University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, September 24
Lincoln, NE
6:30 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Nebraska
Players Mentioned
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside/Opposite
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Libero
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Matt Krohn
Gophers Set to Tussle with Second-Ranked Huskers in Lincoln
9/23/2023 8:00:00 AM | Volleyball
The game is set for 6:30 p.m. Sunday on BTN
LINCOLN, Neb. --The No. 12 ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (5-4, 1-0 Big Ten) continue Big Ten play this weekend with a game at No. 2 Nebraska (10-0, 1-0 Big Ten) on Sunday night at the Devaney Center. BTN will provide TV coverage and first serve is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
NEBRASKA GAME INFORMATION
No. 12 Minnesota at No. 2 Nebraska
Sunday, Sept. 24
6:30 p.m. CT
Bob Devaney Center
Lincoln, Neb.
TV/Stream: BTN - Larry Punteney (Play-By-Play) and Emily Ehman (Analyst)
Live Stats
NOTES TO KNOW
203 -- Keegan Cook won his 200th career game as a head coach on Aug. 26 vs. Baylor. His 203rd and latest win came on Thursday at Iowa in five sets.
15 -- The Gophers are one of three teams to have six of their first matches against top-15 ranked teams, joining Florida and Stanford. Four of those have been vs. top-10 teams.
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.
9 -- Sophomore outside Mckenna Wucherer has had a breakout campaign in year two, leading the team and ranking ninth in the Big Ten with 3.32 kills per set.
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.
7 -- The Gophers are nearing the end of a stretch where they play ranked opponents in seven of their first 10 games. They played Baylor (14) Aug. 26, Texas (7) Aug. 29 and Florida (3) Sep. 3. After playing Oregon (6) and Stanford (5) in Palo Alto, Calif, the 'U' hosted High Point (UR) on Sept. 14 and closed out the preseason against Creighton (14) on Sept. 16. After playing Iowa (UR) Thursday, Minnesota goes to No. 2 Nebraska for some Sunday night volleyball in Lincoln.
5 -- The 'U' has won five of the last seven in the series against Nebraska. Minnesota has also won three of its last four (2018, 2020-21, 2022) matches at the Bob Devaney Center.
5 -- Minnesota's strength of schedule ranks as the fifth hardest in the nation so far through nine games. Its opponents have gone 64-23 (.736). The Gophers trail only Marquette, Wisconsin, Penn St. and Stanford for highest win percentage among past opponents in 2023.
4 -- Fifth year libero Kylie Murr ranks fourth in the Big Ten in digs per set through four weeks of play with 4.24. She's one of two players in the league to tally two 20+ dig matches in 2023. She had 27 vs. TCU (Aug. 25) and 22 vs. Oregon (Sep. 8).
1 -- The 2023 season is Keegan Cook's first in charge at Minnesota. He was named as the eighth full-time head coach of the Minnesota volleyball program in Dec. 2022.Â
1 -- Middle Phoebe Awoleye ranked No. 1 in the nation in blocks per set after the first weekend (2.29). She now ranks No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 12 nationally with 1.47 per set after nine games.
LAST TIME OUT
• The 'U' defeated Iowa in five sets (25-14, 20-25, 25-16, 24-26, 15-6) on Thursday night at Xtream Arena to open Big Ten play. Taylor Landfair played her best game of the season with a team-high 18 kills with 11 digs and .405 hitting to lead Minnesota. Melani Shaffmaster paced the offense with a season-best 57 assists along with 14 digs as the Gophers won their 47th straight game against Iowa.
HEADING INTO CONFERENCE PLAY
• For the first time since 2006, the Gophers headed into Big Ten play with four losses in the preseason. The 2006 team ended up finishing 26-8 (17-3 Big Ten), finishing second in the league and making the Elite Eight.
• Minnesota went 5-3 in non-conference play in each of the past two seasons before making the Elite Eight and Sweet 16 in each year, respectively.
SCOUTING NEBRASKAÂ
• The No. 2 Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-0, 1-0 Big Ten) are led by 24th year head coach John Cook, who's won four national titles at the helm in Lincoln. The Huskers have defeated four ranked teams thus far in 2023, including No. 16 Creighton, No. 5 Stanford, No. 21 Kentucky and No. 21 Ohio State.
• NU leads the Big Ten in hitting % (.299), opponent hitting percentage (.101) and opponent kills (9.80) while ranking second in blocks (2.88 ps).
• Huskers middle Bekka Allick ranks third in the country and first in the B1G in blocks per set (1.71). Florida transfer Merritt Beason (3.30 kps) and freshman phenom Harper Murray (3.23 kps) pace a balanced offensive attack while two-time All-American and 2021 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Lexi Rodriguez (3.53 dps) runs the show in the backcourt.
