Exhibition: Gophers versus Iowa State (8-24-24)

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No. 18 Gophers Host Iowa State in Exhibition - University of Minnesota Athletics

Minnesota hosts Iowa State in an exhibition on Saturday afternoon.
gophersports.com gophersports.com

MINNEAPOLIS-- The No. 18 ranked Minnesota volleyball team is set to host the Iowa State Cyclones in an exhibition match at Maturi Pavilion. Doors open at 2 p.m. for the 3 p.m. scrimmage. There is no charge for the event and seating is first come, first serve. The Gophers are set to begin their 53rd season in program history and second under head coach Keegan Cook.

EVENT INFORMATION
No. 18 Minnesota vs. RV Iowa State
Saturday, Aug. 24 at 3 p.m.
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
Stream/Stats: NONE

FORMAT
Minnesota and Iowa State will play four sets up to 25 points, regardless of who wins the first three.

ENTRANCE AND PARKING
Guests should enter from the main entrance on 19th Ave SE, which is the typical entrance for Gophers volleyball matches. Campus parking suggestions: Fans are encouraged to park in University Ave. Ramp. The Minnesota State Fair starts Aug. 22 and runs until Sept. 2, so other parking lots (Maroon, Lot 58 etc.) will most likely fill up very quickly. For ore information, please check the map link. Doors open one hour before the match begins.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA
• In the first year of the Keegan Cook era in 2023, the 'U' went 17-13 (12-8 Big Ten) and went to the NCAA Tournament's Round of 32. The Gophers won an NCAA Tournament match for the ninth straight season and finished fifth in the conference standings.
• Top wins of the season for Minnesota included a non-conference victory at Stanford against then No. 5 Oregon and a win at home over then No. 15 Baylor in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge.
• The Gophers had four All-Big Ten honorees, including Second Team All-B1G honorees Lydia Grote (outside/opposite) and setter Melani Shaffmaster (setter) who each elected to return for their fifth years in 2024.
• Five Minnesota athletes made the AVCA All-Region North Region team, including Grote, Shaffmaster and junior outside Mckenna Wucherer.
• The Gophers return six players who started matches last year and added three transfers to supplement their depth and talent. Alex Acevedo (redshirt freshman/outside) and Kate Thibault (sophomore/defensive specialist/libero) came from Oregon while Kali Engeman (redshirt junior/middle blocker) came from Ga. Tech.

SCOUTING IOWA STATE
• Iowa State concluded the 2023 season at 20-10 overall and 11-7 in the Big 12 to finish tied for fourth in the league. Iowa State cemented the 10th 20-win season under head coach Christy Johnson-Lynch while making the 17th appearance at the NCAA Tournament in program history. They fell to Hawai'i, 3-1, in the first round.
• ISU totaled three Top-25 wins, vs. #14 Kansas, #18 Baylor and at #21 Houston. Three ranked wins was their highest total since 2014.
• The Cyclones feature 10 returners and five newcomers on their 2024 club. Sophomore outside Nayeli Gonzalez (3.31 kps) returns after a big rookie year that saw her be named AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, All-Big 12 First Team and the 2023 AVCA Midwest Region Freshman of the Year
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A few thoughts from the match today. Gophers took 3 sets and ISU took 2.

Overall the play was uneven. Gophers looked great in the first set and the first half of the set. Had a couple stretches late in the second and in the 3rd and 4th where they could do nothing right. Still could have and should have won all 5 sets. Had match point in both sets they lost.

A couple of the newcomers are going to help them a lot this year. Alex Acevedo played a lot and played a really solid all around game. Kate Thibault was solid in the back row and fills a big time need.

The block was solid and both middles were involved and effective on the attack. Wucherer was lethal early and late. A little spotty in the middle. Schaffmaster was a little inconsistent. Crowl played as well as I've seen her play. Grove and Hanson were just OK. Stella Swenson didn't see the court. I assume the plan is to redshirt her given Scaffmaster has that position. Stella is really good so the future at setter is bright.

I think this team has a lot of potential. Might take some time for it all to come together but they're definately ahead of where they were last year at this time.
 

Hoolio said:
A few thoughts from the match today. Gophers took 3 sets and ISU took 2.

Overall the play was uneven. Gophers looked great in the first set and the first half of the set. Had a couple stretches late in the second and in the 3rd and 4th where they could do nothing right. Still could have and should have won all 5 sets. Had match point in both sets they lost.

A couple of the newcomers are going to help them a lot this year. Alex Acevedo played a lot and played a really solid all around game. Kate Thibault was solid in the back row and fills a big time need.

The block was solid and both middles were involved and effective on the attack. Wucherer was lethal early and late. A little spotty in the middle. Schaffmaster was a little inconsistent. Crowl played as well as I've seen her play. Grove and Hanson were just OK. Stella Swenson didn't see the court. I assume the plan is to redshirt her given Scaffmaster has that position. Stella is really good so the future at setter is bright.

I think this team has a lot of potential. Might take some time for it all to come together but they're definately ahead of where they were last year at this time.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the thoughtful analysis!
 

Hoolio said:
A few thoughts from the match today. Gophers took 3 sets and ISU took 2.

Overall the play was uneven. Gophers looked great in the first set and the first half of the set. Had a couple stretches late in the second and in the 3rd and 4th where they could do nothing right. Still could have and should have won all 5 sets. Had match point in both sets they lost.

A couple of the newcomers are going to help them a lot this year. Alex Acevedo played a lot and played a really solid all around game. Kate Thibault was solid in the back row and fills a big time need.

The block was solid and both middles were involved and effective on the attack. Wucherer was lethal early and late. A little spotty in the middle. Schaffmaster was a little inconsistent. Crowl played as well as I've seen her play. Grove and Hanson were just OK. Stella Swenson didn't see the court. I assume the plan is to redshirt her given Scaffmaster has that position. Stella is really good so the future at setter is bright.

I think this team has a lot of potential. Might take some time for it all to come together but they're definately ahead of where they were last year at this time.
Click to expand...
Based off this analysis, 0-4 to start the season is very doable.
 

Let's hope not. The early schedule is tough so you can't rule it out. The team is ahead of where they were this time last year so I'm thinking 2-2 seems like a reasonable expectation.
 



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