Match 1: Gophers v Texas A&M in Sioux Falls 8-25-25

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Go Gophers! Beat A & M. We are excited to see this year's team and to have a great season.
 

Buckle up, more of the same bs. Up 20-18 and can't close the set.😐
 

Some sloppiness and communication issues, which are expected in the first match with a new setter.

Would love to see more offense outside of Hanson.
 

Bad lineup choices IMO. But what do I know?

No reason why TAMU should sideout at this % either.
 



TAMU service got better and better and Gophers went the opposite direction. Add that to too little offense and now yet another program has moved ahead of Minnesota.

But I'll spare you the negativity. Sorry. Hope things turn around.
 

First game of the season against a final four senior dominate team. The defense and passing was better than last year. We will be okay, first games are always a little rocky when integrating new people.
#3 Pitt just lost to #16 Florida the other night. It's very early.
 

I suspect Cook started Crowl because of her experience. Tough opponent, first match, big stage. While I understand that thought process how many times do you need to see her play to know she's seriously limited. She's in her 5th year and has never done anything of note. Assuming Wookie can't play its time to roll with Kinney or Gilk.
 




Yes, it will be another very long volleyball season for our Gophers. Some fans are bringing up a 3 middle offense and I'm saying "go for it" unless Wucherer ever returns and can play Opp.

The match was actually not as bad as it could have been under the circumstances with TAMU returning all their starters. Our back court was pretty decent but we lacked blocking at the net.

Our OH's offensively did their job and so did Minatee. Unfortunately, Myers was totally absent along with all those who played Opp. I believe Pedro can get our middles going like they should.

However, Crowl needs to step up her offense or Keegan needs to develop some other offense for that position. And why did he pull her when we sure needed her blocking down the stretch in that match? His decisions of switching players can really baffle me at times.
 

I have a feeling they are just keeping Wucherer out until Big Ten starts. She was warming up on Monday and looked to be swinging pretty hard.
 

Our littles have improved and Crissy must be doing a great job with them... it showed in that match. The rest of the team, when in the back court, needs to step it up.

Crowl can block and is our best Opp option right now. I just wished she would swing away at every opportunity given to her. There is no doubt Gilk and Kinney will give us more fire power but they will be giving up more scoring on the defense end of the game compared to Crowl.

Maybe I am more upset with Keegan because I don't know how much effort he put into replacing Grote for this season. He knew if Wucherer wasn't necessarily going to be available then the position would go to Crowl followed by either Gilk or Kinney. I would think having too many options is always better than having limited options.

I don't believe we have any True Opps coming in for 2026 or 2027 either. So going more Middle heavy would be another option. This coaching team certainly knows what we can expect in our present players. Right now we have to wait and see what they come up with for the rest of this season.
 



Maybe I'm wrong (and I'm not going to doublecheck) but I believe Crowl had ONE block against TAMU. To be fair -- which I sometimes can be -- she only had 14 swings and blocking is a lot more than just block kills. Touches are important too. But I'm not rewatching to see how she did in that regard.

TAMU served better and got offense (and then some) from their opposite. And that was the difference.

I just have to say I was VERY disappointed with this loss. It continues a trend that has other programs -- Baylor, TCU, Creighton, Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, SMU maybe, etc. -- moving ahead of them. Looks like you can add Kansas to the list. Not. Good.

But there I go with the negativity again. I may need to delete this account ...
 
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(R)uffda! said:
Maybe I'm wrong (and I'm not going to doublecheck) but I believe Crowl had ONE block against TAMU. To be fair -- which I sometimes can be -- she only had 14 swings and blocking is a lot more than just block kills. Touches are important too. But I'm not rewatching to see how she did in that regard.

TAMU served better and got offense (and then some) from their opposite. And that was the difference.

I just have to say I was VERY disappointed with this loss. It continues a trend that has other programs -- Baylor, TCU, Creighton, Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, SMU maybe, etc. -- moving ahead of them. Looks like you can add Kansas to the list. Not. Good.

But there I go with the negativity again. I may need to delete this account ...
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Ruffda, for what it's worth, your name came up over on VT. People were wondering if you were lurking or what you would think of some of the happenings. You have not been forgotten
 


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