The Minnesota Golden Gophers volleyball team knew their season opening pair of games against ranked opponents in Sioux Falls in the State Farm Women's College Volleyball Showcase would be tough, and sure enough it was. Then #14 Minnesota was swept 3-0 by #13 Arizona State in Friday's season opener before the Gophers returned the favor to #12 Creighton on Saturday picking up a 3-0 sweep of their own.
In their season opener against Arizona State, the Gophers knew they would still be shorthanded as they slowly worked in their four starters who all missed large chunks of the season a year ago with injuries. Two of the four in McKenna Wucherer and Zeynep Palabiyik returned to action this past weekend while Minnesota still missed middle blocker Calissa Minatee and outside hitter Alex Acevedo. The Sun Devils had opened their schedule the weekend before with an upset win over #2 Texas 3-1.
The opening set was a back and forth affair with the two teams going through 11 ties and five lead changes before ASU took the set, 26-24. Minnesota led 22-20 but the Sun Devils would run off four of the next five points to take control.
In only went downhill from there for Minnesota. ASU jumped on the Gophers in the second set and won 25-17. ASU took an 8-2 lead out of the gate and while Minnesota would make several runs to cut the lead to just three points at multiple points, ASU would run off a 6-1 run to close the set for the win.
Minnesota showed signs of life in the third set, but once again could not hold a late 20-19 lead as ASU would win 26-24. Sun Devils star Una Vajagic finished of the match with back to back kills, two of her match high 20.
#minnesota #gophers
In their season opener against Arizona State, the Gophers knew they would still be shorthanded as they slowly worked in their four starters who all missed large chunks of the season a year ago with injuries. Two of the four in McKenna Wucherer and Zeynep Palabiyik returned to action this past weekend while Minnesota still missed middle blocker Calissa Minatee and outside hitter Alex Acevedo. The Sun Devils had opened their schedule the weekend before with an upset win over #2 Texas 3-1.
The opening set was a back and forth affair with the two teams going through 11 ties and five lead changes before ASU took the set, 26-24. Minnesota led 22-20 but the Sun Devils would run off four of the next five points to take control.
In only went downhill from there for Minnesota. ASU jumped on the Gophers in the second set and won 25-17. ASU took an 8-2 lead out of the gate and while Minnesota would make several runs to cut the lead to just three points at multiple points, ASU would run off a 6-1 run to close the set for the win.
Minnesota showed signs of life in the third set, but once again could not hold a late 20-19 lead as ASU would win 26-24. Sun Devils star Una Vajagic finished of the match with back to back kills, two of her match high 20.
#minnesota #gophers
2 months ago
