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Sunday
May 19, 2013

Volleyball

Key Gophers blocks stifle a tough Illinois frontcourt

By
  • Jeff Barthel
Oct. 06, 2003
Minnesota's volleyball team entered last weekend with 117 blocks on the season. After its first two Big Ten victories of the young 2003 season, the team has now compiled 138.5 blocks. "I said Meredith (Nelson) did well (Friday) night, but I'll speak with more fervor about tonight's match," coach Mike Hebert said about his freshman middle blocker following Saturday's win over Illinois.

Spikers still looking for first Big Ten win

By
  • Jeff Barthel
Oct. 03, 2003
Novelists often struggle to find their groove. Volleyball teams can have that same problem. "We have a volleyball version of writer's block," Minnesota volleyball coach Mike Hebert said. "At this point, every match is substantial." Hebert said he feels this way after the team's recent struggles; the Gophers lost their first two Big Ten matches last weekend.

15-year-old Mueller verbally commits

By
  • Lou Raguse
Oct. 02, 2003
Fifteen-year-old Peter Mueller of Bloomington, Minn., verbally committed to Minnesota's men's hockey team Monday, Mueller's mother Linda confirmed Wednesday. Mueller is believed to be the first 1988-born player to verbally commit to an NCAA school.

When called upon, Bowman chips in for U

By
  • Jeff Barthel
Oct. 01, 2003
Kelly Bowman knew at a young age that she wanted to play volleyball for the Gophers. "I used to be a ball girl here," Bowman said. "I remember watching Katrien (DeDecker) getting her 2,000 kills and watching Becky (Bauer) set." DeDecker recorded 2,300 kills in her four-year career at Minnesota, which ended in 2000. Bauer had 5,918 assists in her career with the Gophers.

Volleyball drops a pair on the road in Big Ten opening weekend

By
  • Jeff Barthel
Sep. 29, 2003
The gym at the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility was wide and spacious, filled with cheerleaders, a pep band and several fans Saturday evening. The fans, mostly dressed in gold and black, were buzzing with excitement to watch some volleyball and see their unranked Boilermakers take on No. 18 Minnesota, the defending Big Ten champions.

Volleyball opens Big Ten play at Indiana, Purdue

By
  • Jeff Barthel
Sep. 26, 2003
Minnesota sports fans are in a frenzy these days, largely due to the Twins winning their second-straight AL Central baseball title. But this weekend, another Minnesota sports team will begin its quest for back-to-back titles. The defending Big Ten champion Minnesota volleyball team heads to Indiana to open up conference play. The Gophers take on the Hoosiers at 7 p.m. Friday before traveling to Purdue on Saturday for a tilt with the Boilermakers.

U's hitting percentage a focal point

By
  • Jeff Barthel
Sep. 24, 2003
In baseball, there are batting averages. Similarly, in volleyball there is a statistic called hitting percentage. In volleyball, hitting percentage is determined by the amount of kills minus the amount of errors, over the amount of total attempts by a given player. Simple, right? Minnesota volleyball coach Mike Hebert has said a main concern of his team is the amount of hitting errors his team is committing.

Spikers dominate at home tourney

By
  • Jeff Barthel
Sep. 22, 2003
During Minnesota volleyball's last of three matches over the weekend in its home tournament, the usual shouts from the public announcer of, "Treeeeee Bratford with the kill" was shortened to just plain "Treeeeee." The announcer probably became winded from announcing her name time after time. Bratford was instrumental in guiding her teammates to Saturday night's win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, clinching the tournament title for the Gophers.

Gophers hope recent winning ways continue into home volleyball tournament

By
  • Jeff Barthel
Sep. 19, 2003
Defeating Northern Iowa was something special for Minnesota's volleyball team. Wednesday night's closely fought 25-30, 30-24, 30-28, 30-27 win marked this year's team's first win over a ranked opponent - the Panthers are ranked sixth in the nation. The victory included gutty performances by captains Cassie Busse and Paula Gentil.

Gophers knock off No. 6 Northern Iowa in Border Battle

By
  • Jeff Barthel
Sep. 18, 2003
With one mighty swing, Minnesota volleyball outside hitter Cassie Busse showed that indeed the Gophers are back. Busse's kill in the fourth game of Wednesday's match against Northern Iowa sealed a Minnesota win. After falling from No. 6 to No. 22 in the polls since the season started last month, the Gophers (4-5) rallied to defeat sixth-ranked Northern Iowa 25-30, 30-24, 30-28, 30-27 at the Mayo Civic Center.

Gophers without Gentil, Lorenzen for N. Iowa match

By
Sep. 16, 2003
Minnesota's volleyball team is only heading two hours south for Wednesday night's match with No. 6 Northern Iowa. But the matchup will tell coach Mike Hebert and his squad plenty. "It's a good test for us," Hebert said. "This is the time to see what we can do when having injuries or lineup changes." The 22nd-ranked Gophers (3-5) head into tonight's Border Battle match in Rochester, Minn., against the Panthers (7-1) - the team's fifth match against a nationally ranked opponent - shorthanded, which is the reasoning behind Hebert's comments.

Volleyball loses to Gators, but plays strong

By
  • Jeff Barthel
Sep. 15, 2003
The score was 28-29; Minnesota's volleyball team was in the midst of making a comeback and taking game two against No. 3 Florida on Saturday afternoon. Winning game two at a tournament played in Florida would even the match, after Florida dealt the Gophers a 30-19 setback in the first game.

Libero position helps U to more wins

By
  • Jeff Barthel
Sep. 12, 2003
Flying around the court. Scraping for digs. Trying to save the ball from bouncing to keep the play alive. After a 0-4 start for Minnesota's volleyball team, this was the effort needed to get onto the winning track this season. Now 2-4, much of the team's newfound success has come from defensive player Paula Gentil and the importance of a new position she's playing, the libero position - brought into NCAA play in 2002.

Nelson's impact is felt in Minnesota

By
  • Jeff Barthel
Sep. 10, 2003
Minnesota doesn't normally like to ask for assistance from its neighbor, Wisconsin. But for Minnesota's volleyball team, perhaps it will let the pride slip in the case of first-year middle blocker Meredith Nelson. The 6-foot-3-inch recruit from St. Croix Falls, Wis., had a solid home debut last weekend, participating in the Nike Invitational. Nelson recorded 26 kills and 13 blocks, aiding Minnesota to winning two of three matches.

Spikers take second at home

By
Sep. 08, 2003
Minnesota's volleyball team started the season 0-3 after a disappointing three-match sweep August 29-31 in Hawaii. Perhaps some of the Hawaiian sand found its way back to Minneapolis. The 13th-ranked Gophers felt defeat once again to open the Nike Invitational over the weekend. But the team rebounded with two victories. "We've finally begun to play with some control," coach Mike Hebert said. "It's great to get into the win column; what can I say?" Minnesota (2-4) achieved its first victories Saturday at the Sports Pavilion
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