University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
5-5,1-1Big Ten
Nebraska
11-0,2-0Big Ten
Gophers Fall in Three at No. 2 Nebraska
9/24/2023 8:26:00 PM | Volleyball
Mckenna Wucherer paced Minnesota with 11 kills
LINCOLN, Neb. --The No. 12 ranked Minnesota volleyball team fell to the No. 2 Nebraska Cornhuskers in three sets (23-25, 20-25, 22-25) Sunday on the road at Bob Devaney Sports Center.
The loss dropped Minnesota's record to 5-5 overall and 1-1 in Big Ten play as the Gophers concluded a stretch that included seven matches against top-25 teams in their first 10 games.
Mckenna Wucherer finished with 11 kills on the day to lead the Golden Gophers attack. 11 digs from Kylie Murr along with seven blocks from Phoebe Awoleye to lead them defensively.
Minnesota (5-5, 1-1 Big Ten) hit .159 with 32 kills, 36 digs, nine blocks and three aces while Nebraska (11-0, 2-0 Big Ten) hit .214 with 46 kills, 52 digs, eight blocks
Haprer Murray led the Huskers with 13 kills and eight digs.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Golden Gophers found themselves in an early deficit, dropping a close first set 25-23. Nebraska grabbed the advantage for good at 23-22 in a set that was tied up seven times before the Cornhuskers took over in the second half of the stanza.
SET 2 | Minnesota then lost the second set 25-20 to fall behind in the match two sets to none. The Golden Gophers fell behind on the first point and never clawed back into the lead before dropping the set.
SET 3 | Nebraska finished the sweep with a set-three victory. The Golden Gophers fell in a back-and-forth battle, losing 25-22 in a set that featured four lead changes and was tied 11 times. Neither team had a lead of more than three points along the way.
Game Notes
» Minnesota had won five of the last seven overall and three of the past four on the road against Nebraska prior to tonight.
» Melani Shaffmaster had a team-high two aces.
» Phoebe Awoleye had a match-high seven blocks. It was her eighth 5+ block match this season.
» McKenna Wucherer had a team-high 11 kills for Minnesota. It was her eighth time in double figures in 2023.
» Minnesota got a team-high 11 digs from Kylie Murr, her 10th double digit dig match of the year.
Up Next
Minnesota (5-5, 1-1 Big Ten) hosts Michigan (2-9, 0-2 Big Ten) on Friday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. CT on B1G+.
