University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, August 18
Minneapolis, MN
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Northern Iowa (exhibition)
Players Mentioned
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside/Opposite
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Libero
/ Volleyball
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Outside/Opposite
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Matt Krohn
Gophers Host UNI in Exhibition Match Friday Night
8/17/2023 10:43:00 AM | Volleyball
6 p.m. is first serve, doors open at 5 p.m.
MINNEAPOLIS-- The No. 7 ranked University of Minnesota women's volleyball team is set to host the Northern Iowa Panthers in an exhibition match on Friday night at Maturi Pavilion. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the 6 p.m. event and admission is free.
EXHIBITION INFORMATION
Minnesota vs. Northern Iowa
Friday, Aug. 18
6 p.m.
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
Stream/Live Stats: None
FORMAT
Minnesota and Northern Iowa will play four sets up to 25.
ENTRANCE AND PARKING
Guests should enter from the main entrance on 19th Ave SE. Campus parking suggestions: University Ave Ramp ($10 event parking) & Lot 37 - more information, please check the map link.
NOTES TO KNOW
52 -- Year 52 in the history of Golden Gopher volleyball kicks off this weekend in Minneapolis.
27 -- The 2022 season was the 27th year the Golden Gophers advanced to the NCAA tournament. The Gophers have been to eight-straight Sweet 16's of the NCAA tournament.
18 -- Minnesota's Taylor Landfair ranked 18th nationally in kills (4.35) and 19th in points (4.91) per set. She led the B1G in both.
10 -- Minnesota's final 2022 rank in the AVCA poll. The Gophers are one of three programs to finish in the top 10 in the last eight seasons.
8 -- The Gophers hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the eighth straight year.
8 -- Melani Shaffmaster ranks 8th all-time in Minnesota history with 3,034 career assists.
8 -- For the first time in program history, all eight of the Gophers non-conference opponents in 2023 made the NCAA Tournament in the year prior.
6 -- Of the past eight Big Ten Players of the Year have been Minnesota Golden Gophers. Taylor Landfair (2022) joins Stephanie Samedy (2020-21), Sam Seliger-Swenson (2018), Sarah Wilhite (2016) and Daly Santana (2015) as award winners.
5 -- New Gopher head coaches are 5-3 all-time in their first game in charge of the Minnesota program.
4 -- Minnesota ranked 4th nationally in 2022 with 2.92 blocks per set.
2 -- Minnesota ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten in hitting percentage at .262. In Big Ten matches, the 'U' hit .266, which came in at No. 1 in the league.
1 -- The 2023 season will be Keegan Cook's first as head coach at Minnesota. He was named as the eighth full-time head coach of the University of Minnesota volleyball program in Dec. 2022. He replaces Hugh McCutcheon, who went 277-74 as Minnesota's head coach, making three Final Fours, five Elite Eights and 10 Sweet 16s during his time at the 'U.'
1 -- Taylor Landfair was the first sophomore to be named Big Ten Player of the Year since Wisconsin's Lauren Carlini in 2014.
GOPHERS RANKED SEVENTH IN PRESEASON AVCA POLL
• The Gophers enter the 2023 season with a No. 7 overall ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll. The 'U' finished 10th last year in the final poll, their eighth consecutive top-10 finish nationally. 14 of Minnesota's 28 games are versus opponents ranked in the AVCA Preseason top-25.
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.
GOPHERS RETURN THREE ALL-BIG TEN PERFORMERS
• Joining Taylor Landfair on the All-Big Ten First Team was junior setter Melani Shaffmaster. It was Landfair's second First Team All-Big Ten selection (2020-21) and Shaffmaster's first.
• Graduate libero CC McGraw, who expired her eligibility, earned her third career All-Big Ten honor, making Second Team All-Big Ten. Mckenna Wucherer made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
• Ohio St. transfer Kylie Murr was First Team All-Big Ten in 2022 and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
NEWCOMERS READY FOR IMPACT
• In addition to 2022 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Kylie Murr, Phoebe Awoleye (Senior Middle, Loyola Marymount) and Lydia Grote (Senior Outside/Opposite, California) also came to campus ready to contribute. Awoleye was a First Team All-WCC selection in 2022 while Grote led Cal in kills and points. Awoleye (pronounced Ah-woh-lay-uh) and Grote (Growt) will each have two years left to play at Minnesota due to their COVID year.
• They're joined by two freshmen in outside/opposite Sydney Schnichels (Willmar, Minn.) and middle 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.
