'U' Picks Up Third-Straight Sweep, Downs Auburn Friday

Upcoming Events

Schedule

Sep 21

5:00 PM

Volleyball

at Marquette

Sep 25

7:30 PM

Volleyball

vs Michigan State

Sep 28

2:00 PM

Volleyball

vs Rutgers

MINNEAPOLIS - The 19th-ranked Golden Gophers volleyball team used double-double performances from three players to pick up a three-set sweep (25-21, 25-22, 25-16) over Auburn on day two of the 2024 Diet Coke Classic from Maturi Pavilion Friday night.

The Maroon and Gold were led by double-doubles from both Julia Hanson, who had 12 kills and 16 digs, and Lydia Grote, who had 11 kills and 10 digs. Setter Melani Shaffmaster added 30 assists and 14 digs to pace Minnesota (4-3, 0-0 B1G) to its third-consecutive home sweep. The non-conference victory improved the Gophers' overall record to 4-3 on the season and handed the visiting Tigers their first loss this year, following a perfect 6-0 start.

"It was one of our better serving performances of the year in terms of consistency," said head coach Keegan Cook. "We applied pressure for all six rotations. Auburn is a great side-out team, and they've shown that, so I was particularly pleased with our blocking effort."

Calissa Minatee added eight kills to help the attack, while Shaffmaster and Mckenna Wucherer tacked on six apiece. On the defensive end, Zeynep Palabiyik and Kate Thibault were the fourth and fifth players to reach double figures in digs, finishing with 14 and 10, respectively.

Auburn (6-1, 0-0 SEC) was led in kills by Madison Scheer and Lauren Dreves, who each posted nine kills and Dreves picked up 11 digs to pace the Tigers.

How It Happened
SET 1 | The Gophers built an early one set to none lead, winning the first set 25-21. Minnesota never trailed by more than five points and grabbed the advantage for good at 13-12 in a set that showcased two lead changes before the home side took over, getting a solid defensive performance from a front row that blocked four Auburn attacks in the stanza.

SET 2 | After their win in the first set, Minnesota put themselves on the cusp of a sweep with a 25-22 victory in set number two. After the Maroon and Gold trailed 7-2 to begin the frame, Alex Acevedo delivered three service aces to give the home side an 8-7 edge, capping a 6-0 run by the Gophers. The run extended to 15-4 as Minnesota took control of the set, leading 17-11, and persevered past a furious Auburn rally.

SET 3 | Minnesota took a 1-0 lead and never looked back in the set to secure a 25-16 victory, sweeping the match. Acevado's serving prowess again sparked the Gophers as she helped turn a three-point lead into a double-digit advantage, 12-1. The redshirt freshman exited the court to a rousing standing ovation. The Maroon and Gold led by as many as 14 points, 17-3, before finishing off the set, totaling 18 kills along the way.

Game Notes
» Minnesota had five players in double figures in digs with Hanson's match-high 16 pacing the squad.
» Acevedo had a match-high four aces in the win, setting a new career high, with three of the four aces coming during a four-point stretch of the second set.
» Hanson had a match-high 12 kills for the Gophers, seven of which hit the floor in the final set, as she reached double-digit kills for the sixth time in seven outings this season.
» Minnesota attackers were helped by a match-high 30 assists from Melani Shaffmaster.
» Phoebe Awoleye and Hanson each tallied five block assists to lead the Maroon and Gold at the net.
» Minnesota never trailed on the way to winning the third set 25-16.
» Gophers' newcomer Kate Thibault got a chance to take the court against her older sister, Paige, a senior on the Auburn squad. The Watertown, Minn., natives faced off for the first time in their collegiate careers.

Diet Coke Classic All-Tournament Team:
OPP: Lydia Grote, Minnesota
MB: Calissa Minatee, Minnesota
OH: Jordan MacDonald, LIU
OH: Lauren Dreves, Auburn
OH: Bel Zimmerman, Auburn
L: Alasha Colon, LIU

Up Next
Minnesota (3-3, 0-0 Big Ten) heads to Green Bay, Wis., for its next three matches as part of the Capital Credit Union Classic. The Gophers open the weekend against the host Phoenix on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. live on ESPN+.

Upcoming Events