Gophers Sweep Badgers

#3 posting 10.18.2006
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

GOPHERS 3, WISCONSIN 0
(30-20, 30-25, 30-28)

#17 Minnesota made a statement tonight with a sweep of border rival #11 Wisconsin. The respective press release can give you each schools slant. Also it marks the third time this year the Gophers have beat a higher ranked team--they beat Ohio State, Purdue and now Wisconsin.

I wonder if the Gophers will still be behind Purdue, a team they beat on Saturday and now Wisconsin. The raters need to take into account four of the Gopher losses were a combination of Bowman and Peniata were on the sidelines. With everybody playing the Gophers are 12-1.

NUMBER CRUNCHING
team, 1stso/serves--1stso%; pts scored, % earned, % allowed
Minnesota 36/54---.667; 90; .756; .260
Wisconsin 29/54----.537; 73; .740; .244
The side out % got the job for MN. In game one Minnesota had five straight side outs after a 12-12 tie and added five points to their total to make it 21-16. Wisconsin had problems siding out in the first game going 6/14 (.429) as evindence with Christine Tan's four points off her serve to take the Gophers to the cusp in game one 26-18.
In game two the Gophers had 7 straight side outs this time taking the game from a 10-10 tie to 21-16 Minnesota. Wisconsin again was sub .500 with 9/19.
In the third game Minnesota didn't have a great side out string but they didn't give away too many runs for Wisconsin. Wisconsin biggest serving run was two points to take Wisconsin up 8-6. The last time the game was tied was at 15. A block by Kyla Roehrig and Jessie Jones gave the Gophers the side out. Then Tan served up a point with a Jones block.

Christine Tan has improved her play. Her passing is getting more consistent and that has been helping in the defensive battle. Also the blocking game outclassed Wisconsin 14-5. The Badgers were forced to alter their attack and it didn't pan out.

ROTATION POINTS
1. Tan 21-9 +12
2. Peniata 15-14 +1
3. Bowman 12-10 +2
4. Crumpston 21-15 +6
5. Nelson 11-11 0
6. Hartmann 10-14 -4
Tan's rotation had a dominating night. Rotation 1 was 8-2 in game one and 7-3 in game two. Rotation 6 still is having problems getting in the positive side.

As I was getting this done KARE 11 had their sports show. No Gopher Volleyball visuals. A top 25 matchup, a border battle, over 3000 folks in attendance.....nothing. Well at least you have this blog to keep you updated.

next up: tomorrow morning, later