University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, October 7
Ann Arbor, MI
7:30 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Michigan
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Photo by: Matt Krohn
'U' Readies for Weekend Road Trip to Michigan
10/4/2022 10:06:00 AM | Volleyball
The Gophers play Michigan Friday, Michigan St. Sunday
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 11 Minnesota Golden Gophers (7-5, 2-2 Big Ten) will take their first weekend road trip since going to the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge in Texas at the end of August. No. 24 Michigan (12-2, 3-1 Big Ten) will welcome the Gophers on Friday night in Ann Arbor while the Michigan State Spartans (10-5, 1-3 Big Ten) host Minnesota Sunday afternoon in East Lansing. Friday's match is on BTN while Sunday's is slated for B1G+.
MICHIGAN BROADCAST INFORMATION
No. 11 Minnesota at No. 24 Michigan | 7:30 p.m. CT | BTN
Sunday, Oct. 7
Crisler Center
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Broadcasters: Jason Knapp (Play-By-Play) and Liz Tortorello-Nelson (Analyst)
MICHIGAN STATE BROADCAST INFORMATION
No. 11 Minnesota at Michigan State | 1 p.m. CT | B1G+
Sunday, Oct. 9
Breslin Center
East Lansing, Mich.
Broadcasters: TBA
NUMBERS TO KNOW:
262 -- Minnesota head coach Hugh McCutcheon holds a 262-70 (.800) collegiate coaching record and has led Minnesota to two Big Ten Championships, three Final Fours, nine trips to the Sweet 16 and five to the Elite Eight. He joins Mike Hebert (1996-2011; 381-136 (.737)) and Stephanie Schleuder (1982-1994; 263-173 (.603)) as the third coach in Minnesota history to win 260 matches.
26 --The 2021 season marked the 26th year the Golden Gophers advanced to the NCAA tournament. Minnesota has also advanced to the tournament in seven-straight seasons and nine of 10 seasons under head coach Hugh McCutcheon.
19 -- Of Minnesota's 28 scheduled games are against 2021 NCAA Tournament teams. 12 of those matches are against teams that advanced to the Sweet 16 or further.
16 -- 16 of the Gophers' 28 games are versus teams that finished in the AVCA Top-25. Seven of those matches are against teams that finished in the top-10.
9 -- Melani Shaffmaster now ranks 9th all-time in Minnesota history with 2,362 career assists.
8 -- 8 of the Gophers' first 12 matches have come against ranked opponents. Minnesota is 4-4 in those contests.
7 -- Of Minnesota's eight non-conference matches were against teams that made the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Seven of the teams were ranked or receiving votes when Minnesota played them.
5 -- Fifth-year senior libero CC McGraw ranks No. 5 all-time at Minnesota with 1,696 career digs. She's just 304 away from becoming the second Gopher and 10th Big Ten player all-time to reach that mark.
4 -- Transfers were added to the mix in 2022. Arica Davis (MB, Ohio State), Elise McGhie (S, Kansas), Miranda Wucherer (S/RS, N. Kentucky) and Naya Gros (MB, Michigan State) are the additions.
3 -- Gophers earned All-Big Ten honors last season. Five-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree Stephanie Samedy departs, but CC McGraw (first team) and Jenna Wenaas (second team) return.
2 -- Minnesota will play both Michigan and Michigan State twice this season. Michigan State comes to the Pav on Oct. 26 and Michigan comes on Nov. 4. The Gophers went 2-1 against the Michigan schools last year, beating MSU on the road and Michigan at home. The 'U' lost in five sets at Michigan and didn't play MSU at home.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Gophers fell in five sets to Northwestern on Wednesday night, the first time since 2014 they've lost to the Wildcats. After losing the first set, Minnesota took sets two and three, 25-21 and 25-17. NU took sets four and five, 25-20, 15-13, to pull the upset.
• Jenna Wenaas had 12 kills, seven blocks (career-high) and 18 digs to lead the Gophers.
