Out & About: Minnesota/Illinois

#11 posting 10.13.2007
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

ILLINOIS illini 3, MINNESOTA gophers 1
(30-25, 30-25, 19-30, 30-21)

Illinois, playing inspired volleyball, upset the #11 Gophers in Minneapolis. The Illini got to balls, controlled the action and had more quality attacks than the hometown heroines. Changes were made in the Gopher lineup, but nothing ever seemed to genuinely "click." Too many collisions on the court, too many off balance plays put the Illini in the drivers seat.

In game one, the Illini started off with nine straight first ball side outs (FBSO). For the entire first game Illinois checked in with a FBSO% of .809. Minnesota wasn't bad with a .714 (15/21) but the lack of offensive production on the serve took its toll.

Game two was up for grabs until Freshman Laura DeBruhler, who answered the call all night, served up four points after a side out breaking free from a 22-20 game. When she was done it was 27-21. The Gophers tried to inch back in as Katie Vatterodt, in for Brook Dieter, had a mini run to make it 29-25, but a block by Vicki Brown and Stephanie Alde ended the game.

After the break the Gophers played strong early with four straight FBSO and managed to get points off of three of their first five servers. A four point run by Hailey Cowles put Minnesota up 14-8 and the Gopher faithful were getting glimmers of hope. It was Lauren Gibbemeyer that put the Gophers on her back with two straight blocks to start Kelly Roysland's serve, plus a tip kill to put Minnesota up 19-11. All in all Gibbemeyer delivered seven points in the third game win. Illinois helped with three missed serves, including the final point.

In game four the Gophers led early 6-4 and led 12-10 later, but then the bottom dropped out. Illinois went on a 16-2 blitz with a four point run by Kristine Anderson and then a back breaking 10 point run on Amy Palash's serve. That deflated the little enthusiasm left in the Pavilion as Illinois led 26-14. The last three Illinois points came on DeBruhler kill shots off of the blocks Minnesota tried to put up.

More on the game from the Minnesota and Illinois sites.

Next up: stats to follow

MINNESOTA
1. Brook Dieter, OH (g1-2) 1-0/2-3----4.5
1. Katie Vatterodt, OH (g 2-4) 1-0/1-9----10.5
2. Lauren Gibbemeyer, MH 1-1/10-10----17
3. Rachel Hartmann, S 0-0/7-1---4.5
4. Hailey Cowles, DS 1-0-2----3
4fr Kyla Roehrig, OH 0-2/3-5----8.5
5. Christine Tan, L 1-0-0----1
5. Jessy Jones, MH 0-0/4-9----11
6. Kelly Roysland, DS 0-0-0----0
6fr Rachelle Hagerty, RH 0-0/3-9----10.5
6fr Kelly Schmidt RH 0-0-0----0
totals: 5-3/29-48---70.5

ILLINOIS
1 Lizzie Bazzetta, S 1-0/4-4----7
2 Laura DeBruhler, OH 1-0/1-24----25.5
3 Johannah Bangert, MH 1-0/2-9----11
4 Kristine Anderson, DS 1-0-0-----1
4fr Stefanie Alde, RH 0-0/1-4----4.5
5 Amy Palash, DS 0-0-1----1
5fr Nicole Kump, OH 0-0/3-5----6.5
6 Ashley Edinger, L 0-0-0----0
6fr Vicky Brown, MH 0-0/6-14----17
totals: 4-0/17-61----73.5

TRENCH PLAYER
Laura DeBruhler

BY THE NUMBERS
team, fbso/attempts; fbso%; points, %earned; %allowed
Minnesota 31/59; .525; 101, .698; .326
Illinois 33/59; .559; 109, .674; .302
Runs 3+: Minnesota 10, Illinois 9
missed serves: Minnesota 13, Illinois 12

ROTATIONS
MINNESOTA
1. Brook Dieter/Katie Vatterodt 19-14 .576
2. Laura Gibbemeyer 13-12 .520
3. Rachel Hartmann 14-16 .480
4. Hailey Cowles 20-21 .488
5. Christine Tan 16-29 .356
6. Kelly Roysland 19-16 .543
totals: 101-109 .481

ILLINOIS
1. Lizzie Bazzetta 20-21 .488
2. Laura DeBruhler 17-13 .567
3. Johannah Bangert 15-21 .417
4. Kristine Anderson 19-15 .559
5. Amy Palash 21-16 .568
6. Ashley Edinger 16-15 .516
totals: 109-101 .519

Minnesota altered their service order after game one. The rest of night Hailey Cowles rotation started the in the one position.
Illinois also altered their service order after game three with Kristine Anderson leading off.

Minnesota had the top rotation with Brook Dieter/Katie Vatterodt's rotation, but also had the lowest % in Christine Tan's.
Next up: tomorrow morning.