University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, November 18
University Park, PA
7:30 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Penn State
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Photo by: Matt Krohn
'U' Set for East Coast Road Swing to PSU, RU
11/16/2022 12:47:00 PM | Volleyball
Minnesota has four regular season games left
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 9 Minnesota Golden Gophers (17-7, 12-4 Big Ten) have just four games left in the 2022 regular season. Minnesota will travel to Penn State (21-6, 10-6 Big Ten) on Friday night (7:30 p.m. CT) and Rutgers (8-20, 2-14 Big Ten) on Sunday afternoon (Noon CT) for this weekend's road trip. BTN will televise Friday's match while Sunday's will be on B1G+. Anne Marie Anderson and Audrey Flaugh are on the call on Friday night. The Gophers enter this weekend at fourth place in the Big Ten, behind Ohio State (15-1), Wisconsin (15-1) and Nebraska (14-2).
PENN STATE BROADCAST INFORMATION
No. 9 Minnesota at No. 14 Penn State | 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT | BTN
Friday, Nov. 18
Rec Hall
State College, Pa.
Broadcasters: Anne Marie Anderson (Play-By-Play) and Audrey Flaugh (Analyst)
RUTGERS BROADCAST INFORMATION
No. 9 Minnesota at Rutgers | 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT | B1G+
Sunday, Nov. 20
Jersey Mike's Arena
Piscataway, N.J.
Broadcasters: TBD
NUMBERS TO KNOW:
272 -- Minnesota head coach Hugh McCutcheon holds a 272-72 (.788) 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. Hebert also led the 'U' to three Final Fours.
27 -- The 2022 season will mark the 27th year the Golden Gophers will advance to the NCAA tournament. That marks eight-straight seasons and 10 of 11 seasons under Hugh.
12 -- Of Minnesota's first 24 matches were versus ranked opponents. The Gophers are 6-6 in those contests.
11 -- Minnesota ranks 11th nationally with 2.77 blocks per set.
9 -- Minnesota's rank in both the AVCA poll and in the NCAA's top-10. It's been five straight weeks ranked at No. 9.
8 -- Melani Shaffmaster now ranks 8th all-time in Minnesota history with 2,787 career assists.
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.
6 -- Different Gophers have reached double figures in kills this year (Carter Booth, Naya Gros, Julia Hanson, Taylor Landfair, Jenna Wenaas, Mckenna Wucherer).
7 -- Of the past 14 matches, the Gophers have hit over .300 as a team. They've done so 10 times this season, posting a 10-0 record in those contests.
4 -- Graduate libero CC McGraw now ranks No. 4 all-time at Minnesota with 1,833 career digs. Dalianliz Rosado (1,870) ranks No. 3. CC would have to average nine digs per match over the next four to pass Rosado for No. 3 all-time.
3 -- Of Minnesota's final four games are against top-15 ranked teams. The Gophers take on No. 5 Ohio State and No. 6 Nebraska on the road next weekend to close the season. 15 of Minnesota's 28 regular season games will have been against ranked opponents.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Gophers won their third and fourth games in a row this weekend, sweeping both Maryland and Indiana in convincing fashion. Friday's match vs. UMD was 25-12, 25-13, 25-16. Taylor Landfair paced Minnesota with 11 kills while Jenna Wenaas had nine kills and 12 digs. Carter Booth went for nine kills and three blocks.
• The 'U' defeated Indiana on Sunday, 25-22, 25-9, 25-15. Booth had nine kills again to go along with four blocks and CC McGraw and Rachel Kilkelly paced the backcourt with 12 digs each.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
• Penn State is led by first-year head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, a two-time All-American and a member of Penn State's 1999 National Championship team, Schumacher-Cawley took over the program after spending four seasons as an assistant under legendary head coach Russ Rose.
• The Nittany Lions are having a banner first season under her watch, going a perfect 11-0 in non-conference play, winning the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge. They hold top-25 wins over #11 Stanford, #18 Oregon and #15 Purdue.
• PSU ranks No. 3 in the B1G in blocks per set (2.77), led by Allie Holland (1.43 bps). Elisaia Seleisa ranks third in the conference with 10.37 assists per set, pacing the offense.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
• The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are led by third-year head coach Caitlin Schweihofer. In year one in the spring of 2021, Rutgers tripled its conference win total along with capturing numerous program firsts including its first-ever All-Big Ten honoree. They started 3-0 in 2022 for the first time since 1998.
