B1G 15: Gophers host PSU 11-14-25

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A couple of observations. Other than Kennedy Martin this Penn State team is a bit of a mess. The whole is nowhere near as good as it should be based on the parts. I'm sure losing Izzy Stark early was a huge blow but they still should be better.

Not sure if anybody noticed it but Katie Schumacher-Cawley lost her shit when that out call was reversed for the final point of the second set. She went after the official and was still barking at her as she was leaving the court for the break. When she came out after the break she barked at her again and slammed her notebook down on her chair. I've always regarded her as a class act. That was not classy.
 

Hoolio said:
A couple of observations. Other than Kennedy Martin this Penn State team is a bit of a mess. The whole is nowhere near as good as it should be based on the parts. I'm sure losing Izzy Stark early was a huge blow but they still should be better.

Not sure if anybody noticed it but Katie Schumacher-Cawley lost her shit when that out call was reversed for the final point of the second set. She went after the official and was still barking at her as she was leaving the court for the break. When she came out after the break she barked at her again and slammed her notebook down on her chair. I've always regarded her as a class act. That was not classy.
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I think they have become very predictable depending on Kennedy. The absence of Caroline J. shows with the lack of other options.
A good win for the gophers to keep that top 16 seed.
 

This team has improved quite a bit. While the injuries have lowered the ceiling of success this season, they have accelerated the growth of the young players.

Next year's team could be very strong and capable of making the Elite Eight or even Final Four if they can get 1 impactful transfer along with the returning injured players.
 


TruthSeeker said:
This team has improved quite a bit. While the injuries have lowered the ceiling of success this season, they have accelerated the growth of the young players.

Next year's team could be very strong and capable of making the Elite Eight or even Final Four if they can get 1 impactful transfer along with the returning injured players.
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Not going to happen. Sorry. Not the final 4 anyhow. They would have to go all-in on the Penn State/Kentucky/Wisconsin/Pitt, etc. model and they will not (and good for them!). Plus they have to compete against the teams with even better recruits, like Nebraska, Stanford and Texas.

Seriously, making it past the 2nd round is probably the best we can hope for.
 


The young players on this team are impressive. They are gaining valuable experience while playing at a high level. Lots of upside with this squad.
 

I now know Ruffda is not a "true" Minnesota sports fan. We hold these two truths to be self evident.
1. The refs screwed us.
2. Next year is our year.
 



They got real lucky in that second set, Penn State was building momentum and if that point had stayed with Penn State, who knows what would've happened.
 

TruthSeeker said:
This team has improved quite a bit. While the injuries have lowered the ceiling of success this season, they have accelerated the growth of the young players.

Next year's team could be very strong and capable of making the Elite Eight or even Final Four if they can get 1 impactful transfer along with the returning injured players.
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The key to your statement is the word "impactful". Absolutely, correct in your assessment. We have nobody to replace Hanson's offense on this roster or in the future recruits so it would have to be an impactful transfer.

With the injury to our OH's, there is no guarantee either Wucherer or AA can recover and be that OH or even close to 100% ever again. The potential is there but we have yet to see that level of volleyball from either of these two previously mentioned players. before their injuries.

Cook should be looking at the portal, but my gut tells me not to expect him making this move. Same holds true for the need of a CAPABLE backup setter for Stella. We are in need of that too. This season isn't over yet, but we have gotten very very lucky nothing has happened to Stella this year or any of the now starters because we have NOBODY to replace any of them on this bench.
 

(R)uffda! said:
What we REALLY have to hope is that other programs don't end up stealing the players the U develops. Like Barnes and Booth.
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That's why this HC needs to establish a MORE RELIABLE ROSTER of BACKUP players and keep our recruits here. Lot of parity out there and I don't see us making a huge jump next year either in the standings.

Hate to say this (R) uffda!, but I can see JTay a player other teams might want to POACH...especially our direct neighbor to the East. IMO Booth is just built more for basketball.
 

WayOfTheGopher said:
They got real lucky in that second set, Penn State was building momentum and if that point had stayed with Penn State, who knows what would've happened.
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A little karma for all the calls that have gone against us.
 



4EverAGopher said:
The key to your statement is the word "impactful". Absolutely, correct in your assessment. We have nobody to replace Hanson's offense on this roster or in the future recruits so it would have to be an impactful transfer.

With the injury to our OH's, there is no guarantee either Wucherer or AA can recover and be that OH or even close to 100% ever again. The potential is there but we have yet to see that level of volleyball from either of these two previously mentioned players. before their injuries.

Cook should be looking at the portal, but my gut tells me not to expect him making this move. Same holds true for the need of a CAPABLE backup setter for Stella. We are in need of that too. This season isn't over yet, but we have gotten very very lucky nothing has happened to Stella this year or any of the now starters because we have NOBODY to replace any of them on this bench.
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I agree that an impactful OH should be the first priority for the portal especially since Wucherer has had injury issues throughout her career. What is Ng’s role on this team? Another veteran setter would add security at that position.
 

Nipomo 56 said:
I agree that an impactful OH should be the first priority for the portal especially since Wucherer has had injury issues throughout her career. What is Ng’s role on this team? Another veteran setter would add security at that position.
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Aren't they in major trouble if they need an OH in addition to Wucherer, Acevedo, Kinney and Crosson? They need another opposite for depth and a backup setter. Otherwise, their roster for 2026 looks fine. I'd argue they are probably OK on the right with their OH depth too.

Now, if the players on that roster aren't good enough, that's a different issue. I don't think that's true either. Not good enough to compete against the pros, yes. But good enough to compete against ethical programs.
 

(R)uffda! said:
Aren't they in major trouble if they need an OH in addition to Wucherer, Acevedo, Kinney and Crosson? They need another opposite for depth and a backup setter. Otherwise, their roster for 2026 looks fine. I'd argue they are probably OK on the right with their OH depth too.

Now, if the players on that roster aren't good enough, that's a different issue. I don't think that's true either. Not good enough to compete against the pros, yes. But good enough to compete against ethical programs.
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Maybe an OH/Opp combo would serve both concerns.
 

Kinney should be backup for Opp and we have serious injured OH's coming back next season. I realistically don't expect Wucherer to provide a full season with her back and Acevedo might not be the same player before her injury. I know nothing about Crosson, Is she another Hanson or one in the making? It would be great, if she was.

We definitely need another backup MB and Setter. Harsh as this may sound, I'm still not expecting any meaningful contribution from our players returning that our not seeing playing time now.

Now, if we don't want to improve as a team in the BIG and are happy in the position we are in, after this season, then everything I just mentioned can certainly be ignored. Are there ever guarantees with injured players their next seasons? IMO we have way too many uncertainties with our present roster.
 


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