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Landfair and Samedy Named Preseason All-Big Ten
8/23/2021 12:00:00 PM | Volleyball
Each earned First Team All-Big Ten honors in 2020-21
University of Minnesota sophomore Taylor Landfair and redshirt senior Stephanie Samedy both landed a spot on the Preseason All-Big Ten team, it was announced today by the conference office. It is Landfair's first preseason all-league honor and Samedy's fourth.
A 6-foot-5 outside hitter from Planfield, Ill., Taylor Landfair came to Minnesota in 2020 as the No. 1 overall recruit. The First Team All-Big Ten and all-freshman team selection ranked second on Minnesota in kills (212) on her way to AVCA All-America honorable mention and the AVCA North Region Freshman of the Year award. Landfair averaged 3.03 kills per set and hit .255 on the year while picking up 36 blocks and 32 digs.
Samedy, a 6-2 opposite hitter from Clermont, Fla., enters 2021 as a four-time AVCA All-American. The four-time All-Big Ten First Team selection was named the 2020-21 Big Ten Player of the Year, her first player of the year honor and Minnesota's fourth in the past six seasons. The six-rotation player led Minnesota last season in kills (295), kills per set (4.15), points per set (4.69) and sets played (71). After an outstanding 2020-21 season, she was named a First Team AVCA All-American, First Team All-Big Ten, the Big Ten Player of the Year and the winner of the Senior CLASS Award.
Minnesota, ranked No. 7 by the AVCA preseason poll, is tabbed to finish fourth in the league standings, which voted on by the conference coaches. Wisconsin was predicted to win the conference, followed by Nebraska, Penn State, Minnesota and Purdue to round out the top five.
The Gophers open the season this weekend in Madison, Wis., against No. 10 Baylor and TCU. Friday's match against Baylor is set for 8:30 p.m. Central time on ESPNU while Saturday's match is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on BTN.
2020-21 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Taylor Landfair, So., OH, Minnesota
STEPHANIE SAMEDY, Sr., OPP, Minnesota
Nicklin Hames, Sr., S, Nebraska
Lexi Sun, Sr., OH, Nebraska
Temi Thomas-Ailara, Jr., OH, Northwestern
EMILY LONDOT, So., OPP, Ohio State
Kaitlyn Hord, Sr., MB, Penn State
Jonni Parker, Sr., RS/S, Penn State
Erika Pritchard, Grad., OH, Penn State
Hayley Bush, Sr., S, Purdue
GRACE CLEVELAND, Sr., OH, Purdue
SYDNEY HILLEY, Grad., S, Wisconsin
DANA RETTKE, Grad., MB, Wisconsin
Devyn Robinson, So., MB/RS, Wisconsin
1. WISCONSIN
2. Nebraska
3. Penn State
4. Minnesota
5. Purdue
6. Ohio State
7. Illinois
8. Michigan
9. Northwestern
10. Michigan State
11. Rutgers
12. Iowa
13. (tie) Indiana
13. (tie) Maryland
Make sure to follow the Golden Gophers Volleyball team on Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok @GopherVBall to catch up with the latest happenings in the program.
A 6-foot-5 outside hitter from Planfield, Ill., Taylor Landfair came to Minnesota in 2020 as the No. 1 overall recruit. The First Team All-Big Ten and all-freshman team selection ranked second on Minnesota in kills (212) on her way to AVCA All-America honorable mention and the AVCA North Region Freshman of the Year award. Landfair averaged 3.03 kills per set and hit .255 on the year while picking up 36 blocks and 32 digs.
Samedy, a 6-2 opposite hitter from Clermont, Fla., enters 2021 as a four-time AVCA All-American. The four-time All-Big Ten First Team selection was named the 2020-21 Big Ten Player of the Year, her first player of the year honor and Minnesota's fourth in the past six seasons. The six-rotation player led Minnesota last season in kills (295), kills per set (4.15), points per set (4.69) and sets played (71). After an outstanding 2020-21 season, she was named a First Team AVCA All-American, First Team All-Big Ten, the Big Ten Player of the Year and the winner of the Senior CLASS Award.
Minnesota, ranked No. 7 by the AVCA preseason poll, is tabbed to finish fourth in the league standings, which voted on by the conference coaches. Wisconsin was predicted to win the conference, followed by Nebraska, Penn State, Minnesota and Purdue to round out the top five.
The Gophers open the season this weekend in Madison, Wis., against No. 10 Baylor and TCU. Friday's match against Baylor is set for 8:30 p.m. Central time on ESPNU while Saturday's match is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. on BTN.
2020-21 PRESEASON ALL-BIG TEN TEAM
Taylor Landfair, So., OH, Minnesota
STEPHANIE SAMEDY, Sr., OPP, Minnesota
Nicklin Hames, Sr., S, Nebraska
Lexi Sun, Sr., OH, Nebraska
Temi Thomas-Ailara, Jr., OH, Northwestern
EMILY LONDOT, So., OPP, Ohio State
Kaitlyn Hord, Sr., MB, Penn State
Jonni Parker, Sr., RS/S, Penn State
Erika Pritchard, Grad., OH, Penn State
Hayley Bush, Sr., S, Purdue
GRACE CLEVELAND, Sr., OH, Purdue
SYDNEY HILLEY, Grad., S, Wisconsin
DANA RETTKE, Grad., MB, Wisconsin
Devyn Robinson, So., MB/RS, Wisconsin
Unanimous selections listed in ALL CAPS
2020-21 PRESEASON POLL1. WISCONSIN
2. Nebraska
3. Penn State
4. Minnesota
5. Purdue
6. Ohio State
7. Illinois
8. Michigan
9. Northwestern
10. Michigan State
11. Rutgers
12. Iowa
13. (tie) Indiana
13. (tie) Maryland
Make sure to follow the Golden Gophers Volleyball team on Twitter, Instagram and Tik Tok @GopherVBall to catch up with the latest happenings in the program.
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