University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, October 22
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Penn State
Players Mentioned
Outside/Opposite
/ Volleyball
Opposite
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Minnesota Hosts Top-15 Penn State, Ohio State
10/20/2021 3:00:00 PM | Volleyball
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Penn State is No. 14, Ohio State is No. 6
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 12 Minnesota Golden Gophers (11-5, 6-2 Big Ten) are in the midst of a four-match home stand as they get set to host No. 14 Penn State (13-5, 6-2 Big Ten) and No. 6 Ohio State (16-2, 6-2 Big Ten) on Friday and Sunday. Minnesota has won three straight matches and 10 of its last 12 after starting the year 1-3. This weekend's schedule begins a stretch of the Gophers playing seven ranked teams in their final 12 regular season matches.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Friday, Oct. 22
No. 12 Minnesota vs. No. 14 Penn State | 6 p.m. CT | BTN
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
BTN Broadcasters: Larry Punteney (PBP) and Salima Rockwell (Analyst)
Gophers Radio Network: Tanner Hoops (PBP)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Sunday, Oct. 24
No. 12 Minnesota vs. No. 6 Ohio State | 4 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
ESPNU Broadcasters: Courtney Lyle (PBP) and Karch Kiraly (Analyst)
Gophers Radio Network: Tanner Hoops (PBP)
LAST TIME OUT
• The No. 12 Minnesota Gophers defeated the Indiana Hoosiers in three sets, 25-15, 25-16, 25-21, on Sunday.
• The Golden Gophers (11-5, 6-2 Big Ten) were paced by redshirt senior opposite Stephanie Samedy, who registered 14 kills, six digs and one block. Airi Miyabe posted 13 kills while Jenna Wenaas went for nine kills and nine digs.
• As a team, Minnesota hit .358 with 46 kills, four aces, 49 digs and three blocks.
GOPHERS HISTORY AGAINST PENN STATE AND OHIO STATE
• Minnesota is 14-48 all-time against Penn State, but they hold a 6-11 mark under Hugh McCutcheon. PSU won the first eight in the series since coach came into Minnesota in 2012. However, since then, the Gophers have won six of the past nine, including three straight and four of the last five. The Gophers have won three straight at home vs. PSU with the last loss coming in 2017. The 'U' won both matches at home vs. the Nittany Lions last season, 3-1 and 3-2.
• Minnesota is 46-36 all-time against Ohio State, including a 13-1 mark under Hugh McCutcheon. The Gophers have won eight straight in the series. Under Hugh, Minnesota is 7-0 at home against the Buckeyes. OSU's last win at the Pav came in 2007.
GOPHERS IN BIG TEN PLAY
• Under Hugh McCutcheon, Minnesota is 138-39 (.779) in Big Ten competition. In his nine seasons prior to 2021, the Gophers have had eight seasons above .500 in conference play. In all eight of those seasons, the 'U' went 15-5 or better in conference play, with the best being 19-1 in 2018.
• The Gophers won Big Ten titles in 2016 and 2018 and have finished either first, second or third in eight of the last nine seasons.
MINNESOTA THRIVES AT HOME
• Under coach McCutcheon, Minnesota is 127-14 (.901) at home, including an 82-10 (.891) record during Big Ten home matches.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
• The No. 14 Nittany Lions (13-5. 6-2 Big Ten) hold conference wins Rutgers (2x), Ohio State, Maryland, Indiana and Northwestern. Their two conference losses came to Nebraska (3-1) and Purdue (3-2).
• PSU is led by head coach Russ Rose, who is in his 43rd year in charge. He's the Division I all-time wins leader with over 1,300 career wins. He's led PSU to seven national titles, with the latest coming in 2014.
• The Nittany Lions are led by Jonni Parker (3.72 k/s) and Kaitlyn Hord (1.52 b/s). Both rank in the top five in the Big Ten in kills per set and blocks per set, respectively.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
• The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (16-2, 6-2 Big Ten) are off to a great start in 2021. They went a perfect 10-0 in non-conference play before dropping their first two Big Ten matches to Purdue (3-2) and Penn State (3-0). Since then, they've rattled off six consecutive conference victories, including a 3-1 win over Purdue.
• OSU is led by second year head coach Jen Flynn Oldenberg, who is 32-6 in her two years in charge.
• The Buckeyes are paced by Emily Londot, who ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 3.75 kills per set. Middle blocker Rylee Rader leads the league with an unbelievable .490 hitting percentage on 290 swings. OSU ranks second in the league as a team with a .290 hitting percentage.