MINNESOTA'S HISTORY VS. NEBRASKA
• Minnesota is 12-36 all-time against Nebraska. Minnesota has won five of the last seven in the series, including their first sweep in Lincoln since 1980 in 2022. The Gophers played Nebraska just once in each of the last two seasons (3-2 win in 2021 in Minneapolis), but are set to take on the Huskers twice in 2023.Â
MINNESOTAÂ IN BIG TEN OPENERS
• Minnesota is 31-17-1 in B1G openers all-time after Thursday's win at Iowa. The Gophers have won 11 of their last 12 Big Ten openers overall. In Big Ten road openers, Minnesota is 32-17 all-time.
GOPHERS IN BIG TEN COMPETITION
• Since 2012, Minnesota is 161-47 (.774) in B1G play, including 10 seasons over .500 in league games.
• In all of 10 those seasons, the 'U' went 15-5 or better in B1G play, with the best being 19-1 in 2018. The Gophers are the only Big Ten team to win 15+ conference wins in each of the past eight seasons.
• The Gophers won Big Ten titles in 2016 and 2018 and have finished either first, second or third in 10 of the last 11 seasons. The Gophers tied with Ohio State for third place last season.
GROTE KEEPS GROWING ON GOPHER NATION
• A transfer from California, Lydia Grote has stepped up in a big way at the opposite position for the Maroon and Gold. She ranks second on the team in kills per set (2.68) and first in pin hitters in hitting percentage (.317). She places third in aces per set (0.24) and fourth in blocks per set.
• The Burbank, Calif., native is one of two Gophers, joining Mckenna Wucherer, to tally double digit kills in five-or-more matches this fall. She's posted 13-more-more kills in four of her last five matches, including a season-best 20 kills with 13 digs and two aces on Saturday versus Creighton.
SERVING STEPS UP FOR THE MAROON AND GOLD
• One of head coach Keegan's Cook's points of emphasis is for Minnesota to be a tough serving team to compete against. In their first six games, Minnesota had five-or-less service aces in each match (21 total).
• In their last three matches, however, the 'U' has tallied 31 service aces, an average of 10.33 per match. The Gophers totaled a season-best 12 last Thursday against High Point and added 11 versus Creighton on Saturday before putting down eight the other day at Iowa.
BIG TEN BESTS
• The Gophers hit a Big Ten season-best .323 for a five set match in a win over No. 6 Oregon on Sep. 8. They hit .313 in a five-setter against Iowa on Sep. 21. Minnesota's 76 kills in the Iowa match are the most by any Big Ten team this season. Only one other Big Ten team has hit over .300 in a five-setter this season (Wisconsin vs. Tennessee, .306, 9/3/23).
• Phoebe Awoleye is one of five Big Ten players to post 10 blocks in a match (Aug. 26 vs. Baylor). She's the only one to produce 10 blocks in a three set match, however. She ranks second in bps in the Big Ten (1.53).
• Kylie Murr's 27 digs on Sept. 25 vs. TCU were tied for the second most digs in a match by a Big Ten player in 2023. Amanda Darling (Iowa) and Sydney Dennis (Iowa) both have a 28-dig match this year. Murr is one of two Big Ten players to have two 20+ dig matches this season.
• Taylor Landfair is one of three Big Ten players to post 5+ aces in a match this season (Sep. 16 vs. Creighton).
• Melani Shaffmaster posted a Big Ten season-best 57 assists on Sep. 21 at Iowa.
RANKED OPPONENTSÂ LED NON-CONFERENCE GAUNTLET FOR MINNESOTA
• The Gophers played ranked opponents in six of their eight non-conference matchups, which is the most ranked teams that any team in the country has played to this point.
• They've already played Baylor (17), Texas (6) and Florida (3). Oregon (7), Stanford (5) and Creighton (14) are all ranked in the top 20.
• Of all the teams currently ranked in the top-25, Minnesota and Stanford are the only ones who have played five top-25 ranked opponents. Both have played four top-10 ranked opponents already. Only No. 3 Florida has played more than two (4) top-10 ranked opponents in the opening four weeks of the season.
• After playing No. 2 Nebraska on Sunday, Minnesota will play only one ranked opponent in its next eight games
LANDFAIR COMING INTO FORM TO BEGIN BIG PLAY
• 2022 Big Ten Player of the Year and First Team All-American Taylor Landfair had her best showing of the season to kick off Big Ten play on Thursday night at Iowa. She led the team with 18 kills (tied her season-high) on a 2023-best .405 hitting. She also totaled season-bests in digs (11), assists (6) and blocks (4).
