University of Minnesota Athletics

Friday, October 18
Piscataway, NJ
6:00 PM

University of Minnesota

12-5,5-2Big Ten

3
at
0

Rutgers

5-13,0-7Big Ten

Team
1
2
3
Final F
Minnesota2525253
Rutgers1322170

Team Stats

MINN
RU
Kills
39
33
Errors
10
20
Attempts
89
98
Hitting %
.326
.133
Points
54.0
37.0
Assists
37
32
Aces
3
1
Blocks
12
3

Game Leaders

Kills
11
Aces
1
Blocks
3
Kills
8
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
7
Kills
6
Aces
0
Blocks
1

Players Mentioned

Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside/Opposite
/ Volleyball
Outside/Opposite
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
 Rutgers

No. 14 Minnesota Reels off Sweep Over Rutgers

10/18/2024 8:00:00 PM | Volleyball

Minnesota tallied 12 blocks, led by Awoleye with seven

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The No. 14 Minnesota volleyball team defeated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in three sets (25-13, 25-22, 25-17) on Friday night at Jersey Mike's Arena.

The Gophers (12-5, 5-2 Big Ten) hit .326 for the match and posted 12 blocks. The 'U' held Rutgers to just .133 hitting.

Lydia Grote led the Gophers with 11 kills, her seventh consecutive match with 10-or-more. Melani Shaffmaster ran the offense with efficiency, going for 23 assists, 11 digs and four kills. Phoebe Awoleye posted a team-high seven blocks.

Avery Jesewitz led Rutgers (5-13, 0-7 Big Ten) with eight kills while Aly Borellis had 23 assists and five digs.



How It Happened
SET 1 | Rutgers had the hot hand early, tallying five of the first eight points before the Gophers made their run. Three early kills from Grote sparked a 12-4 spurt as the 'U' took a 15-9 lead into the first frame media break. Minnesota never slowed down, extending the lead to as many as 12, closing the frame, 25-13. The Gophers hit .583 for the set, led by six kills from Grote and nine assists, three digs and three kills from Shaffmaster.

SET 2 | The Gophers and Scarlet Knights went back and forth for much of the second set. Minnesota took an early 4-2 lead, but neither team would lead by more than one point until a 4-0 run put the Gophers up 15-12 heading into the media timeout, capped by a pair of blocks from the defense. A kill from Grote and an RU attacking error made it 17-12 Minnesota, forcing the home team into a timeout. The 'U' would extend its lead to 18-12 before a 5-1 RU run cut the lead to just two at 19-17. Minnesota would go up three at 20-17 and 21-18 before two straight points from the home team made it a one-point match at 21-20. A kill from Wucherer then forced an RU timeout. Minnesota was able to hold off the Scarlet Knights, 25-22, after a Grote kill and a hitting error.

SET 3 | Minnesota came out hot to begin the third set, scoring the first four points. RU cut the lead to three at 6-3 before a pair of Gopher points made it 8-3, forcing a timeout from the Scarlet Knights. Minnesota would score seven of the next eight points, taking a commanding 15-4 lead into the media timeout. Rutgers would get no closer than seven the rest of the way as Minnesota cruised to a 25-17 set three victory.

Game Notes
» The 'U' is now 13-3 all-time against Rutgers, including 6-1 on the road.
» Minnesota has won 11 of its last 13 matches and four of its last five in conference play.
» The Gophers posted 12 blocks as a team, their 10th time this year with 10+. »The Gophers also hit over .300 for the seventh time this season.
» Lydia Grote posted 11 kills, her 10th match this year with 10+ and her seventh straight.
» Phoebe Awoleye posted a team-best seven blocks. She's had 7+ in three straight matches (31 total).
» Melani Shaffmaster had a team-high 23 assists to go along with 11 digs for her ninth double-double of the season (68th of her career).
» Sydney Schnichels posted a career-best two blocks with one kill.
» Kali Engeman came off the bench to tally two kills and two blocks.

Up Next
Minnesota (12-5, 5-2 Big Ten) travels to take on No. 3 Penn State (17-1, 7-0 B1G) on Sunday, Oct. 20 for another conference road tilt. First serve is set for 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT on B1G+.
 
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