2023-11-25 02:45:56
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota volleyball team cruised to a 3-0 victory (25-20, 25-21, 25-17) against the Illinois Fighting Illini on Friday at Maturi Pavilion.
The conference win improved Minnesota’s record to 16-11 overall and 12-7 in Big Ten play with one regular season match to go. The Gophers have won 11 of their past 14 matches heading into the home stretch of the year.
The Gophers’ attack was paced by Taylor Landfair (15 kills) and Mckenna Wucherer (11 kills) while Arica Davis added a season-high of nine (.533). Defensively, Minnesota had two players reach double figures in digs as Kylie Murr had 12 and Lydia Grote had 10. From the front row, Arica Davis contributed five blocks to lead the team.
Minnesota hit .304 with 45 kills, 57 digs, seven blocks and three aces while Illinois hit .107 with 34 kills, 47 digs, eight blocks and seven aces.
Raina Terry led the Illini with 18 kills on the night.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Golden Gophers took control on the first point and never trailed to win the first set 25-20. Minnesota led by eight points at 13-5 before closing out the set, totaling 15 kills along the way.
SET 2 | Minnesota took the second set 25-21 to promptly take a 2-0 lead. The Gophers persevered in a back-and-forth set to win in a stanza that featured four lead changes and was tied 10 times. Neither team led by more than four points along the way. The ‘U’ racked up 17 kills over the course of the set.
SET 3 | Minnesota then ended the match with a victory in set number three. The Gophers won the set 25-17 thanks to a strong showing on the attacking side. Minnesota registered a .364 attack percentage with 13 kills in the set win. Minnesota ended on a strong note, stretching their lead to its largest point in the set to finish out the stanza. Minnesota’s front row had a solid defensive performance, blocking four Illinois attacks in the final frame.
Game Notes
» The Gophers moved to 45-40-1 all-time against Illinois. They have won nine straight in the series and 13 of the last 14.
» Arica Davis posted a season-best nine kills.
» Taylor Landfair had a team-high 15 kills for Minnesota to go along with nine digs. It was her 7th 15+ kill match of the season and 18th 10+ kill match.
» Minnesota got a team-high 12 digs from Kylie Murr for her 36th straight (27th of 2023) 10+ dig match.
» Minnesota attackers were helped by a match-high 29 assists from Melani Shaffmaster.
» Lydia Grote (10 digs) tallied 10+ for the third time this season.
» Mckenna Wucherer (11) posted 10+ kills for the 20th time in 2023.
Up Next
Minnesota (16-11, 12-7 Big Ten) hosts No. 1 Nebraska (27-1, 18-1 Big Ten) tomorrow night at 8 p.m. on BTN.
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