University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
5-4,1-0Big Ten
Iowa
8-5,0-1Big Ten
Gophers Begin B1G Play with Five Set Win Over Iowa
9/21/2023 8:40:00 PM | Volleyball
Landfair led the way with 18 kills
CORALVILLE, Iowa -- Mckenna Wucherer and Taylor Landfair each put up double-doubles to help lead the Minnesota volleyball team to a 3-2 victory (25-14, 20-25, 25-16, 24-26, 15-6) over the Iowa Hawkeyes Thursday on the road at Xtream Arena. The victory boosted the No. 12 Golden Gophers' record to 5-4 overall and 1-0 in Big Ten action.
Wucherer went for 15 kills and 12 digs while Landfair had 18 kills and 11 digs. Lydia Grote also added 14 kills to help the offense. On the defensive end, Kylie Murr chipped in 18 digs to go with four blocks from Calissa Minatee.
As a team, the Gophers hit .313 with 76 kills, 69 digs, eight blocks and eight assists. Iowa hit .167 with 43 kills, 59 digs, seven blocks and seven aces.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Golden Gophers grabbed control on the first point and never looked back to secure the first set 25-14. Minnesota led by 12 points at 24-12 before closing out the set, totaling 18 kills along the way. Minnesota also supplemented their offense with three aces in the opening frame.
SET 2 | Minnesota dropped set two 25-20 to even the match 1-1. The Golden Gophers trailed by as many as seven points as Iowa grabbed the advantage for good at 14-13 in a set that was tied up nine times before the Hawkeyes took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 3 | Minnesota put the second-set loss behind and took a 2-1 match lead with a victory in the third set. The Golden Gophers won the set 25-16 helped by a strong showing on the attacking side. Minnesota registered a .400 attack percentage with 17 kills in the set win. The Golden Gophers ended on a strong note, stretching their lead to its largest point in the set to finish out the frame.
SET 4 | Minnesota couldn't finish off a four-set win as the Hawkeyes forced a fifth set with a 26-24 victory. The Golden Gophers fought back from a nine-point hole at 16-7, but it wasn't enough as Iowa hung on to win the set.
SET 5 | Minnesota and Iowa went back and forth all game, trading set wins until the Golden Gophers took set five 15-6 and the match. The Golden Gophers took a 1-0 lead and never looked back in the fifth set to secure the victory. Minnesota opened up as much as a nine point lead at 14-5 before closing out the set, collecting 12 kills in the frame.
Game Notes
» The Gophers improved to 81-12 all-time versus Iowa, winning their 47th straight game in the series.
» Mckenna Wucherer and Taylor Landfair each registered double-doubles in the win.
» Minnesota attackers combined to hit .313 in the match, their second .300+ hitting match of the season.
» Skylar Gray had a career-high three aces in the win.
» Minnesota never trailed on the way to winning the fifth set 15-6.
» Taylor Landfair had a season-high 18 kills for Minnesota on a season-best .405 hitting.
» Minnesota got a match-high 18 digs from Kylie Murr, her ninth double digit dig match of the year.
» Minnesota attackers were helped by a season-high 57 assists from Melani Shaffmaster.
Up Next
The Gophers play at No. 2 Nebraska (9-0, 0-0 Big Ten) in Lincoln on Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. on BTN.
