Gophers sweep, 25-19, 25-15, 25-14. The Gophs trailed only at 0-1 in Set 2, and took leads of 9-3 in Set 1, 13-6 in Set 2, and 12-3 in Set 3. There might have been a slight loss of intensity by Gophs when they got ahead, but the most noticeable loss of intensity was by the young Spartans after losing the first two sets.
I mentioned earlier today that the Spartans were “rebuilding.” I was not, at that time, aware of this stat: the Spartans are the 4th youngest team in D1 V-ball. Nor did I mention that this would be grad-transfer Naya Gros’ homecoming, having been a Spartan star for 4 years. These two facts are presumably related; maybe MSU is young because veterans like Gros left via transfer, or maybe Gros transferred because she saw the youth movement coming. Either way, Gros had a big day vs her former team, with 7 kills and 5 blocks.
Besides Gros, Booth got 6 kills and 3 blocks, adding up to the Middle-Production we’ve been looking for. Landfair led with 12 kills and Wenaas had 11. We got dink-kills from Landfair, Wenaas and Wooker today – don’t remember seeing that before. Wooker didn’t get the numbers today, but I’m not the least bit worried about Wooker.
And we didn’t have much trouble with the Spartan’s aggressive serving. Booth had a serve-receive error, but why in the world are the Gophs allowing Booth to attempt a service receive? Of course opposing teams are going to serve at a 6-7 freshman Middle – every chance they get. But why are we giving them that opportunity?
I also want to credit Shaffmaster for a strong match. I think she had 3 kills on 4 attempts, but she also got an assist on a quick-set from the 10 ft line. This is an advanced skill that Shaffmaster has rarely attempted during her Gopher career. I don’t think I’ve seen this play made since SSS was our setter. And speaking of SSS —
THOSE SELIGER GIRLS
This morning’s Strib had a nice front-page (sports) story about the Seligers. Most of us remember setter Samantha Seliger-Swenson (Triple S) who was a 4-time All American and one time Big10 Player of the Year for the Gophs. Samantha, now Samantha Loeppky is a new-mom sitting out this season, but will presumably return to pro volleyball next year. But we aren’t finished with Seligers.
I got my first look at Stella Seliger, now a 6-2 junior setter for Wayzata (odds-on favorites to repeat as State Champs) at last year’s State H.S. Tournament. I went in cold, knowing nothing about Samantha (then a sophomore) or the Trojans. But # 10 in blue & white caught my immediate attention as the best player in the tournament (out of 24 teams). I borrowed a program from a big-spender and thought, “Wow, she’s a sophomore?” and “Wow, she’s a Seliger.”
Fraternal twin Olivia, also now a junior, is a 6-4 outside hitter for the Trojans. Olivia missed most of last fall’s H.S. season due to injury, but, unless I’m imagining this, did play in the State Tournament. I noticed her (6-4 girls stand out in H.S. V-ball) and thought she was “good.” But it seems that she was just back after missing most of the season, and is probably better than “good.”
Younger sister Eva Seliger, a freshman, gets some playing time with the Wayzata Varsity, and sets for the JV.
Coach McCutcheon would certainly have been recruiting Samantha’s sisters well before I was aware of them. Stella and Olivia have both “committed” to the U of M. (My understanding is that these are verbal commitments, as current rules prevent them from signing written commitments until after the conclusion of this year’s H.S. Tournament – 5 weeks away.) I doubt that Eva has committed yet.
Samantha was the starting, only, and star setter for the Gophers from her first game as a freshman. Based on my limited observation, and Stella is every bit as good. Stella is a Wayzata Junior, and Melani Shaffmaster is a Gopher Junior, so that should line up. Except that Shaffmaster has a potential covid-bonus year of eligibility – and could still be on the Gopher roster two years from now, creating an interesting “problem” for McCutcheon. And Eva might find her path to being the Gopher Setter blocked by Stella.