University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, February 13
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Penn State
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Opposite
/ VolleyballSetter
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Gophers Back at the Pav to Host No. 8 Penn State
2/11/2021 8:08:00 AM | Volleyball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Start Time: 7:05 p.m. CT (Feb. 13), 6:35 p.m. CT (Feb. 14)
TV: BTN, Fri., Feb. 13-14; Talent: Lisa Byington (Play-by-Play) and Salima Rockwell (Analyst)
Audio: KFAN + (Corbu Stathes - Play-by-Play)
SERIES INFORMATION
Gopher Volleyball vs. Penn State presented by Diet Coke
61st Meeting (Penn State leads 12-48)
Current Streak: Minnesota W-1
McCutcheon vs. Penn State: 4-9
HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND
• Minnesota is coming off a pair of 3-2 come-from-behind wins against then-No. 13 Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind., Feb. 5-6. Stephanie Samedy added 48 kills, followed by Taylor Landfair with 31. Adanna Rollins had 27 kills and a team-best 49 digs.
• The Purdue wins marked the first time the Gophers played in five-set matches this year and the first ranked opponent of 2021. It was also the first time the Gophers earned come from behind wins, trailing 2-1 in both matches against the Boilermakers.
• Stephanie Samedy was named the Big Ten Player of the Week Monday and the AVCA National Player of the Week Wednesday. It marks the third time Samedy has garnered National Player of the Week honors of her career. She averaged 4.80 kills per set, had 112 attempts and hit .313 on the weekend. On Friday, Samedy had 28 kills and 26 digs to become the first Golden Gopher in over a decade to put up those numbers. The last time that happened dates back to Katherine Harms against Washington on Dec. 3, 2011. Samedy followed with another 20-kill performance, including five in six attempts in the deciding fifth set to hit .833.
• Melani Shaffmaster was named Big Ten Setter of the Week when she averaged 11.30 assists per set and had 113 assists against No. 13 Purdue. She posted a match-best 60 assists last Friday and also had 12 digs for the double double. Shaffmaster also added three kills, an ace and a solo block. On Saturday, she followed with another match-best assists (53), added another double double with 15 digs, and had three blocks and three kills. The Gophers hit .650 in Saturday's fifth and final set and had 14 kills as Shaffmaster assisted on 12 of them.
• Minnesota is one of eight Big Ten teams that have played all six matches so far this season with the Gophers and Wisconsin going 6-0. Penn State, Minnesota's next opponent Penn State, has played two matches this year after being on pause the first two weeks of the season due to COVID-19 concerns.
• Stephanie Samedy currently ranks 15th among NCAA active leaders in career kills (1,281) and 30th in kills per set (3.58). Regan Pittman ranks eighth among NCAA active leaders in career hitting percentage (.364), fourth in blocks per set (1.16) and seventh in total blocks (419).
SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS
• No.8 Penn State Nittany Lions are 2-0 on the season after missing the first two weeks due to concerns with COVID-19. PSU earned a 3-1 and 3-2 win over Illinois in State College, Pa., last Friday and Saturday to open the season.
• Head coach Russ Rose won his 1,300 career win last Friday even without some of its starters. Now in his 42nd season, Ross has won seven NCAA national titles and 17 Big Ten championships.
• Freshman Annie Cate Fitzpatrick started her first matches last week and leads the team with 30 kills. Johnny Parker, Serena Gray and Kaitlyn Hord all have 22 or 21 kills, respectively.
LAST TIME AGAINST PENN STATE
• Minnesota volleyball finished the 2019 regular season strong with a four-set win over Penn State, Nov. 30 in University Park, Pa. It marked the first time the Golden Gophers defeated Penn State in University Park since 2004.
• Stephanie Samedy led the Gophers with 21 kills, hitting .475. She also had 12 digs, one block and one ace. It also marked the last time she garnered a Big Ten player of the week award prior to this one her senior year.
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota is back on the road when it competes against No. 4 Nebraska, Feb. 19 & 21. Friday's match against the Cornhuskers is scheduled for 8 p.m., while Sunday's match is set for 11 a.m. Both matches will be televised on Big Ten Network.