UP NEXT
Minnesota returns home to host Michigan (2-7, 0-0 Big Ten) and No. 13 Penn State (7-3, 1-0 Big Ten) next Friday and Saturday nights.
NEBRASKA GAME INFORMATION
No. 12 Minnesota at No. 2 Nebraska
Sunday, Sept. 24
6:30 p.m. CT
Bob Devaney Center
Lincoln, Neb.
TV/Stream: BTN - Larry Punteney (Play-By-Play) and Emily Ehman (Analyst)
Live Stats
NOTES TO KNOW
203 -- Keegan Cook won his 200th career game as a head coach on Aug. 26 vs. Baylor. His 203rd and latest win came on Thursday at Iowa in five sets.
15 -- The Gophers are one of three teams to have six of their first matches against top-15 ranked teams, joining Florida and Stanford. Four of those have been vs. top-10 teams.
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.
9 -- Sophomore outside Mckenna Wucherer has had a breakout campaign in year two, leading the team and ranking ninth in the Big Ten with 3.32 kills per set.
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.
7 -- The Gophers are nearing the end of a stretch where they play ranked opponents in seven of their first 10 games. They played Baylor (14) Aug. 26, Texas (7) Aug. 29 and Florida (3) Sep. 3. After playing Oregon (6) and Stanford (5) in Palo Alto, Calif, the 'U' hosted High Point (UR) on Sept. 14 and closed out the preseason against Creighton (14) on Sept. 16. After playing Iowa (UR) Thursday, Minnesota goes to No. 2 Nebraska for some Sunday night volleyball in Lincoln.
5 -- The 'U' has won five of the last seven in the series against Nebraska. Minnesota has also won three of its last four (2018, 2020-21, 2022) matches at the Bob Devaney Center.
5 -- Minnesota's strength of schedule ranks as the fifth hardest in the nation so far through nine games. Its opponents have gone 64-23 (.736). The Gophers trail only Marquette, Wisconsin, Penn St. and Stanford for highest win percentage among past opponents in 2023.
4 -- Fifth year libero Kylie Murr ranks fourth in the Big Ten in digs per set through four weeks of play with 4.24. She's one of two players in the league to tally two 20+ dig matches in 2023. She had 27 vs. TCU (Aug. 25) and 22 vs. Oregon (Sep. 8).
1 -- The 2023 season is Keegan Cook's first in charge at Minnesota. He was named as the eighth full-time head coach of the Minnesota volleyball program in Dec. 2022.Â
1 -- Middle Phoebe Awoleye ranked No. 1 in the nation in blocks per set after the first weekend (2.29). She now ranks No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 12 nationally with 1.47 per set after nine games.
LAST TIME OUT
• The 'U' defeated Iowa in five sets (25-14, 20-25, 25-16, 24-26, 15-6) on Thursday night at Xtream Arena to open Big Ten play. Taylor Landfair played her best game of the season with a team-high 18 kills with 11 digs and .405 hitting to lead Minnesota. Melani Shaffmaster paced the offense with a season-best 57 assists along with 14 digs as the Gophers won their 47th straight game against Iowa.
HEADING INTO CONFERENCE PLAY
• For the first time since 2006, the Gophers headed into Big Ten play with four losses in the preseason. The 2006 team ended up finishing 26-8 (17-3 Big Ten), finishing second in the league and making the Elite Eight.
• Minnesota went 5-3 in non-conference play in each of the past two seasons before making the Elite Eight and Sweet 16 in each year, respectively.
SCOUTING NEBRASKAÂ
• The No. 2 Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-0, 1-0 Big Ten) are led by 24th year head coach John Cook, who's won four national titles at the helm in Lincoln. The Huskers have defeated four ranked teams thus far in 2023, including No. 16 Creighton, No. 5 Stanford, No. 21 Kentucky and No. 21 Ohio State.
• NU leads the Big Ten in hitting % (.299), opponent hitting percentage (.101) and opponent kills (9.80) while ranking second in blocks (2.88 ps).
• Huskers middle Bekka Allick ranks third in the country and first in the B1G in blocks per set (1.71). Florida transfer Merritt Beason (3.30 kps) and freshman phenom Harper Murray (3.23 kps) pace a balanced offensive attack while two-time All-American and 2021 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Lexi Rodriguez (3.53 dps) runs the show in the backcourt.
