The Gophers volleyball team was swept by No. 3 Penn State on Sunday in University Park, Pennsylvania, putting them at a 12-3 overall record on the season.
Playing away from home gave the Gophers a taste of postseason play, according to head coach Keegan Cook. This atmosphere is exactly what they could be looking at in the NCAA tournament.
The Gophers hit .112 in the match and Penn State’s Nittany Lions hit .312, good for the second-highest total allowed by Minnesota this season.
Before the game, Cook talked about the likelihood of playing games away from the home crowd in the tournament.
“I think most likely we’re gonna find ourselves on the road the opening weekend or second weekend against a good team,” Cook said. “You have to be able to perform in these environments and show up.”
Playing in the Big Ten gives the Gophers a simulation of what postseason volleyball looks like, according to Cook. Last season, seven Big Ten teams made the tournament, including Minnesota and the four new conference teams. Cook added the schedule they have played so far has been a good test for them.
“There won’t be many things we haven’t seen by the end,” Cook said. “You never want to walk into December and be surprised by the quality of your opponent.”
Matches against Big Ten teams, win or lose, give the Gophers an outlook on the playing field. So far Cook said he liked how his team handled these high-profile matches.
The Division I women’s volleyball committee announced the first in-season top 16 rankings. The Gophers are ranked No. 16.
The first and second rounds of the NCAA volleyball championship will be played between Dec. 5 and Dec. 7. The National championship will take place on Dec. 22 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Among the top 16 teams, six of them are in the Big Ten. Nebraska and Penn State sit at No.1 and No. 3, respectively. The Gophers will play Nebraska on Nov. 14 in Lincoln Park.
After having an up-and-down 2023 season, the Gophers lost in the second round of the tournament last year against Creighton University after coming into the tournament unranked.
Redshirt senior Melani Shaffmaster said she likes to play in environments like Penn State.
“The crowds pretty good. They’re a fun team to play,” Shaffmaster said.
One bright spot from the loss against Penn State was Julia Hanson’s 11 kills, marking her 13th match with over 10 kills as she leads the Gophers offense.
Hanson stepped into a bigger role this season and she knows her job is harder than before. Hanson said on Oct. 8 that even with a bigger role she is embracing playing volleyball.
“Obviously my responsibility is a lot more than it was last year,” Hanson said. “I’m just out there playing with my best friends and enjoying it every single day.”
The Gophers will have a chance to get back into the win column on Wednesday, Oct. 23 against Northwestern at Maturi Pavilion, before going on a three-game road trip against Ohio State, Michigan State and Michigan.