Gopher Volleyball 2022 Season

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If by some miracle they come back and win, this will become an absolute classic.
 

Can't make stuff up. Stats are down, what's going on, Gophers up by 6, wait! Texas up by four, what's the score now.... Minnesota down by two...
 


jham13 said:
Texas won in 4. I don't think I've ever seen a Gopher team miss this many serves ever.
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Yes, unfortunately to keep hitting the net like that.

Then in the third and into the 4th they looked relaxed, confident played great game.

They'll work it out.

Freshman Julia Hanson is already making a great impression.
 



Same story as last season, can you win those tough, close games? The answer is still no. I know it's only the third game, but these are the games that will determine if you're championship material. It's gonna be a long flight home got to reflect, learn and move on.
 

Bfan said:
Yes, unfortunately to keep hitting the net like that.

Then in the third and into the 4th they looked relaxed, confident played great game.

They'll work it out.

Freshman Julia Hanson is already making a great impression.
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Some of what I saw was Jenna's serves were different from the one against Baylor and TCU. Gregory gymnasium can be a tough place to play with the student section right on top of you, but you can't shy away from it.
 

JacksonMedford said:
Some of what I saw was Jenna's serves were different from the one against Baylor and TCU. Gregory gymnasium can be a tough place to play with the student section right on top of you, but you can't shy away from it.
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Good point.


 



JacksonMedford said:
Same story as last season, can you win those tough, close games? The answer is still no. I know it's only the third game, but these are the games that will determine if you're championship material. It's gonna be a long flight home got to reflect, learn and move on.
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The Gophers have tons of nationally recruited talent, ample support from those who vote on nat'l rankings, and a strong fan base. IMO it seems time for the program to peak by season's end. By December they need to beat the very best, not just play them tough.
 

Sure, it would have been fantastic to have won the match. However, Texas has a veteran team and played on their home court with huge fan support. The Gophers are a stronger team than many people predicted at the beginning of the season. There is a lot of season left for the freshmen to develop and the team to fix some problems. I think the Gophers will have an exciting and a successful season.
 

Service aces vs. service errors: Texas - 8 and 8, for a net of 0; Gophers 6 and 19 for a net of -13. And in total points, Texas won by 12.

This isn't the whole story, of course, because serving aggressively can be advantageous in ways other than aces, but this differential clearly was an important factor in the match.
 

I felt we actually played a worse game than the score indicates. I think it was the most ERROR PRONE volleyball match I have ever seen a Gopher team play and yet we had the opportunity to win this match.

CC and Kilkelly played like they had not played together for some time and both struggled serving. Shaff's setting was off most of the match. So a bad pass led to a bad set which led to many non-aggressive swings by our pins. Heck the middles were hardly set the entire match. Totally opposite from the first two matches which were weaker opponents.

Our first two touches were just off so many times tonight. I would give anything if this would change. I saw too much of the same issues I have in the past two seasons and we are talking about a Grad Senior, Grad Transfer, Senior and Junior involved in the pass-set aspect of our game. Yes it was an extremely tough atmosphere to play in tonight, but their experience they have brought to this sport just wasn't there tonight like it should have been.

Outside of the ridiculous amount of total team SE's, Wenaas, Landfair and Hanson found ways to score for us and keep us in the match. Hanson had a wonderful match for her Freshman season. I was very happy to see that.

This upcoming Sunday we have Florida at home. Hope for a win and to see improvements from this Gopher team.
 
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4EverAGopher said:
I felt we actually played a worse game than the score indicates. I think it was the most ERROR PRONE volleyball match I have ever seen a Gopher team play and yet we had the opportunity to win this match.

CC and Kilkelly played like they had not played together for some time and both struggled serving. Shaff's setting was off most of the match. So a bad pass led to a bad set which led to many non-aggressive swings by our pins. Heck the middles were hardly set the entire match. Totally opposite from the first two matches which were weaker opponents.

Our first two touches were just off so many times tonight. I would give anything if this would change. I saw too much of the same issues I have in the past two seasons and we are talking about a Grad Senior, Grad Transfer, Senior and Junior involved in the pass-set aspect of our game. Yes it was an extremely tough atmosphere to play in tonight, but their experience they have brought to this sport just wasn't there tonight like it should have been.

Outside of the ridiculous amount of total team SE's, Wenaas, Landfair and Hanson found ways to score for us and keep us in the match. Hanson had a wonderful match for her Freshman season. I was very happy to see that.

This upcoming Sunday we have Florida at home. Hope for a win and to see improvements from this Gopher team.
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Thanks for the insights. Sucks that the local paper had nothing on its website last night.
 


For the Minnesota-Florida home opener Sunday, there are some good tickets available and some cheap. Getting close to sold out. Can find them at the Gophers ticket office and Stub Hub.

z.umn.edu/SingleGame

www.stubhub.com

Minnesota Golden Gophers Women's Volleyball Tickets

Minnesota Golden Gophers Women's Volleyball tickets - Buy and sell Minnesota Golden Gophers Women's Volleyball tickets at StubHub
www.stubhub.com www.stubhub.com
 
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No. 4 Gophers Host No. 13 Florida for Home Opener​


The No. 4 ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-0, 0-0 Big Ten) host the No. 13 Florida Gators on Sunday in their home opener at Maturi Pavilion. First serve is set for 12:30 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network. The Gophers are coming off a four set loss to No. 1 Texas while Florida dropped a match on Tuesday to No. 12 Stanford.