• Minnesota responded with a four set win over Iowa at home on Sunday. Taylor Landfair paced the team with 25 kills while Naya Gros put down 12 kills with five blocks.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
• UM is led by head coach Mark Rosen, who has won 672 matches during his historic coaching career. He's spent the last 23 years at Michigan, making the NCAA Tournament 19 times.
• Michigan went 9-1 in the non-conference, with its only loss coming at Duke. The Wolverines best conference win of the season came in a sweep of then No. 9 Penn State on Sept. 24 on the road.
• The Wolverines are No. 14 nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten in hitting percentage at .287. Outside Jess Mruzik leads the team with 3.80 kills and 4.38 points per set.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
• Michigan State is led by first year head coach Leah Johnson, who spent the past five years at Illinois State, leading the Redbirds to four NCAA Tournament appearances.
• The Spartans went 9-2 in non-conference play, but did not take down a high-major opponent. MSU earned its first Big Ten win at Maryland on Sept. 30 in a five set win.
• Sophomore Aliyah Moore leads the team at 2.88 kills per set after playing her freshman year at Illinois State in 2021. Setter Zoe Nunez ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 8.62 digs per set.
HISTORY VS. MICHIGAN AND MICHIGAN STATE
• All-time, Minnesota is 59-16 against Michigan. The 'U' has won 10 of the last 12 against the Wolverines, with the losses coming in 2014 and 2021. Under coach McCutcheon, the Gophers are 11-3 against UM. The Gophers beat Michigan in five sets on Sept. 24, 2021, and lost in five sets on Oct. 8, 2021.
• Minnesota is 58-19 all-time against Michigan State. They've won six straight and seven of the last eight in the series, including two three set wins during the 2020-21 spring season. Under coach McCutcheon, the Gophers are 12-3 against MSU.
NEXT STRETCH OF SCHEDULE
• After playing #24 Michigan on Friday, that will mark nine of the Gophers' first 13 matches coming against ranked opponents.
• Just one of Minnesota's next four games will come against ranked foes after taking on the Wolverines.
SCHEDULE TESTING GOPHERS EARLY AND OFTEN
• Not many teams in the country will be tested like the Gophers in 2022. Minnesota is scheduled to play 16 matches against teams that finished in the AVCA Top-25 and seven that finished in the AVCA Top-10.
• In 2022, eight of the Gophers' first 12 opponents were ranked. Four (#1 Texas, #5 Purdue, #7 Wisconsin, #8 Stanford) are currently ranked in the top 10.
• Seven of Minnesota's eight non-conference matchups were vs. 2021 NCAA Tournament teams. 12 of 20 conference games are against tournament teams. The Gophers will play eight home and eight road/neutral site games against teams that finished in the top-25.
• The Gophers get to play 19 matches against 2021 NCAA Tournament teams, including 12 games against teams that made the Sweet 16-or-further.
• The Gophers strength of schedule is ranked No. 2 in the nation, behind only Ohio State. Minnesota's 12 opponents are a combined 115-38 (.752) this season.
MCGRAW MOVES HER WAY UP RECORD BOOKS
• CC McGraw ranks No. 5 in Gophers history with 1,696 digs. CC is now 304 digs away from becoming just the 10th player in B1G Volleyball history and second Gopher ever to reach 2,000 in her career.
• In three of her four seasons, McGraw has made Minnesota's top-20 list for most digs in the season. In 2018, she had 428 (18th), 450 (16th) in 2019 and a career-best 510 in 2021 (12th). She's the second Gopher to have three-or-more seasons with 400-or-more digs.
RECORD WATCH
• CC McGraw ranks No. 5 in Minnesota history with 1,696 digs. She's behind only Paula Gentil (2002-05) 2,791, Christine Tan (2006-09) 1,927, Dalianliz Rosado (2014-17) 1,870 and Jessica Granquist (2008-11) 1,737.
