BleedGopher
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Per Marcus:
The Gophers volleyball season didn’t end the way Keegan Cook and his players hoped, withanother NCAA second-round exit, but his program could be even stronger after the groundwork it established.
In many ways, this season was still part of the transition phase from previous coach Hugh McCutcheon to Cook, who was hired from Washington in December 2022.
In Year 2 under Cook, the Gophers (21-11) reached their 10th straight NCAA tournament and were ranked in the top 15 for most of the season.
“I’m going to remember it as the good that precedes the great,” Cook told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Tuesday.
Expectations should be much higher for the 2025 season, Cook said, because his third year will be out of the transitioning stage with the Gophers, who have talent in the program and more on the way.
Junior outside hitter Julia Hanson, arguably the Big Ten’s biggest breakout player this year, is expected back. As of now, the Gophers anticipate adding and not losing anyone to the transfer portal.
Not to mention, Cook said, members of his top 10 nationally ranked recruiting class are arriving in January, including in-state stars Carli Gilk from Champlin Park and McKenna Garr from Rush City.
“Coaching transitions are the most perilous time for any program,” Cook said “I feel good about the foundation we re-established and the players we brought in, the players who are on their way and the development of the players in this program.”
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
The Gophers volleyball season didn’t end the way Keegan Cook and his players hoped, withanother NCAA second-round exit, but his program could be even stronger after the groundwork it established.
In many ways, this season was still part of the transition phase from previous coach Hugh McCutcheon to Cook, who was hired from Washington in December 2022.
In Year 2 under Cook, the Gophers (21-11) reached their 10th straight NCAA tournament and were ranked in the top 15 for most of the season.
“I’m going to remember it as the good that precedes the great,” Cook told the Minnesota Star Tribune on Tuesday.
Expectations should be much higher for the 2025 season, Cook said, because his third year will be out of the transitioning stage with the Gophers, who have talent in the program and more on the way.
Junior outside hitter Julia Hanson, arguably the Big Ten’s biggest breakout player this year, is expected back. As of now, the Gophers anticipate adding and not losing anyone to the transfer portal.
Not to mention, Cook said, members of his top 10 nationally ranked recruiting class are arriving in January, including in-state stars Carli Gilk from Champlin Park and McKenna Garr from Rush City.
“Coaching transitions are the most perilous time for any program,” Cook said “I feel good about the foundation we re-established and the players we brought in, the players who are on their way and the development of the players in this program.”
In Year Two under Keegan Cook, Gophers volleyball set foundation for brighter future
The Gophers will lose senior setter Melani Shaffmaster, but they don’t expect players to leave via the transfer portal.
www.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