SAMEDY TAKES HER GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL IN 2021
• Stephanie Samedy had a phenomenal 2020-21 spring season, winning Big Ten Player of the Year in addition to being named a First Team AVCA All-American for the third time in her career. She had five 20+ kill performances and averaged 4.15 kills per set and 2.48 digs per set.
• She's taken her game to another level this fall, upping her numbers in almost every statistical category. She's averaging a Big Ten best 4.67 kills per set along with 3.48 digs per set. She also had seven 20+ kill performances this season in 15 matches.
SAMEDY AND WENAAS COMBINING AS LETHAL DUO
• Minnesota opposite Stephanie Samedy and outside Jenna Wenaas have combined for 457 of Minnesota's 813 kills (.562). They've reached double digit kills a combined 25 times this season while Samedy has hit the 20-kill mark in seven of 15 matches. Statistically, they're the top attacking duo in the Big Ten Conference (chart below).
TOP BIG TEN ATTACKING DUOS (BY % OF TEAM'S KILLS; As of Oct. 20)
1. Samedy/Wenaas (MINN) - 457/813 (.562)
2. Paige Jones/Jess Mruzik (MICH) - 419/784 (.534)
3. Caitlyn Newton/Grace Cleveland (PUR) - 414/798 (.519)
4. Courtney Buzzerio/Addie VanderWeide (Iowa) - 402/780 (.515)
5. Sam Csire/Paula Neciporuka (UMD) - 431/861 (.501)
6. Temi Thomas-Ailara/Hanna Lesiak (NW) - 485/978 (.495)
7. Mady Saris/Breana Edwards (IND) - 427/879 (.485)
TIME TO DIG IT OUT
• The Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank in the top 50 nationally in digs per set (16.10). CC McGraw leads the team (4.48) while Samedy (3.45) and Melani Shaffmaster (2.68) are right around four and three per set, respectively.
• CC McGraw ranks fifth in the conference in digs (273) and fourth in digs per set (4.48).
GOPHERS RANKING HIGHLY IN ATTENDANCE AT THE PAV
• No conference in the country has proven to be a better draw than the Big Ten, with 10 conference programs ranked in the top 25 in the latest NCAA attendance rankings through Sunday's matches, including the top three and seven of the top 15 in the nation. Nebraska remains No. 1 (8,148 fans per match), with Wisconsin second (7,540) and Minnesota third (5,151).
• Of the 20 highest-attended NCAA Division I volleyball matches this season, all 20 featured a Big Ten school. Six were hosted by Minnesota.
WHAT'S NEXT
• Minnesota travel to Indiana on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. match on BTN.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Friday, Oct. 22
No. 12 Minnesota vs. No. 14 Penn State | 6 p.m. CT | BTN
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
BTN Broadcasters: Larry Punteney (PBP) and Salima Rockwell (Analyst)
Gophers Radio Network: Tanner Hoops (PBP)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Sunday, Oct. 24
No. 12 Minnesota vs. No. 6 Ohio State | 4 p.m. CT | ESPNU
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
ESPNU Broadcasters: Courtney Lyle (PBP) and Karch Kiraly (Analyst)
Gophers Radio Network: Tanner Hoops (PBP)
LAST TIME OUT
• The No. 12 Minnesota Gophers defeated the Indiana Hoosiers in three sets, 25-15, 25-16, 25-21, on Sunday.
• The Golden Gophers (11-5, 6-2 Big Ten) were paced by redshirt senior opposite Stephanie Samedy, who registered 14 kills, six digs and one block. Airi Miyabe posted 13 kills while Jenna Wenaas went for nine kills and nine digs.
• As a team, Minnesota hit .358 with 46 kills, four aces, 49 digs and three blocks.
GOPHERS HISTORY AGAINST PENN STATE AND OHIO STATE
• Minnesota is 14-48 all-time against Penn State, but they hold a 6-11 mark under Hugh McCutcheon. PSU won the first eight in the series since coach came into Minnesota in 2012. However, since then, the Gophers have won six of the past nine, including three straight and four of the last five. The Gophers have won three straight at home vs. PSU with the last loss coming in 2017. The 'U' won both matches at home vs. the Nittany Lions last season, 3-1 and 3-2.
• Minnesota is 46-36 all-time against Ohio State, including a 13-1 mark under Hugh McCutcheon. The Gophers have won eight straight in the series. Under Hugh, Minnesota is 7-0 at home against the Buckeyes. OSU's last win at the Pav came in 2007.
