RANKINGS
As a team, Minnesota is No. 13 in hitting percentage as the Gophers are at .293 and No. 18 in kills per set (14.27). Samantha Seliger-Swenson ranks third nationally in assists per set (12.22), as Stephanie Samedy ranks 37th among Division I hitters in kills per set. Molly Lohman ranks 30 in blocks per set and 43 in hitting percentage.
ABOUT MICHIGAN
Like Minnesota, No. 20 Michigan also played a Wednesday night match in Iowa City, Iowa, and fell to the Hawkeyes, 3-1. On the season, the Wolverines are 12-5 overall and 2-3 in Big Ten play.
Carly Skjodt averages a team-best 3.82 kills per set and 196 kills. Cori Crocker is hitting .348 and averages 1.07 blocks per set, followed by Claire Kieffer-Wright at .315. MacKenzi Welsh averages 10.71 assists per set, and Jenna Lerg averages 4.05 digs per set. As a team, Michigan is averaging 14.00 kps, hitting .263, averages 2.4 blocks per set and 13.2 digs per set.
ALL-TIME SERIES AND THE LAST TIME
Minnesota is 54-15 all-time against the Wolverines, dating back to 1975. Minnesota's last loss to the Wolverines was back in 2014 at Cliff Keen Arena, coincidentally the last time the two teams played in Ann Arbor.
These two teams met just two weeks ago when they opened Big Ten play. Minnesota won, 3-1 (25-18, 25-18, 22-25, 25-8). Alexis Hart hit .341 and had 20 kills, while Stephanie Samedy had a double-double with 13 kills and 14 digs. Molly Lohman had 10 kills hitting .526 and recorded a career-best 14 blocks, and Regan Pittman and nine kills and hit .318.
LAST ACTION
Trailing the match, 2-1, Minnesota earned a 3-2 win over Wisconsin,Wednesday in Madison, Wis. The Golden Gophers fell 23-25, won the second, 25-20, fell in the third 21-25, but won the fourth and fifth, 25-15 and 15-13. As a team, the Golden Gophers hit .239, including .405 and .409 in the final two sets. It was Minnesota's second fifth-set win of the season, the first coming against Boise State. Alexis Hart and Jasmyn Martin had career high nights. Hart had a career-best 24 kills, while Martin at a career-high 17 kills. Stephanie Samedy had a double-double with 15 kills and 16 digs. Dalianliz Rosado added 20 digs. Samantha Seliger-Swenson added 62 assists, a season best, and finished off the double-double with 12 digs. Lohman led the Gopher blockers with seven blocks.
GOPHERS ARE FOURTH IN THE RPI
NCAA announced its first RPI of the season, with the Gophers holding the No. 4 spot. In the top 25 spots, Minnesota has eight opponents listed: Penn State (1), Texas (3), Nebraska (6), Wisconsin (7), Michigan State (15), Purdue (17), Louisville (22), Illinois (24).