• Top-ranked Turkish libero Zeynep Palabiyik officially arrived on campus on Monday afternoon to complete the six-player newcomer group.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will officially open its 2023 regular season on Friday, Aug. 25 in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge against TCU. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
EXHIBITION INFORMATION
Minnesota vs. Northern Iowa
Friday, Aug. 18
6 p.m.
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
Stream/Live Stats: None
FORMAT
Minnesota and Northern Iowa will play four sets up to 25.
ENTRANCE AND PARKING
Guests should enter from the main entrance on 19th Ave SE. Campus parking suggestions: University Ave Ramp ($10 event parking) & Lot 37 - more information, please check the map link.
NOTES TO KNOW
52 -- Year 52 in the history of Golden Gopher volleyball kicks off this weekend in Minneapolis.
27 -- The 2022 season was the 27th year the Golden Gophers advanced to the NCAA tournament. The Gophers have been to eight-straight Sweet 16's of the NCAA tournament.
18 -- Minnesota's Taylor Landfair ranked 18th nationally in kills (4.35) and 19th in points (4.91) per set. She led the B1G in both.
10 -- Minnesota's final 2022 rank in the AVCA poll. The Gophers are one of three programs to finish in the top 10 in the last eight seasons.
8 -- The Gophers hosted the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament for the eighth straight year.
8 -- Melani Shaffmaster ranks 8th all-time in Minnesota history with 3,034 career assists.
8 -- For the first time in program history, all eight of the Gophers non-conference opponents in 2023 made the NCAA Tournament in the year prior.
6 -- Of the past eight Big Ten Players of the Year have been Minnesota Golden Gophers. Taylor Landfair (2022) joins Stephanie Samedy (2020-21), Sam Seliger-Swenson (2018), Sarah Wilhite (2016) and Daly Santana (2015) as award winners.
5 -- New Gopher head coaches are 5-3 all-time in their first game in charge of the Minnesota program.
4 -- Minnesota ranked 4th nationally in 2022 with 2.92 blocks per set.
2 -- Minnesota ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten in hitting percentage at .262. In Big Ten matches, the 'U' hit .266, which came in at No. 1 in the league.
1 -- The 2023 season will be Keegan Cook's first as head coach at Minnesota. He was named as the eighth full-time head coach of the University of Minnesota volleyball program in Dec. 2022. He replaces Hugh McCutcheon, who went 277-74 as Minnesota's head coach, making three Final Fours, five Elite Eights and 10 Sweet 16s during his time at the 'U.'
1 -- Taylor Landfair was the first sophomore to be named Big Ten Player of the Year since Wisconsin's Lauren Carlini in 2014.
GOPHERS RANKED SEVENTH IN PRESEASON AVCA POLL
• The Gophers enter the 2023 season with a No. 7 overall ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll. The 'U' finished 10th last year in the final poll, their eighth consecutive top-10 finish nationally. 14 of Minnesota's 28 games are versus opponents ranked in the AVCA Preseason top-25.
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.
GOPHERS RETURN THREE ALL-BIG TEN PERFORMERS
• Joining Taylor Landfair on the All-Big Ten First Team was junior setter Melani Shaffmaster. It was Landfair's second First Team All-Big Ten selection (2020-21) and Shaffmaster's first.
• Graduate libero CC McGraw, who expired her eligibility, earned her third career All-Big Ten honor, making Second Team All-Big Ten. Mckenna Wucherer made the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
• Ohio St. transfer Kylie Murr was First Team All-Big Ten in 2022 and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.
NEWCOMERS READY FOR IMPACT
• In addition to 2022 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Kylie Murr, Phoebe Awoleye (Senior Middle, Loyola Marymount) and Lydia Grote (Senior Outside/Opposite, California) also came to campus ready to contribute. Awoleye was a First Team All-WCC selection in 2022 while Grote led Cal in kills and points. Awoleye (pronounced Ah-woh-lay-uh) and Grote (Growt) will each have two years left to play at Minnesota due to their COVID year.
• They're joined by two freshmen in outside/opposite Sydney Schnichels (Willmar, Minn.) and middle 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.
• Top-ranked Turkish libero Zeynep Palabiyik officially arrived on campus on Monday afternoon to complete the six-player newcomer group.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will officially open its 2023 regular season on Friday, Aug. 25 in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge against TCU. First serve is set for 7 p.m.
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