University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
6-5,2-1Big Ten
Michigan
2-10,0-3Big Ten
Minnesota Secures 3-0 Sweep Against Michigan
9/29/2023 7:48:00 PM | Volleyball
Kylie Murr paced the team with 14 digs
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 13 ranked Minnesota volleyball team cruised to a three-set sweep (25-9, 25-17, 25-18) against the Michigan Wolverines Friday at home at Maturi Pavilion.
"We've been really pushing this week and I give our team a lot of credit for the way we've been working in practice," said head coach Keegan Cook. "We wanted to be better in a lot of spaces, particularly creating some pressure with our serve and being good around the net on some overpasses. I thought we did that tonight."
Mckenna Wucherer finished with 10 kills on the day to lead the Golden Gophers attack while the 'U' got 14 digs from Kylie Murr along with six blocks from Phoebe Awoleye. Melani Shaffmaster paced the offense with 23 assists, eight digs and four blocks.
For the game, Minnesota (6-5, 2-1 Big Ten) hit .287 with 35 kills, 39 digs, nine blocks and eight aces while Michigan (2-10, 0-3 Big Ten) hit -.023 with 20 kills, 39 digs, six blocks and two aces.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Golden Gophers took control on the first point and never looked back to win the first set 25-9. Minnesota opened up its biggest lead, 16 points, to finish off the set. Minnesota also supplemented their offense with three aces in the opening frame.
SET 2 | Minnesota built on a set-one win by earning a 25-17 victory in the second set. The Golden Gophers never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 16-15 in a set that showcased two lead changes before Minnesota took over in the second half of the stanza. The Minnesota offense also got a boost from three aces in the stanza. Minnesota's front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking six Michigan attacks in the stanza.
SET 3 | Minnesota closed the match in a 3-0 sweep after taking the third set. The Golden Gophers led from the opening point on in the set to earn a 25-18 victory. Minnesota opened up as much as a 10 point lead at 21-11 before closing out the set.
Game Notes
» Minnesota won its 11th game in its past 12 against the Wolverines on Friday night, including its eighth straight at the Pav.
» The Gophers held Michigan to just -.023 hitting. It's the second time this season the 'U' has held a team to .000 or lower (Baylor, .000, 08/26/23), but the first time they held a team to negative hitting.
» It's the second time since Sept. 16, 2021 that Minnesota held a team to .000 or worse hitting.
» Zeynep Palabiyik had a career-high two aces in the win, the first two aces of her career.
» Phoebe Awoleye had a match-high six blocks, her ninth 5+ block match of the year.
» Minnesota never trailed on the way to winning the first set 25-9.
» Minnesota never trailed on the way to winning the third set 25-18.
» Mckenna Wucherer had a match-high 10 kills for Minnesota, her ninth double digit kill match of the year.
» Minnesota got a match-high 14 digs from Kylie Murr, her 11th consecutive 10+ dig match to start the season.
Up Next
Minnesota (6-5, 2-1 Big Ten) hosts No. 15 Penn State (8-3, 2-0 Big Ten) tomorrow night at 8 p.m. BTN will televise.