• RU has won two conference games this year, both at Jersey Mike's Arena. They defeated Michigan State in five sets and swept Iowa, their first Big Ten sweep since 2019.
• They are led by Alissa Kinkela (2.65 kps), Lauren DeLo (6.93 aps) and Tina Grkovic (1.05 bps).
HISTORY VS. PENN STATE AND RUTGERS
• Minnesota is 15-49 all-time against Penn State, but they hold a 7-12 mark under Hugh McCutcheon. PSU won the first eight in the series since coach came to Minnesota in 2012. However, since then, the Gophers have won seven of the past 11, including five of the last six. The Gophers have won just twice in State College since 2004. They earned 3-1 wins in 2019 and 2021 at PSU.
• Minnesota is 9-2 all-time against Rutgers, including an 8-0 record under Hugh McCutcheon. The Gophers have won eight of the nine matchups against RU in three sets. They last met twice in 2019, when the Gophers won in four at home and in three on the road. On the road, the 'U' is 4-2 vs. RU.
FIVE SENIORS HONORED ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON
• The Gophers celebrated senior day on Nov. 13, honoring Naya Gros (MB, Grad.), Miranda Wucherer (S, Grad.), Ellie Husemann (MB, Sr.), Rachel Kilkelly (DS, Sr.) and CC McGraw (L, Grad.).
GOPHERS IN B1G PLAY
• Under Hugh McCutcheon, Minnesota is 158-46 (.773) 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 clinched going over .500 with two wins last weekend.
• Minnesota went 7-3 in Big Ten play in 2022 through the halfway point. In 2021 the Gophers were also 7-3 (finished 15-5). Minnesota was 9-1 in spring 2021 (15-2) and 9-1 in 2019 (17-3) through nine games.
• 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. Minnesota currently ranks fourth (12-4), behind Nebraska (14-2) Ohio State and Wisconsin (both 15-1).
BLOCK PARTY IN MINNESOTA
• So far in 2022, Minnesota ranks No. 5 in the Big Ten and No. 11 nationally with 2.75 blocks per set.
• Carter Booth leads the Gophers and ranks 7th in the B1G and 20th nationally with 1.36 blocks per set.
GOPHERS HEATING UP HITTING
• Minnesota ranks No. 29 nationally in hitting percentage at .263 for the year. In Big Ten play, the Gophers are up to .274 hitting for the year, 3 points higher than No. 2 (Ohio State).
• The 'U' has hit .300-or-better 10 times this year, going 10-0 in those matchups.
• The Gophers are at sixth in the conference with 12.21 assists per set.
MCGRAW MOVES HER WAY UP RECORD BOOKS
• CC McGraw now ranks No. 4 in Gophers history with 1,833 digs. CC is now 167 digs away from becoming just the 10th player in B1G Volleyball history and second Gopher ever to reach 2,000 in her career.
• McGraw ranks 22nd among active Division I players in digs and first in the Big Ten.
• 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. So far in 2022, McGraw has tallied 278 digs.
LANDFAIR HAVING PROLIFIC THIRD SEASON
• The No. 1 recruit in the class of 2020, Taylor Landfair had an excellent true freshman season in spring 2021. She ranked second on the Gophers in kills and made First Team All-Big Ten and AVCA All-America honorable mention. Last fall wasn't as fun for Landfair as she sat out most of the year (played just nine games) with an ab injury.
• She's back and better than ever in 2022, leading the 'U' in kills with 4.44 per set. She's also averaging over 1.6 digs and nearly 0.6 blocks per set, playing all six rotations. Landfair was named MVP of the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge after leading all players in points and kills. She's led Minnesota in kills 22 of 24 games in 2022.
• Landfair ranks first in the Big Ten and 12th nationally with 4.44 kills per set. Her 4.98 p/s ranks 14th.
• Landfair's streak of 23 consecutive games with 10+ kills ended Nov. 13 vs. Indiana.