MINNESOTA'S HISTORY VS. NEBRASKA
• Minnesota is 12-36 all-time against Nebraska. Minnesota has won five of the last seven in the series, including their first sweep in Lincoln since 1980 in 2022. The Gophers played Nebraska just once in each of the last two seasons (3-2 win in 2021 in Minneapolis), but are set to take on the Huskers twice in 2023.Â
MINNESOTAÂ IN BIG TEN OPENERS
• Minnesota is 31-17-1 in B1G openers all-time after Thursday's win at Iowa. The Gophers have won 11 of their last 12 Big Ten openers overall. In Big Ten road openers, Minnesota is 32-17 all-time.
GOPHERS IN BIG TEN COMPETITION
• Since 2012, Minnesota is 161-47 (.774) in B1G play, including 10 seasons over .500 in league games.
• In all of 10 those seasons, the 'U' went 15-5 or better in B1G play, with the best being 19-1 in 2018. The Gophers are the only Big Ten team to win 15+ conference wins in each of the past eight seasons.
• The Gophers won Big Ten titles in 2016 and 2018 and have finished either first, second or third in 10 of the last 11 seasons. The Gophers tied with Ohio State for third place last season.
GROTE KEEPS GROWING ON GOPHER NATION
• A transfer from California, Lydia Grote has stepped up in a big way at the opposite position for the Maroon and Gold. She ranks second on the team in kills per set (2.68) and first in pin hitters in hitting percentage (.317). She places third in aces per set (0.24) and fourth in blocks per set.
• The Burbank, Calif., native is one of two Gophers, joining Mckenna Wucherer, to tally double digit kills in five-or-more matches this fall. She's posted 13-more-more kills in four of her last five matches, including a season-best 20 kills with 13 digs and two aces on Saturday versus Creighton.
SERVING STEPS UP FOR THE MAROON AND GOLD
• One of head coach Keegan's Cook's points of emphasis is for Minnesota to be a tough serving team to compete against. In their first six games, Minnesota had five-or-less service aces in each match (21 total).
• In their last three matches, however, the 'U' has tallied 31 service aces, an average of 10.33 per match. The Gophers totaled a season-best 12 last Thursday against High Point and added 11 versus Creighton on Saturday before putting down eight the other day at Iowa.
BIG TEN BESTS
• The Gophers hit a Big Ten season-best .323 for a five set match in a win over No. 6 Oregon on Sep. 8. They hit .313 in a five-setter against Iowa on Sep. 21. Minnesota's 76 kills in the Iowa match are the most by any Big Ten team this season. Only one other Big Ten team has hit over .300 in a five-setter this season (Wisconsin vs. Tennessee, .306, 9/3/23).
• Phoebe Awoleye is one of five Big Ten players to post 10 blocks in a match (Aug. 26 vs. Baylor). She's the only one to produce 10 blocks in a three set match, however. She ranks second in bps in the Big Ten (1.53).
• Kylie Murr's 27 digs on Sept. 25 vs. TCU were tied for the second most digs in a match by a Big Ten player in 2023. Amanda Darling (Iowa) and Sydney Dennis (Iowa) both have a 28-dig match this year. Murr is one of two Big Ten players to have two 20+ dig matches this season.
• Taylor Landfair is one of three Big Ten players to post 5+ aces in a match this season (Sep. 16 vs. Creighton).
• Melani Shaffmaster posted a Big Ten season-best 57 assists on Sep. 21 at Iowa.
RANKED OPPONENTSÂ LED NON-CONFERENCE GAUNTLET FOR MINNESOTA
• The Gophers played ranked opponents in six of their eight non-conference matchups, which is the most ranked teams that any team in the country has played to this point.
• They've already played Baylor (17), Texas (6) and Florida (3). Oregon (7), Stanford (5) and Creighton (14) are all ranked in the top 20.
• Of all the teams currently ranked in the top-25, Minnesota and Stanford are the only ones who have played five top-25 ranked opponents. Both have played four top-10 ranked opponents already. Only No. 3 Florida has played more than two (4) top-10 ranked opponents in the opening four weeks of the season.
• After playing No. 2 Nebraska on Sunday, Minnesota will play only one ranked opponent in its next eight games
LANDFAIR COMING INTO FORM TO BEGIN BIG PLAY
• 2022 Big Ten Player of the Year and First Team All-American Taylor Landfair had her best showing of the season to kick off Big Ten play on Thursday night at Iowa. She led the team with 18 kills (tied her season-high) on a 2023-best .405 hitting. She also totaled season-bests in digs (11), assists (6) and blocks (4).
UP NEXT
Minnesota returns home to host Michigan (2-7, 0-0 Big Ten) and No. 13 Penn State (7-3, 1-0 Big Ten) next Friday and Saturday nights.
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