University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
12-11,8-7Big Ten
Purdue
16-8,10-5Big Ten
Gophers Start Fast, Falter Late in Loss to No. 16 Purdue
11/10/2023 8:21:00 PM | Volleyball
Melani Shaffmaster went for 35 assists, 13 digs
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota volleyball team took the first set, but couldn't hang on and fell 3-1 (25-17, 22-25, 18-25, 17-25) to the No. 16 Purdue Boilermakers Friday at Maturi Pavilion.
The loss dropped Minnesota's record to 12-11 overall and 8-7 in Big Ten play with five matches to play in the 2023 regular season.
"These are December things, the teams we're going to play are going to be really good defensively and it's harder to find kills late in the year," head coach Keegan Cook said. "Defensively, they just wore us down."
The Golden Gophers were led by a double-double from Taylor Landfair, who registered 12 kills and 10 digs. Mckenna Wucherer also added 11 kills to help the attack. Melani Shaffmaster did a little of everything with 35 assists, 13 digs and three blocks. On the defensive end, Kylie Murr chipped in with 18 digs to go with eight blocks from Phoebe Awoleye.
As a team, Minnesota hit .122 with 45 kills, 68 digs, 11 blocks and five aces while Purdue hit .228 with 60 kills, 79 digs, 13 blocks and two aces.
Purdue (16-8, 10-5 Big Ten) was paced by 17 kills and 14 digs from Eva Hudson and 14 kills (.591) and six blocks from Raven Colvin.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Golden Gophers won the first point and never trailed to secure the first set, 25-17. Minnesota opened up its biggest lead, eight points, to finish off the set, collecting 17 kills along the way. Minnesota also supplemented their offense with three aces.
SET 2 | Minnesota then dropped the second set, 25-22, evening the match at a set apiece. The Gophers trailed by as many as six points as Purdue grabbed the advantage for good at 5-4 in a set that was knotted up two times before the Boilermakers took over.
SET 3 | Minnesota then dropped their second set in a row, falling behind in the match two sets to one. The Gophers dropped a tough set, 25-18. Minnesota trailed by as many as seven points as Purdue grabbed the advantage for good at 12-11 in a frame that was tied up five times before the Boilermakers took over the lead.
SET 4 | Minnesota lost set four and the match, falling 25-17. The 'U' trailed by as many as eight points as Purdue grabbed the advantage for good at 2-1 and Minnesota wasn't able to recover. The set that was tied up three times before the Boilermakers took over and coasted to the finish.
Game Notes
» Phoebe Awoleye had a match-high eight blocks, her most in a match since Sept. 14 against High Point
» Taylor Landfair registered a double-double (seventh of the year) with 12 kills and 10 digs
» Minnesota never trailed on the way to winning the first set 25-17.
» The Gophers got a team-high 18 digs from Kylie Murr, her 23rd straight game of the season with 10+ digs.
» Minnesota attackers were helped by a team-high 35 assists from Melani Shaffmaster to go along with 13 digs. It was her Big Ten-best 16th double double of the year.
» Zeynep Palabiyik had a career-high nine digs.
Up Next
Minnesota (12-11, 8-7 Big Ten) goes to Indiana (18-10, 8-7 Big Ten) on Sunday. The match is set for 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT on B1G+.
