STrib: Gophers Seek A Higher Level

[Ignatius L Hoops]

Gophers seek a higher level as underdogs in the NCAA volleyball tournament

They are unseeded and dangerous, but can the Gophers finally reach their potential and make a deep run? It starts with a first-round matchup against Utah State on Friday afternoon.

www.startribune.com

As the floor shook inside Maturi Pavilion on Saturday night, the Gophers had No. 1 Nebraska rattled.

The Cornhuskers were on match point and couldn't get a ball down against a furious Gophers defense. Melani Shaffmaster and Arica Davis steadied for a block. Julia Hanson dove to keep a ball alive. Zeynep Palabiyik controlled a soaring attack attempt from Nebraska's Harper Murray. Finally, Taylor Landfair crushed a spike — point U. The Gophers were one point away from tying the fourth set.

That they couldn't get that next point, with Shaffmaster and Landfair just missing on an attack that was turned away by Nebraska's defense, is what keeps Keegan Cook searching.