• McGraw ranks in the top 25 at Minnesota in matches played (114). She is 19 games away from being inside the top 20 all-time.
• Melani Shaffmaster moved up to ninth all-time at Minnesota in assists (2,362).
GOPHERS IN BIG TEN PLAY
• Under Hugh McCutcheon, Minnesota is 148-44 (.777) in Big Ten competition. In his 10 seasons prior in charge, the Gophers have had nine seasons above .500 in conference play. In nine of those seasons, the 'U' went 15-5 or better in conference play, with the best being 19-1 in 2018.
• The Gophers won Big Ten titles in 2016 and 2018 and have finished either first, second or third in eight of the last nine seasons.
BLOCK PARTY IN MINNESOTA
• In 2021, the Gophers ranked No. 7 in the B1G and No. 40 nationally in blocks with 289.5 and 2.47 per set.
• So far in 2022, Minnesota ranks No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 12 nationally with 2.73 blocks per set.
• Carter Booth leads the Gophers and ranks 5th in the B1G with 1.41 blocks per set.
HUGH MCCUTCHEON'S TEAMS AFTER A LOSS
• In his career at Minnesota, coach McCutcheon's teams hold a 45-13 record coming off a loss. The Gophers are 4-1 coming off losses in 2022.
#WENAASOTA KEEPS IT GOING
• A junior outside from Frisco, Texas, Jenna Wenaas has had a breakout sophomore season on the pin, earning AVCA All-North Region and Second Team All-Big Ten honors.
• Wenaas reached double digit kills in 24 of 31 matches and tallied 12 double doubles in 2021. One of her most memorable performances was a 22-kill, 19-dig outing (both then career-highs) in a five set win over Nebraska on Oct. 30. The former top-five recruit in the country has become one of the best players in the conference in 2021, a year after she played in just 43 sets and averaged 0.44 kps.
• In 2022, she's had double-digit kills in six of 12 matches and has had four double digit dig matches. She's tallied multiple blocks in seven matches and has aces in seven games.
• This past week, Wenaas had two big games against NU and Iowa, going for 22 kills (2.44 kps), 34 digs (3.78 dps), 10 blocks (1.11 bps) and 5 assists (0.56 aps).
Follow along with the Gophers this season on Twitter (@GopherVBall), Instagram and TikTok (@gophervball).
MICHIGAN BROADCAST INFORMATION
No. 11 Minnesota at No. 24 Michigan | 7:30 p.m. CT | BTN
Sunday, Oct. 7
Crisler Center
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Broadcasters: Jason Knapp (Play-By-Play) and Liz Tortorello-Nelson (Analyst)
MICHIGAN STATE BROADCAST INFORMATION
No. 11 Minnesota at Michigan State | 1 p.m. CT | B1G+
Sunday, Oct. 9
Breslin Center
East Lansing, Mich.
Broadcasters: TBA
NUMBERS TO KNOW:
262 -- Minnesota head coach Hugh McCutcheon holds a 262-70 (.800) collegiate coaching record and has led Minnesota to two Big Ten Championships, three Final Fours, nine trips to the Sweet 16 and five to the Elite Eight. He joins Mike Hebert (1996-2011; 381-136 (.737)) and Stephanie Schleuder (1982-1994; 263-173 (.603)) as the third coach in Minnesota history to win 260 matches.
26 --The 2021 season marked the 26th year the Golden Gophers advanced to the NCAA tournament. Minnesota has also advanced to the tournament in seven-straight seasons and nine of 10 seasons under head coach Hugh McCutcheon.
19 -- Of Minnesota's 28 scheduled games are against 2021 NCAA Tournament teams. 12 of those matches are against teams that advanced to the Sweet 16 or further.
16 -- 16 of the Gophers' 28 games are versus teams that finished in the AVCA Top-25. Seven of those matches are against teams that finished in the top-10.
