The No. 19 Minnesota volleyball team won in straight sets (25-17, 25-14, 25-16), taking down the LIU Sharks to kick off the 2024 Diet Coke Classic.
Minnesota hit a season-high .313 and held LIU to just .108 hitting. The Gophers tallied 43 kills to the visitors 26, moving to 2-0 at home on the year.
“Definitely happy to be able to get another win playing in front of our fans at the Pav,” said head coach Keegan Cook. “We were able to play a lot of people again and see what they can do. Now tomorrow we have another big game against a physical Auburn team that’s playing with a lot of confidence right now.”
Mckenna Wucherer finished with 10 kills on the night to lead the Gophers (3-3, 0-0 B1G) offense while Calissa Minatee and Lydia Grote had eight kills each. Minnesota got nine digs from Zeynep Palabiyik to lead them defensively. 15 of the 17 rostered Gophers played tonight. Redshirt sophomore setter Chloe Ng made her collegiate debut with two assists.
For LIU (1-7, 0-0 NEC), Jordan MacDonald led the team with 10 kills and six digs.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Gophers took control of the set-one lead at 4-3 and held the lead the rest of the way to win 25-17. Minnesota led by as many as nine points at 22-13 before closing out the set, totaling 15 kills . Minnesota also supplemented their offense with five aces in the opening set. The Gophers hit .278 in the first frame.
SET 2 | Minnesota won set two 25-14 to quickly take a 2-0 lead. The Gophers took control of the set lead early on at 2-1 and never trailed. Minnesota opened its biggest lead of the stanza, 11 points, to close out the set. Minnesota’s front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four LIU attacks. The Gophers hit a blistering .455 on the set.
SET 3 | Minnesota took the third set to sweep the match. The Golden Gophers took control of the set early when the score was 4-3 and never trailed, going on to win 25-16. Minnesota led by 10 points at 20-10 before closing out the stanza, totaling 16 kills in the frame.
Game Notes
» Alex Acevedo had a career-high two aces in the win.
» Minnesota hit a season-best .313 for the evening.
» Mckenna Wucherer had a team-high 10 kills for Minnesota. It was her fourth 10+ kill match of the season.
» The ‘U’ got a team-high nine digs from Zeynep Palabiyik.
» Minnesota attackers were helped by a match-high 20 assists from Melani Shaffmaster.
» Sydney Schnichels tallied her first collegiate kills and had three on the night.
» Redshirt sophomore Chloe Ng made her collegiate debut and totaled two assists.
» Phoebe Awoleye posted two blocks. She now has 499 for her career, which ranks No. 4 in the nation among active Division I players.
» Elise McGhie tallied 10 assists, her second straight match with 10+.
Up Next
Minnesota (3-3, 0-0 Big Ten) takes on Auburn (6-0, 0-0 SEC) tomorrow night at 6 p.m.
(info and photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
