Gophers Down Nittany Lions in Four Sets

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The No. 10 Minnesota Golden Gophers took down the No. 15 Penn State Nittany Lions in four sets, 27-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-18 on Friday evening at Rec Hall. The win was Minnesota's seventh AVCA top-25 win of the 2021 season.

The Golden Gophers (19-8, 14-5 Big Ten) were led by redshirt senior opposite Stephanie Samedy, who had 26 kills and 13 digs. Airi Miyabe had 12 kills while Jenna Wenaas posted another double double with 12 kills and 13 digs.

With the win tonight, Minnesota has won two straight matches at Penn State for the first time in school history (2019, 2021). It's just the third time the Gophers have won at Rec Hall since 2001.

As a team, Minnesota hit .184 with 60 kills, six aces, 75 digs and eight blocks. Penn State (19-10, 12-7 Big Ten) hit .144 with 46 kills, three aces, 65 digs and 17 blocks.

Set Breakdown:
Set 1: A back and forth start saw Penn State and Minnesota exchange the first 18 points of the match. However, a 4-0 run led by two kills each from Samedy and Wenaas put the Gophers up 13-9 and led to a timeout from the home team. Through the first media timeout, Samedy had six kills on 11 swings (.455). PSU scored two of the next three to cut the lead to 14-11 before a 5-1 run gave Minnesota a 19-12 lead and forced another timeout from the home team. Two kills from Miyabe and an ace from Shaffmaster sparked the run. PSU would respond, going on a 4-0 run to cut the lead to 19-16 and force a timeout from coach McCutcheon. The Nittany Lions would tie it up at 19, completing a 7-0 run before a service error put the Gophers up once again. PSU would take its first lead since 8-7 at 23-22, leading to the 'U' calling its second timeout of the set. PSU had two set point opportunities at 24-23 and 25-24, but Minnesota fought back both times and eventually took the set, 27-25. Samedy led the Gophers with nine kills while Miyabe had seven. The Gophers hit .208 in the first set and overcame seven Penn State blocks.

Set 2: The Nittany Lions threw the first punches in the second set, scoring six of the first seven points to go up 6-1 and force a Minnesota timeout. The Gophers responded with a 4-0 run, getting an ace and a kill from Samedy, to get back within one at 6-5. Minnesota would eventually tie it up at 8-8 after an ace from Katie Myers. The two teams would exchange the next six points, but with the set tied at 11-11, PSU would go on a 3-0 to take a 14-11 lead. The Gophers would cut it to two at 15-13 before two more PSU points put the home team up four and led to a timeout by the 'U.' PSU went up 18-14 before a 4-0 Gophers run tied it up at 18. Two kills from Miyabe and a block from Ellie Husemann and Melani Shaffmaster aided the run and forced a timeout from the home team. PSU responded with a 3-1 to go up 21-19 before a 3-0 run from Minnesota put the visitors up 22-21 and forced another Nittany Lions timeout. Kills from Husemann, Samedy and Wenaas gave the Gophers the late set lead. The Gophers would close the second set on a 6-0 run to take the set, 25-21, and a 2-0 lead. Minnesota hit .200 in set two with 12 kills and three blocks while PSU hit .132 with 12 kills and four blocks.

Set 3: Minnesota led 6-4 early on in the set before a 5-0 run from Penn State gave them a 9-6 lead. Kills from Gophers freshman Natalie Glenn and junior Ellie Husemann got the visitors back within one at 9-8. A 3-0 run from the home team put them up 12-8 before five straight points from the 'U' gave it a 13-12 lead. A solo block and two kills from Wenaas sparked the spurt. Minnesota would maintain a 1-2 point lead up until 19-18. A 4-0 PSU run gave the home team a 22-19 lead and led to a Minnesota timeout. The Gophers would tie it up after a 3-0 run of their own, but the Nittany Lions scored three of the final four points to take the set, 25-23. Minnesota hit just .063 in set three while PSU hit .068.

Set 4: The two teams split the first 18 points of the set before an ace from Rachel Kilkelly and a block from Husemann and Samedy put the Gophers up 11-9. After PSU cut the score to 11-10, Minnesota went on a 7-2 run to take control of the set at 18-12. Two kills and two consecutive aces from Wenaas helped stretch the lead to six and forced the Nittany Lions into calling a timeout. PSU would cut the Minnesota lead to five a couple times but couldn't get any closer. The Gophers took set four, 25-18, and the match, 3-1. Minnesota hit a sensational .346 in set four with 13 kills and 11 assists.

Notable:
-Minnesota is now 15-49 all-time against Penn State. The Gophers have won seven of the past 11, including five of the last seven in the series. The Gophers have won just twice in State College since 2001. They earned a 3-1 win in 2019 at PSU after dropping the first set but winning the next three. They also won there in 2003 in three sets.
-The Gophers are now 15-1 when winning the first set and 11-0 when winning the first two sets this season.
-Stephanie Samedy (26 kills) moved up to 1,956 for her career at Minnesota, which is No. 1 all-time in the rally scoring era (since 2001) and No. 4 all-time overall. She ranks No. 12 in Big Ten history, passing PSU alum Nicole Fawcett (1,943).
-Samedy tallied 20+ kills for the 12th time this season and 26th time in her career.
-Melani Shaffmaster posted a double double with 49 assists and 15 digs to go along with two kills and two blocks.
-Jenna Wenaas tallied 12 kills and 13 digs, her 19th double digit kill match of the season and ninth double double.
-CC McGraw led Minnesota with 18 digs.

Up Next:
Minnesota plays at Maryland (19-12, 7-12 Big Ten) tomorrow night to end its 2021 regular season.

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Players Mentioned

Natalie Glenn

Ellie Husemann

Rachel Kilkelly

CC McGraw

Airi Miyabe

Katie Myers

Stephanie Samedy

Melani Shaffmaster

Jenna Wenaas