9 -- Melani Shaffmaster now ranks 9th all-time in Minnesota history with 2,362 career assists.
8 -- 8 of the Gophers' first 12 matches have come against ranked opponents. Minnesota is 4-4 in those contests.
7 -- Of Minnesota's eight non-conference matches were against teams that made the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Seven of the teams were ranked or receiving votes when Minnesota played them.
5 -- Fifth-year senior libero CC McGraw ranks No. 5 all-time at Minnesota with 1,696 career digs. She's just 304 away from becoming the second Gopher and 10th Big Ten player all-time to reach that mark.
4 -- Transfers were added to the mix in 2022. Arica Davis (MB, Ohio State), Elise McGhie (S, Kansas), Miranda Wucherer (S/RS, N. Kentucky) and Naya Gros (MB, Michigan State) are the additions.
3 -- Gophers earned All-Big Ten honors last season. Five-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree Stephanie Samedy departs, but CC McGraw (first team) and Jenna Wenaas (second team) return.
2 -- Minnesota will play both Michigan and Michigan State twice this season. Michigan State comes to the Pav on Oct. 26 and Michigan comes on Nov. 4. The Gophers went 2-1 against the Michigan schools last year, beating MSU on the road and Michigan at home. The 'U' lost in five sets at Michigan and didn't play MSU at home.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Gophers fell in five sets to Northwestern on Wednesday night, the first time since 2014 they've lost to the Wildcats. After losing the first set, Minnesota took sets two and three, 25-21 and 25-17. NU took sets four and five, 25-20, 15-13, to pull the upset.
• Jenna Wenaas had 12 kills, seven blocks (career-high) and 18 digs to lead the Gophers.
• Minnesota responded with a four set win over Iowa at home on Sunday. Taylor Landfair paced the team with 25 kills while Naya Gros put down 12 kills with five blocks.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
• UM is led by head coach Mark Rosen, who has won 672 matches during his historic coaching career. He's spent the last 23 years at Michigan, making the NCAA Tournament 19 times.
• Michigan went 9-1 in the non-conference, with its only loss coming at Duke. The Wolverines best conference win of the season came in a sweep of then No. 9 Penn State on Sept. 24 on the road.
• The Wolverines are No. 14 nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten in hitting percentage at .287. Outside Jess Mruzik leads the team with 3.80 kills and 4.38 points per set.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE
• Michigan State is led by first year head coach Leah Johnson, who spent the past five years at Illinois State, leading the Redbirds to four NCAA Tournament appearances.
• The Spartans went 9-2 in non-conference play, but did not take down a high-major opponent. MSU earned its first Big Ten win at Maryland on Sept. 30 in a five set win.
• Sophomore Aliyah Moore leads the team at 2.88 kills per set after playing her freshman year at Illinois State in 2021. Setter Zoe Nunez ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 8.62 digs per set.
HISTORY VS. MICHIGAN AND MICHIGAN STATE
• All-time, Minnesota is 59-16 against Michigan. The 'U' has won 10 of the last 12 against the Wolverines, with the losses coming in 2014 and 2021. Under coach McCutcheon, the Gophers are 11-3 against UM. The Gophers beat Michigan in five sets on Sept. 24, 2021, and lost in five sets on Oct. 8, 2021.
• Minnesota is 58-19 all-time against Michigan State. They've won six straight and seven of the last eight in the series, including two three set wins during the 2020-21 spring season. Under coach McCutcheon, the Gophers are 12-3 against MSU.
NEXT STRETCH OF SCHEDULE
• After playing #24 Michigan on Friday, that will mark nine of the Gophers' first 13 matches coming against ranked opponents.
• Just one of Minnesota's next four games will come against ranked foes after taking on the Wolverines.
SCHEDULE TESTING GOPHERS EARLY AND OFTEN
• Not many teams in the country will be tested like the Gophers in 2022. Minnesota is scheduled to play 16 matches against teams that finished in the AVCA Top-25 and seven that finished in the AVCA Top-10.
