University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside/Opposite
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Libero
/ Volleyball
Outside/Opposite
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Eric Miller
'U' Volleyball Set to Host NDSU in Exhibition Saturday
3/21/2023 10:31:00 AM | Volleyball
Doors open at 4 p.m., Free Admission for the Public
MINNEAPOLIS-- The University of Minnesota women's volleyball team is set to host North Dakota State University for the first of two home exhibitions this spring at Maturi Pavilion. Doors open at 4 p.m. for the 5 p.m. match and all admission is free.
MATCH INFORMATION
Minnesota vs. North Dakota State
Saturday, March 25 at 5 p.m.
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: None
Live Stats: None
ENTRANCE AND PARKING
Guests should enter from the main entrance on 19th Ave SE, which is the typical entrance for Gophers volleyball matches. Campus parking suggestions: University Ave Ramp ($10 event parking) & Lot 37 - more information, please check the map link.
SPRING 2023 IN HAWAII
• Minnesota traveled to Hawai'i for a spring break trip from March 4-10. There, the Gophers played two scrimmages against the University of Hawai'i. Both were extremely competitive matches, with the Gophers taking away 3-2 victories each time. Match stats can be found on our schedule page.
SCOUTING NDSU
• The North Dakota State Bison went 21-12 (13-5 Summit League) in 2022, led by seventh-year head coach Jennifer Lopez. The Bison advanced to the postseason, playing in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), falling in the first round to Davidson.
• NDSU also advanced to the Summit League Tournament semifinal round for the first time since 2018. The Bison reached the 20-win mark for only the fifth time in the Division I era and first time under head coach Jennifer Lopez.
• Senior outside hitter Syra Tanchin earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) North All-Region Honorable Mention honors and First Team All-Summit League honors in 2022.
SERIES HISTORY
• Minnesota leads the all-time series, 12-1. The two teams haven't met since 2018 in regular season competition.
SINCE THE END OF THE 2022 SEASON
• The University of Minnesota announced on Dec. 12, 2022 that Keegan Cook had been named head volleyball coach. Cook is the eighth full-time head coach and ninth individual to lead the Gophers, which first competed in 1972. He is just the third full-time head coach to lead the program since 1996, following Hugh McCutcheon (2012-22, 277-74 record) and Mike Hebert (1996-2010, 381-137 record). Laura Bush served as interim head coach in 2011.
• In his eight seasons as Washington's head coach, Cook led the Huskies to four Pac-12 Championships and eight trips to the NCAA Tournament. Washington advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight four times and the Final Four once. Cook posted an overall record of 198-56 at Washington and went 107-33 in conference play. He coached 12 different student-athletes to a combined 18 AVCA All-America honors and earned conference and region Coach of the Year laurels.
• Coach Cook brought in Kristen Kelsay (associate head coach), Eric Barber (assistant coach) and Kylin Munoz (volunteer assistant coach) to complete his coaching staff.
SPRING 2023 NOTES
• Minnesota began practicing in early January for the 2023 spring semester. Minnesota currently holds an 11-player roster this spring.
• The Gophers returned seven athletes who started matches last year in the 2022 run to the NCAA Regional Semifinal. First Team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year Taylor Landfair and First Team All-Big Ten selection Melani Shaffmaster return to pace Minnesota in year one of the Keegan Cook era in Minneapolis.
• Starting middle Arica Davis (1.23 bps) and Freshman All-Big Ten selection Mckenna Wucherer (2.73 kps) will each see increased roles in their second seasons at Minnesota in 2023.
• Three transfers will join the mix this summer as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Kylie Murr (5th Year Libero, Ohio State), Phoebe Awoleye (Senior Middle, Loyola Marymount) and Lydia Grote (Senior Outside/Opposite, California) come to campus. Each is finishing out the spring semester at their previous school.
• The Gophers added two freshmen spring enrollees in outside/opposite Sydney Schnichels (Willmar, Minn.) and middle blocker Calissa Minatee (Kansas City, Mo.). Each was ranked in the top-50 nationally by multiple recruiting outlets and played in the Under Armour All-American game in early January.
• In 2022, the 'U' finished No. 10 in the final AVCA Poll, its eighth straight top-10 finish nationally.
TICKETS
FREE admission for all attendees.