NUMBERS TO KNOW:
257 -- Minnesota head coach Hugh McCutcheon holds a 257-66 (.800) collegiate coaching record and has led Minnesota to two Big Ten Championships, three Final Fours, nine trips to the Sweet 16 and five to the Elite Eight....

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SCOUTING FLORIDA
The Gators are led by 32nd year head coach Mary Wise. In her tenure, the Gators have won 24 SEC championships, have been to eight Final Four's and she's won SEC Coach of the Year 13 times. She's won AVCA Coach of the Year three times, and most recently as 2017....

•

gophersports.com

No. 4 Gophers Host No. 13 Florida for Home Opener - University of Minnesota Athletics

Minnesota hosts Florida Sunday afternoon at the Pav.
gophersports.com gophersports.com
 


JacksonMedford said:
Same story as last season, can you win those tough, close games? The answer is still no. I know it's only the third game, but these are the games that will determine if you're championship material. It's gonna be a long flight home got to reflect, learn and move on.
Click to expand...
Also like last season: lack of offense out of the middle and an over reliance on the pins.
 

4EverAGopher said:
I felt we actually played a worse game than the score indicates. I think it was the most ERROR PRONE volleyball match I have ever seen a Gopher team play and yet we had the opportunity to win this match.

CC and Kilkelly played like they had not played together for some time and both struggled serving. Shaff's setting was off most of the match. So a bad pass led to a bad set which led to many non-aggressive swings by our pins. Heck the middles were hardly set the entire match. Totally opposite from the first two matches which were weaker opponents.

Our first two touches were just off so many times tonight. I would give anything if this would change. I saw too much of the same issues I have in the past two seasons and we are talking about a Grad Senior, Grad Transfer, Senior and Junior involved in the pass-set aspect of our game. Yes it was an extremely tough atmosphere to play in tonight, but their experience they have brought to this sport just wasn't there tonight like it should have been.

Outside of the ridiculous amount of total team SE's, Wenaas, Landfair and Hanson found ways to score for us and keep us in the match. Hanson had a wonderful match for her Freshman season. I was very happy to see that.

This upcoming Sunday we have Florida at home. Hope for a win and to see improvements from this Gopher team.
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To contrast with McGraw and Kilkelly, Texas had outstanding defensive play.

Especially the two small white girls, Libero (transfer from UCLA) and the other one who literally looked like a freshman in high school. Flying around and saving balls left and right. Also had Akana (transfer from Nebraska) who has a great serve more than anything, though unfortunately Hanson blasted two balls right at her in a row and made her look good.

To me that was the difference, along with service errors. The rest of the positions we were just as talented, and that’s saying something because Texas is absolutely loaded. Perra didn’t even start, they got Skinner to transfer from Kentucky.

All these great players transfers into Austin this year to win a natty. Hope they got compensated nicely with NIL as well.
 


Man, couldn't watch anymore of that second set. Wouldn't be surprised if they used a different setter, MS just seems to be off today.
 

JacksonMedford said:
Man, couldn't watch anymore of that second set. Wouldn't be surprised if they used a different setter, MS just seems to be off today.
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It was ugly, but they win. Florida only made it to 16 on the last set, as the wheels came off.

Energy in the Pav today was about 1/10th the energy in Austin last Wednesday. Apples to Oranges, of course, but still.
 


This match was tough to watch, Gophers would start out the set well, but after Florida calls their timeout then they would make a run to tie up the score. Whomever made the least errors was gonna win.
 

let'sbeclear said:
I don't know exactly when Naya Gros entered the match as a sub for Carter Booth, but she clearly was the spark the team needed.
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I think she came in for Booth after Florida had three straight aces early in that second set.
 

Nothing like an early season grinder to kickoff the home schedule. We had attacks without attackers, blocks that funneled the ball out of bounds and coaches riled up by missed calls. Naya Gros helped save the day after replacing the "work in progress" version of Booth. And Shaffmaster kept the ship afloat with some key kills and blocks while allowing Landfair and Wenaas to gather their game.

The Gophers settled in for the fourth set and finished the day. I don't think Florida had a block in the final set as Wenaas and Landfair found the openings.

My choice for play of the match was this "try it again" kill by Gros. (I noticed that the first time Gros came back to the bench she put a brace on her left knee while she was on the bench. I don't think she put it on the rest of the match)

 

Got some nice breaks with Markova service errors, with how hard she was hitting could have easily had run of aces
 

I did not notice Gros returning to the bench, at one point tonight, and putting a need brace on her left knee as ILHoops pointed out earlier. But, that does explain why she hasn't been playing until tonight. There is no doubt she is the BEST MIDDLE this team has and we kept improving with her in the game. Hoping, she can stay healthy. Heck I will add the best since Pittman.

The Gophers kept improving as the game went on and that fourth set was by far their best tonight as a team. Actually, the BEST SET so far this season. Let's go one step further...one of the best since SSS was our setter. I am sure the team was enjoying playing it as we were watching it.
 

Would like to see Gros and Booth start.

Husemann I'm sure is a great leader, but she wasn't even a scholarship player, and it shows in her lower athleticism.

Also excited to see what Davis can do, but might have to wait until next season and take a defacto redshirt this year like Landfair did last year.
 

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