• In 2022, eight of the Gophers' first 12 opponents were ranked. Four (#1 Texas, #5 Purdue, #7 Wisconsin, #8 Stanford) are currently ranked in the top 10.
• Seven of Minnesota's eight non-conference matchups were vs. 2021 NCAA Tournament teams. 12 of 20 conference games are against tournament teams. The Gophers will play eight home and eight road/neutral site games against teams that finished in the top-25.
• The Gophers get to play 19 matches against 2021 NCAA Tournament teams, including 12 games against teams that made the Sweet 16-or-further.
• The Gophers strength of schedule is ranked No. 2 in the nation, behind only Ohio State. Minnesota's 12 opponents are a combined 115-38 (.752) this season.
MCGRAW MOVES HER WAY UP RECORD BOOKS
• CC McGraw ranks No. 5 in Gophers history with 1,696 digs. CC is now 304 digs away from becoming just the 10th player in B1G Volleyball history and second Gopher ever to reach 2,000 in her career.
• In three of her four seasons, McGraw has made Minnesota's top-20 list for most digs in the season. In 2018, she had 428 (18th), 450 (16th) in 2019 and a career-best 510 in 2021 (12th). She's the second Gopher to have three-or-more seasons with 400-or-more digs.
RECORD WATCH
• CC McGraw ranks No. 5 in Minnesota history with 1,696 digs. She's behind only Paula Gentil (2002-05) 2,791, Christine Tan (2006-09) 1,927, Dalianliz Rosado (2014-17) 1,870 and Jessica Granquist (2008-11) 1,737.
• McGraw ranks in the top 25 at Minnesota in matches played (114). She is 19 games away from being inside the top 20 all-time.
• Melani Shaffmaster moved up to ninth all-time at Minnesota in assists (2,362).
GOPHERS IN BIG TEN PLAY
• Under Hugh McCutcheon, Minnesota is 148-44 (.777) in Big Ten competition. In his 10 seasons prior in charge, the Gophers have had nine seasons above .500 in conference play. In nine of those seasons, the 'U' went 15-5 or better in conference play, with the best being 19-1 in 2018.
• The Gophers won Big Ten titles in 2016 and 2018 and have finished either first, second or third in eight of the last nine seasons.
BLOCK PARTY IN MINNESOTA
• In 2021, the Gophers ranked No. 7 in the B1G and No. 40 nationally in blocks with 289.5 and 2.47 per set.
• So far in 2022, Minnesota ranks No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 12 nationally with 2.73 blocks per set.
• Carter Booth leads the Gophers and ranks 5th in the B1G with 1.41 blocks per set.
HUGH MCCUTCHEON'S TEAMS AFTER A LOSS
• In his career at Minnesota, coach McCutcheon's teams hold a 45-13 record coming off a loss. The Gophers are 4-1 coming off losses in 2022.
#WENAASOTA KEEPS IT GOING
• A junior outside from Frisco, Texas, Jenna Wenaas has had a breakout sophomore season on the pin, earning AVCA All-North Region and Second Team All-Big Ten honors.
• Wenaas reached double digit kills in 24 of 31 matches and tallied 12 double doubles in 2021. One of her most memorable performances was a 22-kill, 19-dig outing (both then career-highs) in a five set win over Nebraska on Oct. 30. The former top-five recruit in the country has become one of the best players in the conference in 2021, a year after she played in just 43 sets and averaged 0.44 kps.
• In 2022, she's had double-digit kills in six of 12 matches and has had four double digit dig matches. She's tallied multiple blocks in seven matches and has aces in seven games.
• This past week, Wenaas had two big games against NU and Iowa, going for 22 kills (2.44 kps), 34 digs (3.78 dps), 10 blocks (1.11 bps) and 5 assists (0.56 aps).
Follow along with the Gophers this season on Twitter (@GopherVBall), Instagram and TikTok (@gophervball).
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