University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, October 30
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Nebraska
Players Mentioned
Outside/Opposite
/ Volleyball
Opposite
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Minnesota Hosts No. 6 Nebraska in Crucial Conference Clash
10/29/2021 12:00:00 PM | Volleyball
The two teams are second and third in the conference standings
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 11 Minnesota Golden Gophers (13-6, 8-3 Big Ten) host the No. 6 Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-4, 10-1 Big Ten) on Saturday night at Maturi Pavilion. First serve is at 7 p.m. Central time on the Big Ten Network. Minnesota currently sits in a tie for third place in the conference standings, behind Nebraska and Wisconsin (10-1), who are tied for first. The Gophers have won three out of the past five matchups against the Huskers heading into Saturday's primetime battle.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday, Oct. 30
No. 11 Minnesota vs. No. 6 Nebraska | 7 p.m. CT | BTN
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
BTN Broadcasters: Larry Puteney (PBP) and Audrey Flaugh (Analyst)
LAST TIME OUT
• The No. 11 Minnesota Golden Gophers have won two straight and 12 of their last 15 since starting 1-3. They took down Indiana on the road in straight sets on Wednesday night in Bloomington.
• Stephanie Samedy led the Gophers with 18 kills and 11 digs and became the sixth Gopher ever to surpass 1,800 kills. Melani Shaffmaster had 36 assists and 10 digs in her return to her home state of Indiana for the first time in her college career. Airi Miyabe reached double digit kills for her seventh straight game (11).
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
• The No. 6 Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-4, 10-1 Big Ten) was on a 10-match winning streak in conference play before being swept by Wisconsin on Wednesday. They're led by 22nd year head coach John Cook, who's won four national titles at the helm in Lincoln.
• Nebraska is being led by a strong freshmen class which ranked No. 1 in the country according to Volleyball Magazine. Lindsey Krause is leading all freshmen on the team at 2.47 k/s and 0.77 b/s.
• All-American middle blocker Lauren Stivrins (2.41 k/s) returned a few games back to help boost a young NU lineup. Three-time All-American Nicklin Hames registered her 4,000th career assist this past week, moving her up to No. 3 all-time in program history.
GOPHERS HISTORY AGAINST NEBRASKA
• Minnesota is 10-36 all-time against Nebraska. Under coach McCutcheon, Minnesota is 6-8 but has won three of the last five in the series. The two teams split last year in Lincoln, with Minnesota winning the first match in four sets before Nebraska won the second match in three.
• At the Pav, the Gophers are 3-3 against Nebraska under Hugh. Nebraska won the 2019 matchup at the Pav in five sets after Minnesota beat the Huskers in four sets at the Pav in 2018.
GOPHERS IN BIG TEN PLAY
• Under Hugh McCutcheon, Minnesota is 140-40 (.778) 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 128-15 (.895) at home, including an 83-11 (.883) record during Big Ten home matches.
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 4.75 kills per set along with 3.71 digs per set. She's also had eight 20+ kill performances this season in 18 matches. No one else in the Big Ten has more than five 20+ kill matches and no other Power 5 player has more than seven.
SAMEDY AND WENAAS COMBINING AS LETHAL DUO
• Minnesota opposite Stephanie Samedy and outside Jenna Wenaas have combined for 541 of Minnesota's 964 kills (.561). They've reached double digit kills a combined 29 times this season while Samedy has hit the 20-kill mark in eight of her 17 matches. Statistically, they're the top attacking duo in the Big Ten Conference.
TOP BIG TEN ATTACKING DUOS (BY % OF TEAM'S KILLS; As of Oct. 26)
1. Samedy/Wenaas (MINN) - 541/964 (.561)
2. Paige Jones/Jess Mruzik (MICH) - 473/882 (.536)
3. Caitlyn Newton/Grace Cleveland (PUR) - 500/1943 (.530)
4. Courtney Buzzerio/Addie VanderWeide (Iowa) - 442/861 (.513)
5. Sam Csire/Paula Neciporuka (UMD) - 486/954 (.509)
6. Temi Thomas-Ailara/Hanna Lesiak (NW) - 560/1105 (.506)
7. Mady Saris/Breana Edwards (IND) - 499/1010 (.494)
TIME TO DIG IT OUT
• The Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank in the top 40 nationally in digs per set (16.61). CC McGraw leads the team (4.52) while Samedy (3.71) and Melani Shaffmaster (2.74) are right around four and three per set.
• CC McGraw ranks fourth in the conference in digs (321) and second in digs per set (4.52).
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE AWAITS MINNESOTA TO FINISH 2021
• The Gophers have a gauntlet of schedule once again. In addition to playing 20 conference games in the always difficult Big Ten slate, they played eight non-conference matches, including five against AVCA top-25 ranked teams.
• Minnesota is set to take on seven teams ranked in the AVCA preseason top-10 (second most top-10 games in the country). The Gophers have 13 ranked opponents out of 28 games on their schedule.
• In their final 12 matches of this season, the Gophers face seven ranked opponents. Illinois is also receiving votes and could be ranked in the coming weeks.
