University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, April 18
Omaha, NE
12:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Pittsburgh
Players Mentioned
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside Hitter
/ Volleyball
Opposite
/ VolleyballSetter
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Mark Kuhlmann/NCAA Photos
Gophers Set to Battle Pitt In Sweet 16
4/17/2021 9:13:00 AM | Volleyball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Start Time: 12:01 p.m.
Stream: ESPN3 (Stream, please use cable provider if package includes ESPN Channels; Eric Frede - play-by-play; Katie George - analyst)
Live Stats: https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/volleyball-women/d1/2021
SERIES INFORMATION
Third All-Time Meeting vs. Pittsburgh
Series tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: 1999
First Meeting: 1990
Last Loss: 1990
Streak: Minnesota, W-1
HEADING INTO THE MATCH
• The University of Minnesota is the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. With the three-seed, Minnesota has a first-round bye and played its opening match of the NCAA Tournament on April 15, as the Golden Gophers earned a 3-0 win (25-19, 25-21, 25-18) over Georgia Tech. Minnesota had a well-balanced attack as the Gophers had three individuals in double-digit kills. Stephanie Samedy and Adanna Rollins each had 13 kills and hit over .340, while Taylor Landfair had 11 kills. Melani Shaffmaster added a double double with 32 assists and a team-best 16 kills, while Regan Pittman had six blocks. With the win, it solidified Minnesota's spot in the Regional Semifinal and faces Pittsburgh on Sunday.
• The 2021 season marks the 25th year the Golden Gophers have advanced to the NCAA tournament. Minnesota has also advanced to the tournament six-straight seasons and eight under ninth-year head coach Hugh McCutcheon. Minnesota has had a top 10 seed the past six seasons. The Gophers were the No. 2 seed in 2015, 2016 and 2018, No. 3 this year, and the No. 7 seed in both 2017 and 2019.
• In all, Minnesota has been to six Final Fours since 2003. The Gophers have also made it as far as nine Sweet 16 berths and two Elite 8 appearances. Now in their 25th NCAA appearance, it marks the 18th Regional Semifinal match in program history and seventh under head coach Hugh McCutcheon. Although the Gophers missed the 2014 championship, Minnesota will now play in their 10th-straight Sweet 16 match when making the tournament.
• Minnesota is 8-9 all-time in the Round of 16, including a 4-3 mark under McCutcheon. The Gophers have advanced to the Regional Final in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019 under McCutcheon. Minnesota competed in a five-set battle against Florida in 2019 and advanced to the Regional Final.
• Regan Pittman is closing in on her 500th career block for the Golden Gophers, now sitting at 491. She currently ranks ninth in school history behind former Gopher Paige Tapp, who had 495 in her Gopher career.
• Should the Gophers win over Pittsburgh, they would play the winner of Louisville/Washington on Monday. Match time is set for 11 a.m., on ESPN2.
ABOUT PITTSBURGH
• Pittsburgh earned an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament, its 16th appearance in program history. Sunday's match marks its first Sweet 16 appearance in school history. The Panthers earned their trip to the Regional Semifinals with wins over LIU (3-0) and upset No. 14 seed Utah (3-0). The Panthers are also riding a 14-match win streak into the Sweet 16.
• Kayla Lund leads the Panthers in kills (299), kills per set (3.83), aces (32), digs (242) and points (352.5). Lexis Akeo and Kylee Levers average 5.95 and 5.55 assists per set, while Sabrina Starks averages 1.31 blocks per set. Lund was named ACC's Volleyball Player of the Year, her second honor back-to-back years. Lund and Chinaza Ndee were named First Team All-ACC, while Starks was named to the second team.
Start Time: 12:01 p.m.
Stream: ESPN3 (Stream, please use cable provider if package includes ESPN Channels; Eric Frede - play-by-play; Katie George - analyst)
Live Stats: https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/volleyball-women/d1/2021
SERIES INFORMATION
Third All-Time Meeting vs. Pittsburgh
Series tied, 1-1
Last Meeting: 1999
First Meeting: 1990
Last Loss: 1990
Streak: Minnesota, W-1
HEADING INTO THE MATCH
• The University of Minnesota is the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. With the three-seed, Minnesota has a first-round bye and played its opening match of the NCAA Tournament on April 15, as the Golden Gophers earned a 3-0 win (25-19, 25-21, 25-18) over Georgia Tech. Minnesota had a well-balanced attack as the Gophers had three individuals in double-digit kills. Stephanie Samedy and Adanna Rollins each had 13 kills and hit over .340, while Taylor Landfair had 11 kills. Melani Shaffmaster added a double double with 32 assists and a team-best 16 kills, while Regan Pittman had six blocks. With the win, it solidified Minnesota's spot in the Regional Semifinal and faces Pittsburgh on Sunday.
• The 2021 season marks the 25th year the Golden Gophers have advanced to the NCAA tournament. Minnesota has also advanced to the tournament six-straight seasons and eight under ninth-year head coach Hugh McCutcheon. Minnesota has had a top 10 seed the past six seasons. The Gophers were the No. 2 seed in 2015, 2016 and 2018, No. 3 this year, and the No. 7 seed in both 2017 and 2019.
• In all, Minnesota has been to six Final Fours since 2003. The Gophers have also made it as far as nine Sweet 16 berths and two Elite 8 appearances. Now in their 25th NCAA appearance, it marks the 18th Regional Semifinal match in program history and seventh under head coach Hugh McCutcheon. Although the Gophers missed the 2014 championship, Minnesota will now play in their 10th-straight Sweet 16 match when making the tournament.
• Minnesota is 8-9 all-time in the Round of 16, including a 4-3 mark under McCutcheon. The Gophers have advanced to the Regional Final in 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2019 under McCutcheon. Minnesota competed in a five-set battle against Florida in 2019 and advanced to the Regional Final.
• Regan Pittman is closing in on her 500th career block for the Golden Gophers, now sitting at 491. She currently ranks ninth in school history behind former Gopher Paige Tapp, who had 495 in her Gopher career.
• Should the Gophers win over Pittsburgh, they would play the winner of Louisville/Washington on Monday. Match time is set for 11 a.m., on ESPN2.
ABOUT PITTSBURGH
• Pittsburgh earned an at-large bid into the NCAA tournament, its 16th appearance in program history. Sunday's match marks its first Sweet 16 appearance in school history. The Panthers earned their trip to the Regional Semifinals with wins over LIU (3-0) and upset No. 14 seed Utah (3-0). The Panthers are also riding a 14-match win streak into the Sweet 16.
• Kayla Lund leads the Panthers in kills (299), kills per set (3.83), aces (32), digs (242) and points (352.5). Lexis Akeo and Kylee Levers average 5.95 and 5.55 assists per set, while Sabrina Starks averages 1.31 blocks per set. Lund was named ACC's Volleyball Player of the Year, her second honor back-to-back years. Lund and Chinaza Ndee were named First Team All-ACC, while Starks was named to the second team.
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