Volleyball Recap: Minnesota vs Creighton

Creighton played fearless. The libero, Brittney Witt, set a school record in this match for most career digs. Creighton did all sorts of amazing things tonight, but they didn’t win and that is crushing. When you give that much and you come so close, it hovers over you for a lot time after the loss.

Minnesota wins in five sets - 25-13, 19-25, 15-25, 26-24, 15-10

The Gophers found the answer for the fearless Creighton team in the fifth set. They blocked, blocked and blocked some more. Minnesota blocks a lot through the course of any match but they made line up changes to put hands in front of outside hitters and that made the difference in the match.

Minnesota proved they could win even when they have an off night. They kept playing, they kept the belief that they could win and they played their rolls. Stephanie Samedy, as star for the Gophers was subbed out in the third set. She wasn’t swinging at balls the way Coach Hugh McCutcheon knew she could.

A few points later he subbed her back in. She was better. She kept working through whatever she had going on tonight. In the fifth set she was good. She was needed and she was there.

The Gophers played “tight” according to Taylor Morgan and were able to “let it loose” toward the end of the fourth and fifth sets.

It’s always interesting to see what a match like tonight does for a team. Minnesota was tested tonight and pushed to the limit. Does this shake them and make them play better? We’ll wait to see next weekend in the Sweet 16.

#7 Minnesota plays #10 Florida next.