GOPHERS IN BIG TEN PLAY
• Under Hugh McCutcheon, Minnesota is 138-39 (.779) in Big Ten competition. In his nine seasons prior to 2021, the Gophers have had eight seasons above .500 in conference play. In all eight of those seasons, the 'U' went 15-5 or better in conference play, with the best being 19-1 in 2018.
• The Gophers won Big Ten titles in 2016 and 2018 and have finished either first, second or third in eight of the last nine seasons.
MINNESOTA THRIVES AT HOME
• Under coach McCutcheon, Minnesota is 127-14 (.901) at home, including an 82-10 (.891) record during Big Ten home matches.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
• The No. 14 Nittany Lions (13-5. 6-2 Big Ten) hold conference wins Rutgers (2x), Ohio State, Maryland, Indiana and Northwestern. Their two conference losses came to Nebraska (3-1) and Purdue (3-2).
• PSU is led by head coach Russ Rose, who is in his 43rd year in charge. He's the Division I all-time wins leader with over 1,300 career wins. He's led PSU to seven national titles, with the latest coming in 2014.
• The Nittany Lions are led by Jonni Parker (3.72 k/s) and Kaitlyn Hord (1.52 b/s). Both rank in the top five in the Big Ten in kills per set and blocks per set, respectively.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
• The No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes (16-2, 6-2 Big Ten) are off to a great start in 2021. They went a perfect 10-0 in non-conference play before dropping their first two Big Ten matches to Purdue (3-2) and Penn State (3-0). Since then, they've rattled off six consecutive conference victories, including a 3-1 win over Purdue.
• OSU is led by second year head coach Jen Flynn Oldenberg, who is 32-6 in her two years in charge.
• The Buckeyes are paced by Emily Londot, who ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 3.75 kills per set. Middle blocker Rylee Rader leads the league with an unbelievable .490 hitting percentage on 290 swings. OSU ranks second in the league as a team with a .290 hitting percentage.
SAMEDY TAKES HER GAME TO ANOTHER LEVEL IN 2021
• Stephanie Samedy had a phenomenal 2020-21 spring season, winning Big Ten Player of the Year in addition to being named a First Team AVCA All-American for the third time in her career. She had five 20+ kill performances and averaged 4.15 kills per set and 2.48 digs per set.
• She's taken her game to another level this fall, upping her numbers in almost every statistical category. She's averaging a Big Ten best 4.67 kills per set along with 3.48 digs per set. She also had seven 20+ kill performances this season in 15 matches.
SAMEDY AND WENAAS COMBINING AS LETHAL DUO
• Minnesota opposite Stephanie Samedy and outside Jenna Wenaas have combined for 457 of Minnesota's 813 kills (.562). They've reached double digit kills a combined 25 times this season while Samedy has hit the 20-kill mark in seven of 15 matches. Statistically, they're the top attacking duo in the Big Ten Conference (chart below).
TOP BIG TEN ATTACKING DUOS (BY % OF TEAM'S KILLS; As of Oct. 20)
1. Samedy/Wenaas (MINN) - 457/813 (.562)
2. Paige Jones/Jess Mruzik (MICH) - 419/784 (.534)
3. Caitlyn Newton/Grace Cleveland (PUR) - 414/798 (.519)
4. Courtney Buzzerio/Addie VanderWeide (Iowa) - 402/780 (.515)
5. Sam Csire/Paula Neciporuka (UMD) - 431/861 (.501)
6. Temi Thomas-Ailara/Hanna Lesiak (NW) - 485/978 (.495)
7. Mady Saris/Breana Edwards (IND) - 427/879 (.485)
TIME TO DIG IT OUT
• The Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank in the top 50 nationally in digs per set (16.10). CC McGraw leads the team (4.48) while Samedy (3.45) and Melani Shaffmaster (2.68) are right around four and three per set, respectively.
• CC McGraw ranks fifth in the conference in digs (273) and fourth in digs per set (4.48).
GOPHERS RANKING HIGHLY IN ATTENDANCE AT THE PAV
• No conference in the country has proven to be a better draw than the Big Ten, with 10 conference programs ranked in the top 25 in the latest NCAA attendance rankings through Sunday's matches, including the top three and seven of the top 15 in the nation. Nebraska remains No. 1 (8,148 fans per match), with Wisconsin second (7,540) and Minnesota third (5,151).
• Of the 20 highest-attended NCAA Division I volleyball matches this season, all 20 featured a Big Ten school. Six were hosted by Minnesota.
WHAT'S NEXT
• Minnesota travel to Indiana on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. match on BTN.
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