University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, September 28
8:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Northwestern
Players Mentioned
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/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
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/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Opposite
/ Volleyball
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Outside
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Photo by: Bjorn Franke
Minnesota Hosts Northwestern in Mid-Week Tilt
9/27/2022 2:37:00 PM | Volleyball
Match time is set for 8 p.m. CT on BTN
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 7 Minnesota Golden Gophers (6-4, 1-1 Big Ten) continues conference play with a mid-week battle against the Northwestern Wildcats (11-3, 0-2 Big Ten) on Wednesday, Sept. 28. First serve is set for 8 p.m. Central time on the Big Ten Network.
NORTHWESTERN BROADCAST INFORMATION
No. 7 Minnesota vs. Northwestern | 8 p.m. CT | BTN
Wednesday, Sept. 28
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
Broadcasters: Sloane Martin (Play-By-Play) and Liz Nelson (Analyst)
Radio: Tanner Hoops (Gopher Radio Network)
NUMBERS TO KNOW:
261 -- Minnesota head coach Hugh McCutcheon holds a 261-69 (.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. Hebert also led the 'U' to three Final Fours.
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.
10 -- Melani Shaffmaster now ranks 10th all-time in Minnesota history with 2,254 career assists.
8 -- 8 of the Gophers' first 10 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. TCU is the only team that failed to qualify.
6 -- Of the eight team's Minnesota will have played in non-conference play will be ranked at the time of their matchup.
5 -- Fifth-year senior libero CC McGraw ranks No. 5 all-time at Minnesota with 1,667 career digs. She's just 333 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 -- Conference opponents Minnesota plays twice: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin.
1 -- Conference opponents Minnesota plays once: Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Gophers fell in three sets on the road in their Big Ten opener at No. 11 Purdue. Taylor Landfair led the 'U' with 17 kills while Ellie Husemann paced the defense with seven blocks. PU won 25-18, 25-23, 32-30.
• Minnesota responded with a convincing sweep of defending national champion and No. 6 Wisconsin on Sunday night at the Pav, 25-21, 25-16, 29-27.
• Landfair tallied 17 kills while Mckenna Wucherer had nine and Carter Booth went for seven blocks.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
• The Northwestern Wildcats are led by seventh-year head coach Shane Davis. After winning a tenure-best seven B1G matches in 2021, NU is looking to take the next step this year. They enter with an 11-3 (0-2) record.
• Temi Thomas-Ailara leads the Cats and ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 3.90 kills per set. She also ranks sixth in points per set with 4.34.
• Northwestern also ranks second in the B1G in hitting percentage at .286. NU is 1-2 vs. ranked teams this year, with their best win coming in a sweep over then No. 24 Pepperdine.
HISTORY VS. NORTHWESTERN
• The 'U' is 62-19 all-time vs. Northwestern, including a 16-1 record under Hugh McCutcheon. The lone loss came in 2014 (three sets). Of the last 17 meetings, 10 have been decided in three sets.
• The Gophers came from two sets down to reverse sweep the Wildcats last year in Evanston. Taylor Landfair led the way with a then career-high 25 kills. Minnesota swept NU in October at the Pav.
NEXT STRETCH OF SCHEDULE
• After playing eight of its first 10 matches against ranked opponents, the Gophers aren't scheduled to take on another ranked team until hosting No. 6 Ohio State on Oct. 12 at the Pav.
• Michigan, who they'll play on Oct. 7, is receiving the most votes of any unranked team, however.
LANDFAIR LEADS GOPHERS IN THIRD YEAR ON CAMPUS
• The No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2020, Taylor Landfair had an excellent true freshman season in the spring of 2021. She ranked second on the Gophers in kills per set and made First Team All-Big Ten and AVCA All-America honorable mention.
• Last fall wasn't quite as fun for Landfair as she sat out most of the year (played just nine games) with an abdominal injury.
• She's back and better than ever in 2022, leading the 'U' in kills with 4.47 per set so far this year. She's also averaging 1.95 digs and 0.57 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 9/10 games in 2022.
• Landfair ranks second in the Big Ten and 10th nationally with 4.47 kills per set. Her 5.04 p/s ranks 16th.
MCGRAW MOVES HER WAY UP RECORD BOOKS
• CC McGraw ranks No. 5 in Gophers history with 1,667 digs. CC is now 333 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 1,667 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 30 at Minnesota in matches played (112). She is 21 games away from being inside the top 20 all-time.
• Melani Shaffmaster now ranks 10th all-time at Minnesota in assists (2,254).
GOPHERS IN BIG TEN PLAY
• Under Hugh McCutcheon, Minnesota is 147-43 (.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. 6 in the Big Ten and No. 31 nationally with 2.61 blocks per set.
• Carter Booth leads the Gophers and ranks 11th in the B1G with 1.27 blocks per set.
HUGH MCCUTCHEON'S TEAMS AFTER A LOSS
• In his career at Minnesota, coach McCutcheon's teams hold a 44-13 record coming off a loss. The Gophers are 3-1 coming off losses in 2022.
MCKENNA WUCHERER MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT
• A 2021 AVCA and Under Armour First Team All-American and the Wis. Gatorade Player of the Year, the 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Brookfield, Wis., comes to Minnesota as one of the most decorated players in Wisconsin prep history. She was the consensus No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2022.
• Wucherer, like Shaffmaster, committed to Minnesota in the eighth grade. She early-enrolled and went through spring practice with the Gophers from January-April.
• Wucherer has missed the first six games of the season with an injury but made her debut on Sept. 15 vs. Pepperdine with 13 kills. She followed that up with 15 kills and three blocks vs. WSU and 13 kills at Purdue on Sept. 23. She ranks second on the team with 3.57 kps.