HAPPY HUGHVEMBER
• Now in year 11 under Hugh McCutcheon, Minnesota has been a team that gets better throughout the course of the season. Under Hugh, the Gophers are 62-18 (.775) in the month of November. Since 2015, Minnesota is 43-9 (.827) in November, including a 22-5 (.815) record at home and a 21-4 (.840) record on the road.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota travels to No. 5 Ohio State and No. 6 Nebraska to close the regular season out on Friday, Nov. 26 and Saturday, Nov. 27. Both matches will be on BTN.
PENN STATE BROADCAST INFORMATION
No. 9 Minnesota at No. 14 Penn State | 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT | BTN
Friday, Nov. 18
Rec Hall
State College, Pa.
Broadcasters: Anne Marie Anderson (Play-By-Play) and Audrey Flaugh (Analyst)
RUTGERS BROADCAST INFORMATION
No. 9 Minnesota at Rutgers | 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT | B1G+
Sunday, Nov. 20
Jersey Mike's Arena
Piscataway, N.J.
Broadcasters: TBD
NUMBERS TO KNOW:
272 -- Minnesota head coach Hugh McCutcheon holds a 272-72 (.788) 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. Hebert also led the 'U' to three Final Fours.
27 -- The 2022 season will mark the 27th year the Golden Gophers will advance to the NCAA tournament. That marks eight-straight seasons and 10 of 11 seasons under Hugh.
12 -- Of Minnesota's first 24 matches were versus ranked opponents. The Gophers are 6-6 in those contests.
11 -- Minnesota ranks 11th nationally with 2.77 blocks per set.
9 -- Minnesota's rank in both the AVCA poll and in the NCAA's top-10. It's been five straight weeks ranked at No. 9.
8 -- Melani Shaffmaster now ranks 8th all-time in Minnesota history with 2,787 career assists.
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.
6 -- Different Gophers have reached double figures in kills this year (Carter Booth, Naya Gros, Julia Hanson, Taylor Landfair, Jenna Wenaas, Mckenna Wucherer).
7 -- Of the past 14 matches, the Gophers have hit over .300 as a team. They've done so 10 times this season, posting a 10-0 record in those contests.
4 -- Graduate libero CC McGraw now ranks No. 4 all-time at Minnesota with 1,833 career digs. Dalianliz Rosado (1,870) ranks No. 3. CC would have to average nine digs per match over the next four to pass Rosado for No. 3 all-time.
3 -- Of Minnesota's final four games are against top-15 ranked teams. The Gophers take on No. 5 Ohio State and No. 6 Nebraska on the road next weekend to close the season. 15 of Minnesota's 28 regular season games will have been against ranked opponents.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Gophers won their third and fourth games in a row this weekend, sweeping both Maryland and Indiana in convincing fashion. Friday's match vs. UMD was 25-12, 25-13, 25-16. Taylor Landfair paced Minnesota with 11 kills while Jenna Wenaas had nine kills and 12 digs. Carter Booth went for nine kills and three blocks.
• The 'U' defeated Indiana on Sunday, 25-22, 25-9, 25-15. Booth had nine kills again to go along with four blocks and CC McGraw and Rachel Kilkelly paced the backcourt with 12 digs each.
SCOUTING PENN STATE
• Penn State is led by first-year head coach Katie Schumacher-Cawley, a two-time All-American and a member of Penn State's 1999 National Championship team, Schumacher-Cawley took over the program after spending four seasons as an assistant under legendary head coach Russ Rose.
• The Nittany Lions are having a banner first season under her watch, going a perfect 11-0 in non-conference play, winning the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge. They hold top-25 wins over #11 Stanford, #18 Oregon and #15 Purdue.
• PSU ranks No. 3 in the B1G in blocks per set (2.77), led by Allie Holland (1.43 bps). Elisaia Seleisa ranks third in the conference with 10.37 assists per set, pacing the offense.
SCOUTING RUTGERS
• The Rutgers Scarlet Knights are led by third-year head coach Caitlin Schweihofer. In year one in the spring of 2021, Rutgers tripled its conference win total along with capturing numerous program firsts including its first-ever All-Big Ten honoree. They started 3-0 in 2022 for the first time since 1998.
• RU has won two conference games this year, both at Jersey Mike's Arena. They defeated Michigan State in five sets and swept Iowa, their first Big Ten sweep since 2019.