UP NEXT
•Minnesota will host Athletes Unlimited All-Stars on Tuesday, April 4 at 7 p.m. inside Maturi Pavilion. B1G+ will provide streaming for the match.
MATCH INFORMATION
Minnesota vs. North Dakota State
Saturday, March 25 at 5 p.m.
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: None
Live Stats: None
ENTRANCE AND PARKING
Guests should enter from the main entrance on 19th Ave SE, which is the typical entrance for Gophers volleyball matches. Campus parking suggestions: University Ave Ramp ($10 event parking) & Lot 37 - more information, please check the map link.
SPRING 2023 IN HAWAII
• Minnesota traveled to Hawai'i for a spring break trip from March 4-10. There, the Gophers played two scrimmages against the University of Hawai'i. Both were extremely competitive matches, with the Gophers taking away 3-2 victories each time. Match stats can be found on our schedule page.
SCOUTING NDSU
• The North Dakota State Bison went 21-12 (13-5 Summit League) in 2022, led by seventh-year head coach Jennifer Lopez. The Bison advanced to the postseason, playing in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship (NIVC), falling in the first round to Davidson.
• NDSU also advanced to the Summit League Tournament semifinal round for the first time since 2018. The Bison reached the 20-win mark for only the fifth time in the Division I era and first time under head coach Jennifer Lopez.
• Senior outside hitter Syra Tanchin earned American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) North All-Region Honorable Mention honors and First Team All-Summit League honors in 2022.
SERIES HISTORY
• Minnesota leads the all-time series, 12-1. The two teams haven't met since 2018 in regular season competition.
SINCE THE END OF THE 2022 SEASON
• The University of Minnesota announced on Dec. 12, 2022 that Keegan Cook had been named head volleyball coach. Cook is the eighth full-time head coach and ninth individual to lead the Gophers, which first competed in 1972. He is just the third full-time head coach to lead the program since 1996, following Hugh McCutcheon (2012-22, 277-74 record) and Mike Hebert (1996-2010, 381-137 record). Laura Bush served as interim head coach in 2011.
• In his eight seasons as Washington's head coach, Cook led the Huskies to four Pac-12 Championships and eight trips to the NCAA Tournament. Washington advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight four times and the Final Four once. Cook posted an overall record of 198-56 at Washington and went 107-33 in conference play. He coached 12 different student-athletes to a combined 18 AVCA All-America honors and earned conference and region Coach of the Year laurels.
• Coach Cook brought in Kristen Kelsay (associate head coach), Eric Barber (assistant coach) and Kylin Munoz (volunteer assistant coach) to complete his coaching staff.
SPRING 2023 NOTES
• Minnesota began practicing in early January for the 2023 spring semester. Minnesota currently holds an 11-player roster this spring.
• The Gophers returned seven athletes who started matches last year in the 2022 run to the NCAA Regional Semifinal. First Team All-American and Big Ten Player of the Year Taylor Landfair and First Team All-Big Ten selection Melani Shaffmaster return to pace Minnesota in year one of the Keegan Cook era in Minneapolis.
• Starting middle Arica Davis (1.23 bps) and Freshman All-Big Ten selection Mckenna Wucherer (2.73 kps) will each see increased roles in their second seasons at Minnesota in 2023.
• Three transfers will join the mix this summer as Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Kylie Murr (5th Year Libero, Ohio State), Phoebe Awoleye (Senior Middle, Loyola Marymount) and Lydia Grote (Senior Outside/Opposite, California) come to campus. Each is finishing out the spring semester at their previous school.
• The Gophers added two freshmen spring enrollees in outside/opposite Sydney Schnichels (Willmar, Minn.) and middle blocker Calissa Minatee (Kansas City, Mo.). Each was ranked in the top-50 nationally by multiple recruiting outlets and played in the Under Armour All-American game in early January.
• In 2022, the 'U' finished No. 10 in the final AVCA Poll, its eighth straight top-10 finish nationally.
TICKETS
FREE admission for all attendees.
UP NEXT
•Minnesota will host Athletes Unlimited All-Stars on Tuesday, April 4 at 7 p.m. inside Maturi Pavilion. B1G+ will provide streaming for the match.
2025 Season Recap
Tuesday, January 27
Best of Julia Hanson
Monday, December 22
Gophers Preview NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Tuesday, December 09
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Reach Sweet Sixteen
Tuesday, December 09