Follow along with the Gophers this season on Twitter (@GopherVBall), Instagram and TikTok (@gophervball).
NORTHWESTERN BROADCAST INFORMATION
No. 7 Minnesota vs. Northwestern | 8 p.m. CT | BTN
Wednesday, Sept. 28
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
Broadcasters: Sloane Martin (Play-By-Play) and Liz Nelson (Analyst)
Radio: Tanner Hoops (Gopher Radio Network)
NUMBERS TO KNOW:
261 -- Minnesota head coach Hugh McCutcheon holds a 261-69 (.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. Hebert also led the 'U' to three Final Fours.
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.
10 -- Melani Shaffmaster now ranks 10th all-time in Minnesota history with 2,254 career assists.
8 -- 8 of the Gophers' first 10 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. TCU is the only team that failed to qualify.
6 -- Of the eight team's Minnesota will have played in non-conference play will be ranked at the time of their matchup.
5 -- Fifth-year senior libero CC McGraw ranks No. 5 all-time at Minnesota with 1,667 career digs. She's just 333 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 -- Conference opponents Minnesota plays twice: Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Purdue, Wisconsin.
1 -- Conference opponents Minnesota plays once: Indiana, Maryland, Nebraska Northwestern, Penn State, Rutgers.
LAST TIME OUT
• The Gophers fell in three sets on the road in their Big Ten opener at No. 11 Purdue. Taylor Landfair led the 'U' with 17 kills while Ellie Husemann paced the defense with seven blocks. PU won 25-18, 25-23, 32-30.
• Minnesota responded with a convincing sweep of defending national champion and No. 6 Wisconsin on Sunday night at the Pav, 25-21, 25-16, 29-27.
• Landfair tallied 17 kills while Mckenna Wucherer had nine and Carter Booth went for seven blocks.
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
• The Northwestern Wildcats are led by seventh-year head coach Shane Davis. After winning a tenure-best seven B1G matches in 2021, NU is looking to take the next step this year. They enter with an 11-3 (0-2) record.
• Temi Thomas-Ailara leads the Cats and ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 3.90 kills per set. She also ranks sixth in points per set with 4.34.
• Northwestern also ranks second in the B1G in hitting percentage at .286. NU is 1-2 vs. ranked teams this year, with their best win coming in a sweep over then No. 24 Pepperdine.
HISTORY VS. NORTHWESTERN
• The 'U' is 62-19 all-time vs. Northwestern, including a 16-1 record under Hugh McCutcheon. The lone loss came in 2014 (three sets). Of the last 17 meetings, 10 have been decided in three sets.
• The Gophers came from two sets down to reverse sweep the Wildcats last year in Evanston. Taylor Landfair led the way with a then career-high 25 kills. Minnesota swept NU in October at the Pav.
NEXT STRETCH OF SCHEDULE
• After playing eight of its first 10 matches against ranked opponents, the Gophers aren't scheduled to take on another ranked team until hosting No. 6 Ohio State on Oct. 12 at the Pav.
• Michigan, who they'll play on Oct. 7, is receiving the most votes of any unranked team, however.
LANDFAIR LEADS GOPHERS IN THIRD YEAR ON CAMPUS
• The No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2020, Taylor Landfair had an excellent true freshman season in the spring of 2021. She ranked second on the Gophers in kills per set and made First Team All-Big Ten and AVCA All-America honorable mention.
• Last fall wasn't quite as fun for Landfair as she sat out most of the year (played just nine games) with an abdominal injury.
• She's back and better than ever in 2022, leading the 'U' in kills with 4.47 per set so far this year. She's also averaging 1.95 digs and 0.57 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 9/10 games in 2022.
• Landfair ranks second in the Big Ten and 10th nationally with 4.47 kills per set. Her 5.04 p/s ranks 16th.
MCGRAW MOVES HER WAY UP RECORD BOOKS
• CC McGraw ranks No. 5 in Gophers history with 1,667 digs. CC is now 333 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 1,667 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 30 at Minnesota in matches played (112). She is 21 games away from being inside the top 20 all-time.
• Melani Shaffmaster now ranks 10th all-time at Minnesota in assists (2,254).
GOPHERS IN BIG TEN PLAY
• Under Hugh McCutcheon, Minnesota is 147-43 (.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. 6 in the Big Ten and No. 31 nationally with 2.61 blocks per set.
• Carter Booth leads the Gophers and ranks 11th in the B1G with 1.27 blocks per set.
HUGH MCCUTCHEON'S TEAMS AFTER A LOSS
• In his career at Minnesota, coach McCutcheon's teams hold a 44-13 record coming off a loss. The Gophers are 3-1 coming off losses in 2022.
MCKENNA WUCHERER MAKING AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT
• A 2021 AVCA and Under Armour First Team All-American and the Wis. Gatorade Player of the Year, the 6-foot-1 outside hitter from Brookfield, Wis., comes to Minnesota as one of the most decorated players in Wisconsin prep history. She was the consensus No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2022.
• Wucherer, like Shaffmaster, committed to Minnesota in the eighth grade. She early-enrolled and went through spring practice with the Gophers from January-April.
• Wucherer has missed the first six games of the season with an injury but made her debut on Sept. 15 vs. Pepperdine with 13 kills. She followed that up with 15 kills and three blocks vs. WSU and 13 kills at Purdue on Sept. 23. She ranks second on the team with 3.57 kps.
Follow along with the Gophers this season on Twitter (@GopherVBall), Instagram and TikTok (@gophervball).
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