University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, March 26
Evanston, IL
4:35 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Northwestern
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Opposite
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Kelly Hagenson
Gophers Hit the Road to Northwestern This Weekend
3/25/2021 2:27:00 PM | Volleyball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Friday-Saturday, March 26-27
Evanston, Ill. (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Start Time: 4:05 p.m./6:01 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network Friday (Talent - Play-by-Play: Evan Stockton, Analyst: Kim Kuzma)
Stream: BTN +, Saturday
SERIES INFORMATION
79th Meeting (59-19 all time against Northwestern)
Current Streak: Minnesota W-9
McCutcheon vs. Northwestern: 12-1
HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND
• The University of Minnesota competed on Sunday against Wisconsin and fell to the Badgers in four sets. Minnesota had to cancel the Wednesday, March 18 match due to COVID-19 restrictions and injuries. Prior to that, Minnesota played two matches against Illinois, March 12-13 as the Golden Gophers won both matches, also held at Maturi Pavilion.
• The Northwestern series marks the first road contests for the Golden Gophers since the Nebraska series, Feb. 19 & 21. Since the series with the Huskers, Minnesota had two series postponed, as well as the road March 18 match against the Badgers.
• The Big Ten has all teams scheduled to play this weekend. Should all teams get the green light, it would only be the second time this season that all conference matches would be completed. Minnesota and its other 13 institutions housed a full weekend of play on Feb. 17-21. The conference office had at least one postponement from Weeks 1-4, and again Weeks 6-9.
• Minnesota has utilized its roster and played student-athletes out of their normal positions. Airi Miyabe, an outside hitter, has played this year as a middle blocker against Illinois. Jenna Wenaas, also an outside hitter, has played as a defensive specialist and libero.
• Regan Pittman and Stephanie Samedy has been named two of 10 candidates up for the Senior CLASS Award, announced today by the organization. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
• Stephanie Samedy has produced 20-plus kills in four matches this season. The senior opposite hitter had 28 and 20 against Purdue (2/5-6), 23 against Penn State (2/13) and 27 against Nebraska (2/19). She narrowly had another against Penn State on Feb. 14 when she registered 19.
• Stephanie Samedy currently ranks 15th among NCAA active leaders in career kills (1,398). Regan Pittman ranks 15th among NCAA active leaders in career hitting percentage (.356), sixth in blocks per set (1.20) and fifth in total blocks (467).
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN
• Northwestern is back in action for the first time since Feb. 27. The Wildcats opened the season against Rutgers and won, 3-0 both matches. However, Northwestern then missed the next six matches before returning to action again on Feb. 19-27 to play four matches. The Wildcats went on another pause from March 5-25.
• This season, Northwestern has gone 3-3, defeating the Scarlet Knights twice, and Iowa on Feb. 27.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE WILDCATS
• Minnesota volleyball team earned a 3-0 win over Northwestern, Oct. 18, 2019 at Maturi Pavilion. Stephanie Samedy led the Gophers with 10 kills. She hit a season-best .474 and added three digs and a block. Alexis Hart offered up seven kills, two blocks and two digs. Bayley McMenimen had 20 assists and one ace, and Kylie Miller had 14 assists in her first game back with the Gophers.
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota is scheduled to play Iowa, April 2-3 at Maturi Pavilion. Friday's match will be played at 5 p.m., and streamed on BTN + and televised locally on FOX 9 +. Saturday's home finale will be televised on ESPNU at 3 p.m.
Friday-Saturday, March 26-27
Evanston, Ill. (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
Start Time: 4:05 p.m./6:01 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network Friday (Talent - Play-by-Play: Evan Stockton, Analyst: Kim Kuzma)
Stream: BTN +, Saturday
SERIES INFORMATION
79th Meeting (59-19 all time against Northwestern)
Current Streak: Minnesota W-9
McCutcheon vs. Northwestern: 12-1
HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND
• The University of Minnesota competed on Sunday against Wisconsin and fell to the Badgers in four sets. Minnesota had to cancel the Wednesday, March 18 match due to COVID-19 restrictions and injuries. Prior to that, Minnesota played two matches against Illinois, March 12-13 as the Golden Gophers won both matches, also held at Maturi Pavilion.
• The Northwestern series marks the first road contests for the Golden Gophers since the Nebraska series, Feb. 19 & 21. Since the series with the Huskers, Minnesota had two series postponed, as well as the road March 18 match against the Badgers.
• The Big Ten has all teams scheduled to play this weekend. Should all teams get the green light, it would only be the second time this season that all conference matches would be completed. Minnesota and its other 13 institutions housed a full weekend of play on Feb. 17-21. The conference office had at least one postponement from Weeks 1-4, and again Weeks 6-9.
• Minnesota has utilized its roster and played student-athletes out of their normal positions. Airi Miyabe, an outside hitter, has played this year as a middle blocker against Illinois. Jenna Wenaas, also an outside hitter, has played as a defensive specialist and libero.
• Regan Pittman and Stephanie Samedy has been named two of 10 candidates up for the Senior CLASS Award, announced today by the organization. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The complete list of candidates follows this release. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School®, the Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities.
• Stephanie Samedy has produced 20-plus kills in four matches this season. The senior opposite hitter had 28 and 20 against Purdue (2/5-6), 23 against Penn State (2/13) and 27 against Nebraska (2/19). She narrowly had another against Penn State on Feb. 14 when she registered 19.
• Stephanie Samedy currently ranks 15th among NCAA active leaders in career kills (1,398). Regan Pittman ranks 15th among NCAA active leaders in career hitting percentage (.356), sixth in blocks per set (1.20) and fifth in total blocks (467).
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN
• Northwestern is back in action for the first time since Feb. 27. The Wildcats opened the season against Rutgers and won, 3-0 both matches. However, Northwestern then missed the next six matches before returning to action again on Feb. 19-27 to play four matches. The Wildcats went on another pause from March 5-25.
• This season, Northwestern has gone 3-3, defeating the Scarlet Knights twice, and Iowa on Feb. 27.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE WILDCATS
• Minnesota volleyball team earned a 3-0 win over Northwestern, Oct. 18, 2019 at Maturi Pavilion. Stephanie Samedy led the Gophers with 10 kills. She hit a season-best .474 and added three digs and a block. Alexis Hart offered up seven kills, two blocks and two digs. Bayley McMenimen had 20 assists and one ace, and Kylie Miller had 14 assists in her first game back with the Gophers.
ON THE DOCKET
• Minnesota is scheduled to play Iowa, April 2-3 at Maturi Pavilion. Friday's match will be played at 5 p.m., and streamed on BTN + and televised locally on FOX 9 +. Saturday's home finale will be televised on ESPNU at 3 p.m.
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Sweep Illini
Thursday, October 30
Highlights: Gophers 3, Illinois 0
Wednesday, October 29
Highlights: Gophers 2, Purdue 3
Sunday, October 26
Highlights: Gophers 3, Indiana 1
Friday, October 24