Gopher Volleyball 2022 Season

[Ignatius L Hoops]

The mid-set doldrums struck again and again and again. (Along with the other items noted above)

 

[Ewert86PC]

After the first few matches, looks like MS is spreading it around. Tonight it's let throw to two players and hope we win. Probably gonna lose to Wisconsin too.

Because of the expected loss to Sconnie, I expect a lot of Gophers selling their tickets to Wisconsin fans. This means a lot of red in the stands and that is not good.

 

[maroonfive]

This was a bad loss. The regression continues.

 

[Hrothgar]

This was a bad loss. The regression continues.

Seems we haven't seen real Gopher VB for about 3 years now, except for Samedy's brilliance. It's hard to beat really good teams if opponents can use your serve as an offensive weapon against you. A turn around on Sunday is needed.

 

[ClassOf98Gopher]

This was a bad loss. The regression continues.

Could yesterday’s Purdue/Minnesota game be more about the ascension of Purdue than the regression of Minnesota.

As a fan, I also try to look at things from the point of view is the other team because they are trying their hardest to win too.

 

[ecoperson]

This was a bad loss. The regression continues.

Might as well just fold the program. This team obviously won’t win another game.

 

[ecoperson]

Seems we haven't seen real Gopher VB for about 3 years now, except for Samedy's brilliance. It's hard to beat really good teams if opponents can use your serve as an offensive weapon against you. A turn around on Sunday is needed.

Time to can Hugh… this is beyond embarrassing. He and the coaching staff are resting on their laurels and not even trying.

 

[4EverAGopher]

The loss to Purdue is very disappointing. Not that we lost to them at Purdue but HOW we lost.

Our first two touches just don't improve. Either one or both are off almost an entire match. Hitters are being asked many times to adjust. Problem is, we are asking up to 9 different hitters to adjust instead of making the MUCH NEEDED adjustments elsewhere on this team. Hugh just will not do that.

I would like to remind posters that a setter that apparently only played 7 sets prior to this match helped in Purdue's win against us. OUCH!!!!

 

[4EverAGopher]

One thing for sure, almost every opponent we have played so far this season, seems to have been up for the challenge. We have a tendancy to bring the BEST out of our opponents and our energy and level of play is not even close to their's in many of those matches.

So what exactly is the problem? Could it be a combo platter of Gopher coaching and players energy/execution or opponent's better all around game plan?

Definitely changes need to be made.....will they be made? Only Hugh can answer that.

 

[ClassOf98Gopher]

The loss to Purdue is very disappointing. Not that we lost to them at Purdue but HOW we lost.

Our first two touches just don't improve. Either one or both are off almost an entire match. Hitters are being asked many times to adjust. Problem is, we are asking up to 9 different hitters to adjust instead of making the MUCH NEEDED adjustments elsewhere on this team. Hugh just will not do that.

I would like to remind posters that a setter that apparently only played 7 sets prior to this match helped in Purdue's win against us. OUCH!!!!

Well this lays bare where all these volleyball commentators’ thoughts are going!

They just want Melanie Shaffmaster, one of our top recruits ever, to be benched. That’s exactly where all this woe-is-us-ism is coming from and reveals in what direction it wants the team to go.

And unless Hugh pulls the plug on our setter, who has won and will win a lot of games for us, then the program is “in regression” and Hugh should then be fired… or something.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Gophers freshman Wucherer, once the nation’s top recruit, set to face home state Badgers

Mckenna Wucherer got a head start with volleyball stardom well before high school. The talented outside hitter from Brookfield, Wis., received interest from college coaches as early as the sixth grade — and her family would hide the recruiting letters from her. Still barely a teenager when she...

news.yahoo.com

Marcus Fuller:

Mckenna Wucherer got a head start with volleyball stardom well before high school.

The talented outside hitter from Brookfield, Wis., received interest from college coaches as early as the sixth grade — and her family would hide the recruiting letters from her.

Still barely a teenager when she took her first recruiting trips to volleyball programs, Wucherer committed to the Gophers over rival Wisconsin when she was just 13 years old.

Five years later, the former No. 1 recruit in the nation sees that decision come full circle as a freshman outside hitter for the No. 8 Gophers, who host the No. 6 Badgers on Sunday night at Maturi Pavilion.

"They actually changed the rules to not being able to recruit until you're a junior in high school," Wucherer said. "But I think right from the start I knew this was the place I wanted to be."

Wisconsin's the defending national champion and closer to her hometown near Milwaukee. Still, Wucherer has no regrets staying loyal to her commitment to the Gophers and Hugh McCutcheon's program because "here I could see myself living out my dream of playing college volleyball."

