The No. 19 Minnesota Golden Gophers are looking to rebound from two five-set losses at the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge this past weekend in Waco, Texas. They’ll take on the St. Thomas Tommies on Tuesday, Sept. 10 in their home opener. It will be the two teams’ second ever meeting and first since 2021.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 19 Minnesota vs. St. Thomas
Tuesday, Sept. 10
7 p.m. CT
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
NOTES TO KNOW
Minnesota leads UST, 1-0
First Meeting: 2021
Last Meeting: 2021
HEADING INTO THE MATCH
4,000 — Redshirt Senior setter Melani Shaffmaster passed 4,000 career assists with her 27th assist Sept. 1 vs. Stanford. She is the eighth Gopher ever to reach 4,000 and one of four Gophers in history to record 4,000 career assists and 1,000 career digs.
41 — All-time, the Gophers are 42-10 in home openers. Their last loss came in 2021 against No. 1 Texas (3-1). Before that, it was in 2007 against No. 23 Ohio State. Minnesota has won 14 of its last 16 home openers.
29 — Libero Zeynep Palabiyik posted a career-best 29 digs Friday at No. 23 Baylor. She ranks 4th in the B1G with 4.35 dps.
28 — 2023 marked the Gophers’ 28th all-time NCAA appearance. Only 10 schools have made more postseason trips than the ‘U’..
24 — The ‘U’ made its 24th NCAA Tournament in the last 25 seasons, including its ninth straight, in 2023.
19 — Melani Shaffmaster led the Big Ten with 19 double doubles last season. She has 62 in her career, the most of any B1G setter.
14 — Minnesota tallied 14 blocks in each of its first two matches, tying its season-high from last season. The Gophers posted 11 on Saturday and are averaging 11.75 per match through the first four.
12 — Melani Shaffmaster is one of 12 players in the country to register a triple-double this season. She had a career-high 10 kills with 47 assists and 21 digs on Sept. 7 vs. TCU. She’s the first Gopher to register a triple double since Sarah Wilhite did so in September of 2014.
11 — Phoebe Awoleye ranks 10th among active DI players with 1.24 bps; ranks 4th with 494 total blocks.
8 — Melani Shaffmaster ranks 8th all-time in Gophers history with 4,147 career assists.
4 — Melani Shaffmaster ranks fourth among active DI players with 4,147 career assists. She’s one of four athletes in the country that has totaled 4,000 assists and 1,000 digs in her career.
4 — Minnesota is the only team in the country to have all of its matches go five sets in 2024.
2 — The Gophers were just 2-11 against ranked opponents in 2023, taking wins over No. 15 Baylor and No. 6 Oregon. Minnesota is 1-2 this year. Their next top-25 ranked opponent will be Wisconsin (Sept. 2
GOPHER GREAT TORI DIXON TO BE HONORED TUESDAY
• The Burnsville, Minn., native was a standout with the Golden Gophers from 2010 to 2013. A two-time AVCA All-American, Dixon was also a three-time All-Big Ten selection, twice as a unanimous selection. During her career, Dixon hit .369, which still is a program record. Dixon played in 141 career matches, which ranks fourth in school history. Her 1,479 career kills as a middle blocker, ranks 11th in school history and second among middles. She continues to play professional volleyball, both internationally and now in the United States. She was inducted into the ‘M’ Club Hall of Fame on Friday and will be signing autographs before the match tomorrow from 6:20-6:40 p.m.
LAST TIME OUT
• No. 18 Minnesota fell twice in the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge to No. 23 Baylor and TCU. Both matches went to five sets and the Gophers had match point in both contests but couldn’t seal the deal. Melani Shaffmaster and Julia Hanson were named to the all-tournament team as Minnesota’s representatives.
SHAFFMASTER MAKES HISTORY
• Gophers setter Melani Shaffmaster did a little bit of everything on Saturday versus TCU. She became the first Gopher since Sarah Wilhite in 2014 to register a triple-double when she went for 10 kills, 47 assists and 21 digs in a five set defeat. The 10 kills was also a career-best for Shaffmaster.
SCOUTING ST. THOMAS
• The Tommies are led by 22nd-year head coach Thanh Pham. He’s posted 473 career wins, including 456 in 18 years at the Division III level. He is 17-74 since the Tommies have made the transition to Division I.
• UST brings back 18 student-athletes from a season ago and added one newcomer from a team that went 7-20 (3-13 Summit). In 2024, the Tommies have won three straight matches, beating Tarleton State, Valpo and Northern Illinois in their home tournament last weekend.
• For the second consecutive season, Tommie Volleyball was picked to finish eighth in the 2024 Summit League Preseason Coaches’ Poll. The Tommies accumulated 17 points, placing them ahead of Oral Roberts.
MINNESOTA’S HISTORY VS. ST. THOMAS
• Minnesota is 1-0 all-time against St. Thomas. The two teams played in 2021 to open the Diet Coke Classic in UST’s first season in its transition to Division I. Melani Shaffmaster tallied three kills, 27 assists, two blocks and two digs.
(info courtesy of Gopher Sports)
