NCAA 1st Round: Gophers versus Utah State (12-1-23)

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utahstateaggies.com

Sixth-Seeded Utah State Volleyball to Take on Minnesota in the NCAA Tournament Friday - Utah State University Athletics

Sixth-seeded Utah State volleyball (24-6, 17-1 Mountain West) will make its sixth-ever NCAA Tournament appearance when USU takes on Minnesota (16-12, 12-8 Big Ten)
utahstateaggies.com utahstateaggies.com

LOGAN, Utah – Sixth-seeded Utah State volleyball (24-6, 17-1 Mountain West) will make its sixth-ever NCAA Tournament appearance when USU takes on Minnesota (16-12, 12-8 Big Ten) on Friday, Dec. 1, at 3 p.m. (MT), in Omaha, Nebraska.

Overall, the Aggies have appeared in five NCAA Tournaments (2022, 2010, 2005, 2001, 2002), holding a 2-5 record. Utah State leads the all-time series against Minnesota 4-2, last meeting in 2007.

Utah State earned the at-large bid after winning the MW regular season title. The Aggies had three all-Mountain West honorees in graduate senior outside hitter Shelby Capllonch, senior outside Tatum Stall and junior opposite side hitter Adna Mehmedovic, while freshman libero Kambree Rodriguez was named an honorable mention. Head coach Rob Neilson was selected as the league's Coach of the Year for the second time, having also earned the distinction in 2021.

The Aggies head into the NCAA Tournament with a 24-6 overall record, including 17-1 in Mountain West play, as USU has won 17 of its last 19 matches. The Aggie squad has ranked in the top-20 in the RPI multiple times this season, most recently at No. 16 on Nov. 20. USU has also received votes in the AVCA coaches' poll six times this season, including each of the last four weeks.

USU is hitting .235 (1,501-618-3,752), while holding opponents to a .191 (1,271-599-3,517) mark. Capllonch leads the Aggies with 336 kills this season, averaging 3.14 per set, while senior middle blocker Kelsey Watson hits a team-best .330. Both Aggie setters have logged over 500 assists as sophomore Leah Wilton-LaBoy has 616, while junior Beatriz Rodrigues has 538. Rodrigues leads the team with 40 service aces.

Defensively, Rodriguez leads Utah State with 331 digs, averaging 3.25 per set. Watson and graduate senior middle blocker Kennedi Boyd have each logged a team-best 101 total blocks, while Mehmedovic is close behind with 99 this season.

Minnesota holds a 16-12 overall mark, including 12-8 in the Big Ten. Overall, the Gophers are hitting .227 (1,330-494-3,675), while holding opponents to a .186 (1,318-617-3,769) mark. Redshirt junior outside Taylor Landfair leads the team with 342 kills, averaging 3.20 per set, while senior setter Melani Shaffmaster leads with 894 assists. Defensively, fifth-year senior libero Kylie Murr leads the way with 439 digs, while senior middle bocker Phoebe Awoleye leads with 129 blocks.
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Well this could be a dangerous match. MW has some solid programs?

No normal TV for this I assume?
 





First set and Gophers up 23-15. Utah's middle scoring while Grote is on fire for the Gophers both serving and hitting. Utah serving Z and had a 6-0 run.

Serve was going to Z when she came in but Utah served it into the net instead and Gophers win first set 25-17.

No middle game for the Gophers but no surprise.
 

So far Minnesota really serving tough. We are having a lot of success serving their libero.

Our block needs to develop better in this match.

Landfair is now having much success serving. Gophers up set two 12-4.

Gopher contingent up and loud with a 17-7 lead.

Right side block with Grote is pretty solid this set and Gophers up 22-11.

Wucherer having a tough time this set. Right side block now with Shaffmaster picking it up and Gophers win 25-14.
 
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Third set Davis hits right into the block...yikes! Awoleye missed a block and Gophers down 4-2. Up to Grote and Landfair to win this set with Wucherer struggling and no Middle offense.

We continue to serve tough. This set starting out like the first....score now 6-6.

Wucherer's game just isn't at the College Level it should be for a Sophomore. If we get past Utah State after a 4-0 run and tieing it up 11-11, I would replace her with Hanson.

Utah State is in this set with way too many Gopher MENTAL ERRORS. Z just let a ball fall for a 17-14 Utah State lead.

The UGLY GOPHER GAME IS ON THE COURT. Another error by Wucherer and Gophers down 20-16.

It was by no means pretty this last set but Gophers come from behind led by Grote and Murr playing their game throughout this match to win the last set 25-23.
 
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Any win in tourney is a great win. Obviously, Utah seeded higher so an "upset". Beat Creighton and season is acceptable. Make Elite 8 and season a success. Anything beyond is gravy.
 



The aces began the separation in the first two sets-grit did it in the third.

A good match to watch. Looking forward to Creighton
 



Gophers volleyball sweeps Utah State to reach second round of NCAA tournament​

In control for the entire match, the Gophers won 25-17, 25-14, 25-23 to move on to Saturday's second round. A win there would mean a berth in the Sweet 16.

Still the Aggies refused to go away. The third set brought a level of tension the Gophers hadn't had to contend with up to that point. Utah State came out firing — taking their first lead of the match at 2-1 and starting a tense back-and-forth. The Aggies led 22-17 when Minnesota rallied with Davis swarming the net, grabbing three blocks — including the game winner alongside Shaffmaster.

The Gophers await the winner of the night's second match between host Creighton and Colgate. If it's Creighton, the Gophers will fight for a chance at the Sweet 16 against a familiar opponent with some extra motivation.

In September, the Bluejays defeated the Gophers in five sets at Maturi Pavilion setting the course for their season. Creighton finished 27-4 overall, tied for the Big East title, defeated seven teams in the NCAA tournament and haven't lost since Oct. 6.

They earned the right to host the regional at their intimate home venue cloaked in navy blue. It will be sold-out when the Gophers get a shot to show how they've changed.

www.startribune.com

Gophers volleyball sweeps Utah State to reach second round of NCAA tournament

In control for the entire match, the Gophers won 25-17, 25-14, 25-23 to move on to Saturday's second round. A win there would mean a berth in the Sweet 16.
www.startribune.com www.startribune.com
 



Utah State's serve put the Gophers in trouble in that third set and all those hitting errors didn't help, but they stuck with it and pulled out the sweep. A couple of weeks ago, they would've lost that third set and maybe the fourth too. Gophers are gonna have their hands full with a Creighton team running like a well oiled machine.
 

Setting placement was off this whole match, luckily Shaffmaster was excellent in all of her other core areas and the Gophers just served and blocked Utah State out of the NCAA tournament.

Need to clean it up to have a chance versus Creighton.
 

NateDawgUM said:
Setting placement was off this whole match, luckily Shaffmaster was excellent in all of her other core areas and the Gophers just served and blocked Utah State out of the NCAA tournament.

Need to clean it up to have a chance versus Creighton.
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I totally agree....she just cannot improve her setting. This is why Hanson should be playing today. She can ADJUST to Shaff's setting like Grote can. Both Landfair and especially Wucherer (for other reasons too) will struggle. We need our pins to perform today.
 

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