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Michigan swept Penn State in Happy Valley 19,17,19.

Nebraska and Ohio State are 1-1 in Lincoln going to the third set.

Update: Huskers won a 15-13 fifth set for a come from behind victory

 

[let'sbeclear]

I know it's still ridiculously early in the conference season, but is this already almost a must-win match against Wisconsin?

 

[Hrothgar]

I know it's still ridiculously early in the conference season, but is this already almost a must-win match against Wisconsin?

Given the realities of the schedule, they all seem to be must-win. So far no better than 50/50 essentially.

 

[Gophers_4life]

If we lose to Wisco tonight, we're already at 5 losses. Hugh has only had one season with double-digit losses in the season, which was 2014.

I'm sad to say, but it feels like we're headed that way.


CC, Kilkelly, and Shaffmaster are sinking this team. Passing and setting, pretty crucial if you want to be able to play volleyball at a high level.

Hugh will never bench any of them. And there's no guarantee that we have anyone on the roster who would do better.

I'd still give a shot, but guarantee it won't happen.

 

[WayOfTheGopher]

Iowa hanging tough with Purdue. One set a piece.

 

[WayOfTheGopher]

Still a lot of volleyball left, but this the team we've waited for. Up 2 sets to none.

 

[rowdaboat]

Finally playing at the level they should be at

 

[WayOfTheGopher]

That was a helluva match. Need to build on this huge victory.

 

[walleye]

Outstanding match. They went from the pits to the pinnacle in two days. Great energy and effort. It is fantastic to win a huge match but the most impressive thing for me was the outstanding effort, team work, competitiveness, and play. I hope they can maintain a high level and be consistent the rest of the season.

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

It was a sweep so sweet that we got to celebrate the ending twice. The Badgers were apoplectic during the first celebration.

We couldn't escape the mid-set doldrums in the first; but managed a late set surge to get the Pav rocking.
In the second set the Gophers just blew past the Badgers without looking back.

In the finale, Franklin's top spin serve wrong footed us mid-set; but a sparkling comeback with body blows delivered by Landfair and Wenaas got us the double celebration.

As a bonus, walking back to the ramp, we had the sounds of the tubas playing "Hey Baby" echoing into a warm early fall night. A near perfect volleyball evening.

 

[ecoperson]

Where are the naysayers tonight?!

 

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Tonight, Shaffmaster's offense was incendiary:

 

[Ewert86PC]

Where are the naysayers tonight?!

As happy as i am that we swept Wisconsin, it seems like we were looking past playing Purdue. That can't happen in a Power 5 conference.

 

[ClassOf98Gopher]

Where are the naysayers tonight?!

As happy as i am that we swept Wisconsin, it seems like we were looking past playing Purdue. That can't happen in a Power 5 conference.

Now THIS is humor!

Great post - one of the wittiest posts I have read.

 

[let'sbeclear]

Michigan swept Penn State in Happy Valley 19,17,19.

Nebraska and Ohio State are 1-1 in Lincoln going to the third set.

Update: Huskers won a 15-13 fifth set for a come from behind victory

The conference gets deeper and deeper. How many losses do people think the conference champ will have this year?

 

[walleye]

The conference gets deeper and deeper. How many losses do people think the conference champ will have this year?

Only one loss--that was on Friday night!

 

[4EverAGopher]

Will admit I never never never saw this coming. Hope these girls can go bck to this match when they have to dig deep for upcoming wins. The Conference Season has just begun.

One thing for sure, you saw a GOPHER TEAM win last night. Everybody was covering each other all night, as they should. Whoever wanted bodies flying all over the court got their wish.

This win started with Shaff-Wenaas-Kilkelly-CC-Landfair having their best match in the back court this year...where each and every match starts.

Great atmosphere....Happy to see The Pav so alive and hope the Student Section keeps coming back.

 

[WayOfTheGopher]

While watching the replay from last night, I noticed a couple of former teammates going against one another. Elise McGhie and Caroline Crawford were at Kansas last year, while Franklin and Gros played together at Michigan State.

 

[WayOfTheGopher]

If we lose to Wisco tonight, we're already at 5 losses. Hugh has only had one season with double-digit losses in the season, which was 2014.

I'm sad to say, but it feels like we're headed that way.


CC, Kilkelly, and Shaffmaster are sinking this team. Passing and setting, pretty crucial if you want to be able to play volleyball at a high level.

Hugh will never bench any of them. And there's no guarantee that we have anyone on the roster who would do better.

I'd still give a shot, but guarantee it won't happen.

It's only one game, but all three showed up last night.