The View from Afar: Minnesota/Wisconsin

#2 posting 11.15.2006
your daily dose of girls volleyball news & information

MINNESOTA 3, WISCONSIN 1
30-26, 30-22, 18-30, 30-25

The Minnesota Gophers are now alone in second place in the big 10 as they beat #10 Wisconsin on their home court in four. Penn State was swept in three recently in Madison. It is not a friendly environment for away teams to play.

This report is coming from the play by play list that came from the Wisconsin website. I don't have the visual access, but it is available. It felt like I was sitting by the crystal set listening to the Harding/Cox election returns from 1920, only there was no listening.

In game one Wisconsin had the lead at 8-6, but Malama Peniata gave the lead to Minnesota for good after a side out with two service points both on Wisconsin attack errors. The biggest run in the first game came on Christine Tan's five service points, plus the side out to give Minnesota a decent cushion. The Gophers added to it with a four piont run after the side out for a 10-1 run.

Wisconsin switched their outsides in game two with Maria Carlini coming early in the serving order and Brittany Dolgner following. Wisconsin again led early 6-4, but couldn't quite hold the lead. The Gophers took the lead on Rachel Hartmann's serve 12-9. Minnesota had another big run, this time by NCAA record holder Meredith Nelson with five points from the line plus one from the side out for six. That made it 23-15. A block by Nelson and Hartmann finished the second frame.

In the third game Wisconsin made some more adjustments with the outsides remaining where they were in game two, but instead of Simpson holding the first rotation, she now fell to third in the rotation. That seemed to get the Badger mojo working as they led early 9-4. MN did close at 16-15, but Wisconsin took off on a 9-2 run after that to establish their lead.

In the fourth stanza Wisconsin stayed with what worked in game three, but Minnesota made some adjustments of their own. The Gophers led early for the first time 7-2 and 8-4. It didn't last. Wisconsin took the lead at 10-9 with Amanda Berkley's serve in the fifth rotation. Their biggest lead was three, and last lead at 20-19. By this point both teams were grooving their fbso game. Wisconsin had seven straight fbso, Minnesota had their fbso run a bit later, but it was six. Peniata gave the lead to MN with two service points and a 22-21 lead MN picked up two more points on three straight kills by Wisconsin native Meredith Nelson, one on a side out and two on Crumpston dive serves. Wisco closed to 27-25, but finished with three straight attack errors, one of which hit the Minnesota wall.

Of course you can get the recount from the Minnesota or Wisconsin sites too.

Here are the
NUMBER CRUNCHING
team, fbso/serves--fbso%; pts scored, % earned, % allowed
Minnesota 40/62--.645; 108; .722; .330
Wisconsin 36/62---.581; 103; .670; .278

ROTATION POINTS
MINNESOTA
1 Tan 24-13 .649
2 Peniata 22-20 .524
3 Bowman 14-15 .483
4 Crumpston 16-17 .485
5 Nelson 20-17 .541
6 Hartmann 12-21 .364

Now the Gophers prepare at home for another border battle---Iowa. It may not have the punch this one had, but Minnesota has probably learned not to sleep walk through any matches after Michigan.

Next up: Tomorrow morning with more on this game, plus news of the day.