University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, September 4
Austin, TX
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Texas
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
DS/Libero
/ Volleyball
DS/Libero
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Opposite
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Gophers Face No. 3 Texas Wednesday Night
9/3/2019 2:57:00 PM | Volleyball
GOPHERS FACE NO. 3 TEXAS WEDNESDAY
The University of Minnesota will play No. 3 Texas on Wednesday night, 7 p.m. in Austin, Texas. Minnesota went 1-1 in opening weekend play, while Texas won both of its matches at home to start the season.
FOLLOW THE GOPHERS
Wednesday's match will be televised live on FS1. The Gophers will also have a gameday page active on gophersports.com.
ABOUT TEXAS
Texas opened the 2019 campaign at home against Northern Iowa and Southern California, both of which resulted in 3-1 wins. Paving the way for the Longhorns was sophomore outside hitter Logan Eggleston. She added 31 kills and hit .324 to start off her sophomore season. Micaya White followed with 31 kills, followed by Skylar Fields, who had 29 kills and hit .520. Asjia O'Neal had a team-best eight blocks, while Sydney Petersen had a team-best 25 digs. Jhenna Gabriel posted 72 assists. In the two matches, Texas as a team hit .313 and averaged 1.75 blocks per set.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Minnesota holds a slight 5-4 all-time advantage over Texas. The last time the Gophers visited Austin dates back to the 2017 nonconference season when Minnesota defeated the Longhorns, 3-1, on Sept. 8, 2017. The Gophers won the first set, 25-21, dropped the second 25-27, but came back to win the third and fourth, 26-24 and 25-19. Stephanie Samedy had 22 kills and hit .308, followed by Alexis Hart with 14.
OPENING WEEKEND
Minnesota went 1-1 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, hosted by North Carolina. The Gophers opened with a 3-0 win over UNC, but fell in straight sets Saturday to Florida State. Samedy led the Gophers with 15 kills against UNC, while Alexis Hart added a team-best 14 against FSU.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK
Minnesota returns six of its seven starters from last year's Big Ten championship team, including two-time First Team All-American Stephanie Samedy and Second Team All-American Regan Pittman. Alexis Hart returns for her senior season as a three-year starter for the Gophers. The past All-American had 296 kills as a junior last year and has amassed 1,101 career kills in her career. Adanna Rollins, CC McGraw and Taylor Morgan also return for the Gophers as five (plus libero) starters return to the lineup. Rollins was named the AVCA Regional Freshman of the Year and had 277 kills, while Morgan added 249 kills and averaged 1.10 blocks per set. McGraw posted a team-best 428 digs a rookie libero last year. The Gophers are also excited to have back senior defensive specialist Lauren Litzau, junior outside hitter Claire Sheehan and sophomore setter Bayley McMenimen.
GOPHERS RANKED EIGHTH in AVCA POLL
Minnesota is ranked No. 8 in this week's poll, announced Monday by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. In all, seven Big Ten Conference teams are ranked in the preseason top 25. Nebraska holds the No. 2 spot, followed by Wisconsin (4), Illinois (5), Penn State (6), Minnesota (8), Michigan (14) and Purdue (18).
GOPHERS MAKING THEIR MINNESOTA/COLLEGIATE DEBUT
The University of Minnesota had six individuals make their Minnesota or collegiate debut last weekend. Kylie Miller and Airi Miyabe both made their Minnesota debut in the 3-0 win over North Carolina. The Gophers also had four make their collegiate debut last weekend. Rachel Kilkelly (freshman, defensive specialist), saw significant action in both matches against North Carolina and Florida State. She also recorded two aces and 20 digs. Bayley McMenimen (sophomore setter) saw action for the first time in her career, while middle blockers Ellie Husemann and Shea Rubright also saw action in the Florida State match.
MATURI PAVILION RECEIVES SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES
Maturi Pavilion received some significant upgrades this past offseason. The Robert K. Eddy Athletic Performance Center was a $4 million project to bring in strength and conditioninig, athletic medicine, player area all within steps from the competition court. Air conditioning was also added, which put the total upgrade cost to $5.1 million.