PARKING INFO
• For season pass parking holders, spaces will be held. Men's Hockey also plays at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
• Single game parkers should go to the University Ave Ramp or Maroon Lot.
WHAT'S NEXT
• Minnesota travels to No. 9 Ohio State (16-4, 6-4 Big Ten) on Thursday night. BTN will provide television coverage.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday, Oct. 30
No. 11 Minnesota vs. No. 6 Nebraska | 7 p.m. CT | BTN
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
BTN Broadcasters: Larry Puteney (PBP) and Audrey Flaugh (Analyst)
LAST TIME OUT
• The No. 11 Minnesota Golden Gophers have won two straight and 12 of their last 15 since starting 1-3. They took down Indiana on the road in straight sets on Wednesday night in Bloomington.
• Stephanie Samedy led the Gophers with 18 kills and 11 digs and became the sixth Gopher ever to surpass 1,800 kills. Melani Shaffmaster had 36 assists and 10 digs in her return to her home state of Indiana for the first time in her college career. Airi Miyabe reached double digit kills for her seventh straight game (11).
SCOUTING NEBRASKA
• The No. 6 Nebraska Cornhuskers (16-4, 10-1 Big Ten) was on a 10-match winning streak in conference play before being swept by Wisconsin on Wednesday. They're led by 22nd year head coach John Cook, who's won four national titles at the helm in Lincoln.
• Nebraska is being led by a strong freshmen class which ranked No. 1 in the country according to Volleyball Magazine. Lindsey Krause is leading all freshmen on the team at 2.47 k/s and 0.77 b/s.
• All-American middle blocker Lauren Stivrins (2.41 k/s) returned a few games back to help boost a young NU lineup. Three-time All-American Nicklin Hames registered her 4,000th career assist this past week, moving her up to No. 3 all-time in program history.
GOPHERS HISTORY AGAINST NEBRASKA
• Minnesota is 10-36 all-time against Nebraska. Under coach McCutcheon, Minnesota is 6-8 but has won three of the last five in the series. The two teams split last year in Lincoln, with Minnesota winning the first match in four sets before Nebraska won the second match in three.
• At the Pav, the Gophers are 3-3 against Nebraska under Hugh. Nebraska won the 2019 matchup at the Pav in five sets after Minnesota beat the Huskers in four sets at the Pav in 2018.
GOPHERS IN BIG TEN PLAY
• Under Hugh McCutcheon, Minnesota is 140-40 (.778) 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 128-15 (.895) at home, including an 83-11 (.883) record during Big Ten home matches.
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 4.75 kills per set along with 3.71 digs per set. She's also had eight 20+ kill performances this season in 18 matches. No one else in the Big Ten has more than five 20+ kill matches and no other Power 5 player has more than seven.
SAMEDY AND WENAAS COMBINING AS LETHAL DUO
• Minnesota opposite Stephanie Samedy and outside Jenna Wenaas have combined for 541 of Minnesota's 964 kills (.561). They've reached double digit kills a combined 29 times this season while Samedy has hit the 20-kill mark in eight of her 17 matches. Statistically, they're the top attacking duo in the Big Ten Conference.
TOP BIG TEN ATTACKING DUOS (BY % OF TEAM'S KILLS; As of Oct. 26)
1. Samedy/Wenaas (MINN) - 541/964 (.561)
2. Paige Jones/Jess Mruzik (MICH) - 473/882 (.536)
3. Caitlyn Newton/Grace Cleveland (PUR) - 500/1943 (.530)
4. Courtney Buzzerio/Addie VanderWeide (Iowa) - 442/861 (.513)
5. Sam Csire/Paula Neciporuka (UMD) - 486/954 (.509)
6. Temi Thomas-Ailara/Hanna Lesiak (NW) - 560/1105 (.506)
7. Mady Saris/Breana Edwards (IND) - 499/1010 (.494)
TIME TO DIG IT OUT
• The Gophers lead the Big Ten and rank in the top 40 nationally in digs per set (16.61). CC McGraw leads the team (4.52) while Samedy (3.71) and Melani Shaffmaster (2.74) are right around four and three per set.
• CC McGraw ranks fourth in the conference in digs (321) and second in digs per set (4.52).
DIFFICULT SCHEDULE AWAITS MINNESOTA TO FINISH 2021
• The Gophers have a gauntlet of schedule once again. In addition to playing 20 conference games in the always difficult Big Ten slate, they played eight non-conference matches, including five against AVCA top-25 ranked teams.
• Minnesota is set to take on seven teams ranked in the AVCA preseason top-10 (second most top-10 games in the country). The Gophers have 13 ranked opponents out of 28 games on their schedule.
• In their final 12 matches of this season, the Gophers face seven ranked opponents. Illinois is also receiving votes and could be ranked in the coming weeks.
PARKING INFO
• For season pass parking holders, spaces will be held. Men's Hockey also plays at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
• Single game parkers should go to the University Ave Ramp or Maroon Lot.
WHAT'S NEXT
• Minnesota travels to No. 9 Ohio State (16-4, 6-4 Big Ten) on Thursday night. BTN will provide television coverage.
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