Start Time: 7:05 p.m. CT (Feb. 13), 6:35 p.m. CT (Feb. 14)
TV: BTN, Fri., Feb. 13-14; Talent: Lisa Byington (Play-by-Play) and Salima Rockwell (Analyst)
Audio: KFAN + (Corbu Stathes - Play-by-Play)
SERIES INFORMATION
Gopher Volleyball vs. Penn State presented by Diet Coke
61st Meeting (Penn State leads 12-48)
Current Streak: Minnesota W-1
McCutcheon vs. Penn State: 4-9
HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND
• Minnesota is coming off a pair of 3-2 come-from-behind wins against then-No. 13 Purdue in West Lafayette, Ind., Feb. 5-6. Stephanie Samedy added 48 kills, followed by Taylor Landfair with 31. Adanna Rollins had 27 kills and a team-best 49 digs.
• The Purdue wins marked the first time the Gophers played in five-set matches this year and the first ranked opponent of 2021. It was also the first time the Gophers earned come from behind wins, trailing 2-1 in both matches against the Boilermakers.
• Stephanie Samedy was named the Big Ten Player of the Week Monday and the AVCA National Player of the Week Wednesday. It marks the third time Samedy has garnered National Player of the Week honors of her career. She averaged 4.80 kills per set, had 112 attempts and hit .313 on the weekend. On Friday, Samedy had 28 kills and 26 digs to become the first Golden Gopher in over a decade to put up those numbers. The last time that happened dates back to Katherine Harms against Washington on Dec. 3, 2011. Samedy followed with another 20-kill performance, including five in six attempts in the deciding fifth set to hit .833.
• Melani Shaffmaster was named Big Ten Setter of the Week when she averaged 11.30 assists per set and had 113 assists against No. 13 Purdue. She posted a match-best 60 assists last Friday and also had 12 digs for the double double. Shaffmaster also added three kills, an ace and a solo block. On Saturday, she followed with another match-best assists (53), added another double double with 15 digs, and had three blocks and three kills. The Gophers hit .650 in Saturday's fifth and final set and had 14 kills as Shaffmaster assisted on 12 of them.
• Minnesota is one of eight Big Ten teams that have played all six matches so far this season with the Gophers and Wisconsin going 6-0. Penn State, Minnesota's next opponent Penn State, has played two matches this year after being on pause the first two weeks of the season due to COVID-19 concerns.
• Stephanie Samedy currently ranks 15th among NCAA active leaders in career kills (1,281) and 30th in kills per set (3.58). Regan Pittman ranks eighth among NCAA active leaders in career hitting percentage (.364), fourth in blocks per set (1.16) and seventh in total blocks (419).
SCOUTING THE NITTANY LIONS
• No.8 Penn State Nittany Lions are 2-0 on the season after missing the first two weeks due to concerns with COVID-19. PSU earned a 3-1 and 3-2 win over Illinois in State College, Pa., last Friday and Saturday to open the season.
• Head coach Russ Rose won his 1,300 career win last Friday even without some of its starters. Now in his 42nd season, Ross has won seven NCAA national titles and 17 Big Ten championships.
• Freshman Annie Cate Fitzpatrick started her first matches last week and leads the team with 30 kills. Johnny Parker, Serena Gray and Kaitlyn Hord all have 22 or 21 kills, respectively.
LAST TIME AGAINST PENN STATE
• Minnesota volleyball finished the 2019 regular season strong with a four-set win over Penn State, Nov. 30 in University Park, Pa. It marked the first time the Golden Gophers defeated Penn State in University Park since 2004.
• Stephanie Samedy led the Gophers with 21 kills, hitting .475. She also had 12 digs, one block and one ace. It also marked the last time she garnered a Big Ten player of the week award prior to this one her senior year.
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota is back on the road when it competes against No. 4 Nebraska, Feb. 19 & 21. Friday's match against the Cornhuskers is scheduled for 8 p.m., while Sunday's match is set for 11 a.m. Both matches will be televised on Big Ten Network.
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