• They are led by Alissa Kinkela (2.65 kps), Lauren DeLo (6.93 aps) and Tina Grkovic (1.05 bps).
HISTORY VS. PENN STATE AND RUTGERS
• Minnesota is 15-49 all-time against Penn State, but they hold a 7-12 mark under Hugh McCutcheon. PSU won the first eight in the series since coach came to Minnesota in 2012. However, since then, the Gophers have won seven of the past 11, including five of the last six. The Gophers have won just twice in State College since 2004. They earned 3-1 wins in 2019 and 2021 at PSU.
• Minnesota is 9-2 all-time against Rutgers, including an 8-0 record under Hugh McCutcheon. The Gophers have won eight of the nine matchups against RU in three sets. They last met twice in 2019, when the Gophers won in four at home and in three on the road. On the road, the 'U' is 4-2 vs. RU.
FIVE SENIORS HONORED ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON
• The Gophers celebrated senior day on Nov. 13, honoring Naya Gros (MB, Grad.), Miranda Wucherer (S, Grad.), Ellie Husemann (MB, Sr.), Rachel Kilkelly (DS, Sr.) and CC McGraw (L, Grad.).
GOPHERS IN B1G PLAY
• Under Hugh McCutcheon, Minnesota is 158-46 (.773) 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 clinched going over .500 with two wins last weekend.
• Minnesota went 7-3 in Big Ten play in 2022 through the halfway point. In 2021 the Gophers were also 7-3 (finished 15-5). Minnesota was 9-1 in spring 2021 (15-2) and 9-1 in 2019 (17-3) through nine games.
• 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. Minnesota currently ranks fourth (12-4), behind Nebraska (14-2) Ohio State and Wisconsin (both 15-1).
BLOCK PARTY IN MINNESOTA
• So far in 2022, Minnesota ranks No. 5 in the Big Ten and No. 11 nationally with 2.75 blocks per set.
• Carter Booth leads the Gophers and ranks 7th in the B1G and 20th nationally with 1.36 blocks per set.
GOPHERS HEATING UP HITTING
• Minnesota ranks No. 29 nationally in hitting percentage at .263 for the year. In Big Ten play, the Gophers are up to .274 hitting for the year, 3 points higher than No. 2 (Ohio State).
• The 'U' has hit .300-or-better 10 times this year, going 10-0 in those matchups.
• The Gophers are at sixth in the conference with 12.21 assists per set.
MCGRAW MOVES HER WAY UP RECORD BOOKS
• CC McGraw now ranks No. 4 in Gophers history with 1,833 digs. CC is now 167 digs away from becoming just the 10th player in B1G Volleyball history and second Gopher ever to reach 2,000 in her career.
• McGraw ranks 22nd among active Division I players in digs and first in the Big Ten.
• 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. So far in 2022, McGraw has tallied 278 digs.
LANDFAIR HAVING PROLIFIC THIRD SEASON
• The No. 1 recruit in the class of 2020, Taylor Landfair had an excellent true freshman season in spring 2021. She ranked second on the Gophers in kills and made First Team All-Big Ten and AVCA All-America honorable mention. Last fall wasn't as fun for Landfair as she sat out most of the year (played just nine games) with an ab injury.
• She's back and better than ever in 2022, leading the 'U' in kills with 4.44 per set. She's also averaging over 1.6 digs and nearly 0.6 blocks per set, playing all six rotations. Landfair was named MVP of the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge after leading all players in points and kills. She's led Minnesota in kills 22 of 24 games in 2022.
• Landfair ranks first in the Big Ten and 12th nationally with 4.44 kills per set. Her 4.98 p/s ranks 14th.
• Landfair's streak of 23 consecutive games with 10+ kills ended Nov. 13 vs. Indiana.
HAPPY HUGHVEMBER
• Now in year 11 under Hugh McCutcheon, Minnesota has been a team that gets better throughout the course of the season. Under Hugh, the Gophers are 62-18 (.775) in the month of November. Since 2015, Minnesota is 43-9 (.827) in November, including a 22-5 (.815) record at home and a 21-4 (.840) record on the road.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota travels to No. 5 Ohio State and No. 6 Nebraska to close the regular season out on Friday, Nov. 26 and Saturday, Nov. 27. Both matches will be on BTN.
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