ON THE DOCKET
Minnesota opens its home season when it hosts the No. 7 Florida Gators, Saturday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m., and will be streamed on BTN +.
The University of Minnesota will play No. 3 Texas on Wednesday night, 7 p.m. in Austin, Texas. Minnesota went 1-1 in opening weekend play, while Texas won both of its matches at home to start the season.
FOLLOW THE GOPHERS
Wednesday's match will be televised live on FS1. The Gophers will also have a gameday page active on gophersports.com.
ABOUT TEXAS
Texas opened the 2019 campaign at home against Northern Iowa and Southern California, both of which resulted in 3-1 wins. Paving the way for the Longhorns was sophomore outside hitter Logan Eggleston. She added 31 kills and hit .324 to start off her sophomore season. Micaya White followed with 31 kills, followed by Skylar Fields, who had 29 kills and hit .520. Asjia O'Neal had a team-best eight blocks, while Sydney Petersen had a team-best 25 digs. Jhenna Gabriel posted 72 assists. In the two matches, Texas as a team hit .313 and averaged 1.75 blocks per set.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Minnesota holds a slight 5-4 all-time advantage over Texas. The last time the Gophers visited Austin dates back to the 2017 nonconference season when Minnesota defeated the Longhorns, 3-1, on Sept. 8, 2017. The Gophers won the first set, 25-21, dropped the second 25-27, but came back to win the third and fourth, 26-24 and 25-19. Stephanie Samedy had 22 kills and hit .308, followed by Alexis Hart with 14.
OPENING WEEKEND
Minnesota went 1-1 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, hosted by North Carolina. The Gophers opened with a 3-0 win over UNC, but fell in straight sets Saturday to Florida State. Samedy led the Gophers with 15 kills against UNC, while Alexis Hart added a team-best 14 against FSU.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK
Minnesota returns six of its seven starters from last year's Big Ten championship team, including two-time First Team All-American Stephanie Samedy and Second Team All-American Regan Pittman. Alexis Hart returns for her senior season as a three-year starter for the Gophers. The past All-American had 296 kills as a junior last year and has amassed 1,101 career kills in her career. Adanna Rollins, CC McGraw and Taylor Morgan also return for the Gophers as five (plus libero) starters return to the lineup. Rollins was named the AVCA Regional Freshman of the Year and had 277 kills, while Morgan added 249 kills and averaged 1.10 blocks per set. McGraw posted a team-best 428 digs a rookie libero last year. The Gophers are also excited to have back senior defensive specialist Lauren Litzau, junior outside hitter Claire Sheehan and sophomore setter Bayley McMenimen.
GOPHERS RANKED EIGHTH in AVCA POLL
Minnesota is ranked No. 8 in this week's poll, announced Monday by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. In all, seven Big Ten Conference teams are ranked in the preseason top 25. Nebraska holds the No. 2 spot, followed by Wisconsin (4), Illinois (5), Penn State (6), Minnesota (8), Michigan (14) and Purdue (18).
GOPHERS MAKING THEIR MINNESOTA/COLLEGIATE DEBUT
The University of Minnesota had six individuals make their Minnesota or collegiate debut last weekend. Kylie Miller and Airi Miyabe both made their Minnesota debut in the 3-0 win over North Carolina. The Gophers also had four make their collegiate debut last weekend. Rachel Kilkelly (freshman, defensive specialist), saw significant action in both matches against North Carolina and Florida State. She also recorded two aces and 20 digs. Bayley McMenimen (sophomore setter) saw action for the first time in her career, while middle blockers Ellie Husemann and Shea Rubright also saw action in the Florida State match.
MATURI PAVILION RECEIVES SIGNIFICANT UPGRADES
Maturi Pavilion received some significant upgrades this past offseason. The Robert K. Eddy Athletic Performance Center was a $4 million project to bring in strength and conditioninig, athletic medicine, player area all within steps from the competition court. Air conditioning was also added, which put the total upgrade cost to $5.1 million.
ON THE DOCKET
Minnesota opens its home season when it hosts the No. 7 Florida Gators, Saturday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m., and will be streamed on BTN +.
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