News and opinions about Gopher Women's Volleyball
Last week, the Strib said that the Baylor and TCU matches would be streamed on ESPN+. Then Baylor wasn’t, but TCU was.
Last week, the Strib said that tonight’s showdown with #1 ranked Texas would only be available on “The Longhorn Network,” for $49. Now they say tonight’s match will be streamed on ESPN+. Which I bought last week. So who knows? Certainly not me.
I guess, as my Congresswoman says, “It’s all about the Benjamins.”
Reader M. C. writes: Always a good day when the Badgers lose!
John: I tend to root for all BigTenTeams during the non-conference season. Here’s why: Let’s say we split our pair of BigTen games with Wisconsin, or Ohio State, Purdue or Illinois. That would tend to pull our national ranking (up or down) toward theirs, and the national rankings of all BigTenTeams, at the start of the BigTen season, are based on how they do, especially against power conference teams, during the non-conference season. Let’s say our Gophers finish the BigTen season 17 & 3, our national ranking, and our seeding for the NCAA Tournament, will depend largely on how many BigTenTeams were ranked how high at the end of the season, which depends heavily on how high BigTenTeams were ranked to start with. (BigTenTeams opened the 2022 season ranked #1, #3, #5, and #7, so that pretty good.)
But I understand rooting against those Stinkin’ Sconies – so knock yourself out.
Reader R.A. writes: “I’m with you on Booth; she gets my vote as the most pleasant surprise, and one of the two or three best performers in these opening matches. Her 11 blocks against BU set a new freshman record. I’m fairly sure both opponents twisted in knots to keep balls away from her, leading to errors or weak shots. I’m not ready to say Booth’s in Regan Pittman’s league — Regan was my favorite at that time — but hope springs eternal.”
JOHN: I was at the Pav when Pittman made here debut. She was slow and clumsy, and I was skeptical that she could become a contributor. Obviously, Pittman got better and better, even demonstrating high-level passing skills (on her infrequent opportunities) on her way to stardom. I can’t promise that we will see this pattern of improvement from Booth. But Booth already impacts a match; Pittman didn’t when she was a frosh.
And remember, as highly regarded a recruit as Booth was, McKenna Wucherer was even more highly regarded. There is a lot of talent on this team, and only McGraw and Kilkelly are seniors.“
The Gophers took care of business this evening beating TCU at TCU, 25-17, 25-20, 25-18. Our Gophs started a bit slow in the first set (a worrying pattern that continues from last year), but surged to a 18-12 and coasted to 25-17. As was true yesterday, the Gophs dominated the net, outhitting the Frogs .417 to .107 in set 1. With good hitting balance; 4 kills by Landfair, 3 by Booth, and 2 each by Wenaas, Hanson, and Husemann.
The Frogs put up stiffer resistance in set 2, forcing ties at 4-4, 10-10 and 17-17 before the Gophs took over. The Gophs served 5 aces to 1 for the Frogs in set 2. (6 kills for Landfair in this set.) The Gophs then dominated set 3, taking leads of 14-5 and 20-11; both teams subbing when the outcome seemed clear, with Crowl, Gros and back-up setter McGhie getting some playing time. (Our other back-up setter, Miranda Wucherer, served in all 3 sets.)
Encouraging sign: The major frustration last season was the lack of offensive productivity from our Middles, but it doesn’t look like this will be a problem this season! I had Booth with at least 7 kills tonight, and Husemann at least 3; several for each on quick-hits and slides. In addition, Landfair got at least 2 kills and Wenaas 1, on plays where Booth drew defensive attention with “fake” swings, leaving her Left-sides wide open.
The really impressive thing about Booth’s performance is that her total of 13 kills and 13 blocks matches against TCU and Baylor came in the first two matches of her collegiate career. Though weak last year, the Gophers have had some good Middles in recent years, Regan Pittman, the Tapp Sisters, and Tori Dixon to name of few. But none have dominated their first 2 matches, against quality opponents, like Booth did this weekend!
Also encouraging: I said in my wrap-up / look-forward at the end of last season, that I wanted to see Shaffmaster attack more often this year; I suggested 2 attacks per set. In these first 7 sets, Shaffmaster attacked 12 times, producing 8 kills. Shaffmaster also made the play of the night, diving for a dig, then shooting the 3rd touch over the net from her butt.
Concerns: Nothing major, but here’s a couple minor concerns: 1) Wenaas is jump-serving this year – but so far without any tangible success. 2) #1 ranked recruit McKennna Wucherer has yet to take the court for the Gophers. (I think she was on the bench tonight, but not dressed – if so, apparently injured.) And 3) At least for now, it appears that true-freshman Julia Hanson from Prior Lake is our starting opposite. Okay, but if so we’re going to need more production from Hanson as she matures into this role.
Interesting fact: It’s always dangerous to draw conclusions from comparing scores against common opponents. BUT – yesterday, the Badgers played TCU following the Gopher’s match against Baylor, and this afternoon, the Badgers played Baylor prior to the Gopher’s match against TCU. The Badgers swept the Frogs by similar scores to the Gophs; but the Badgers lost to Baylor (in 5 sets).
Note: Reader D.K. reports that he was able to stream tonight’s game on ESPN+, but couldn’t get any sound. I don’t know; I got sound. But the play-by-play from Ft. Worth wasn’t great D.K. – you didn’t miss much.
I couldn’t watch it because it wasn’t on ESPN+ as advertised in yesterday’s Strib (not today’s Strib). Reader G.U. notes that I got “taken to the cleaners” in paying $10 for a month’s subscription, because ESPN has a standing first-month promotion of $7. So yeah, I got taken. Though I don’t know what one can get cleaned for $3 these days.
But after dropping the first set to #16 ranked Baylor (23-25), the Gophs stormed back to sweep the next three sets, 25-16, 25-23, 25-17, dominating the net. Left-side* hitters Wenaas and Landfair had 17 kills and 15 kills, respectively; and Middles Booth and Husemann had 6 kills & 11 blocks, and 7 kills and 4 blocks respectively. The Gophs outhit the Bears .300 to .133 (the Bears had a lot of hitting errors) and out-blocked the Bears 15-4. I can’t tell from here whether the Bears started strong and then folded, or if it took our Gophs a while to get started (which was a recurring problem last year).
Carter Booth, as previously mentioned, is a true freshman; impressive start for this terrific athlete. Freshman Julia Hanson had 3 kills and 2 blocks. As expected, veteran Setter Shaffmaster and Libero McGraw played well, but not much else is available from the limited game summary I’m looking at.
* The summary does not mention highly-rated true freshman Wucherer or red-shirt freshman Crowl. I’m guessing, from the sparse info available, that Hanson earned her stats from the right-side, and that Crowl and Wurcherer didn’t play (was Wurcherer even suited up?), but I don’t know. ANYBODY?
Hats off to reader Reader R.A. I was checking my sources every few minutes for a match outcome, but R.A. emailed me the good news before I found it.
Tomorrow’s game at TCU is on ESPN+. (I hope) Wednesday night’s game at #2 ranked Texas is only available on “The Longhorn Network.” (I do know a guy who’s a Longhorn Football fan; gotta find out if he has that.) Once we get to the BIG10 Season, all the games should be on BTN or BTN+.
According to the Strib, the matches tomorrow vs Baylor, and Saturday vs TCU, will both be carried on ESPN +. The plus means a streaming service. I had BTN+ last year, but I’ve never had ESPN +. With the assistance of both daughters, both far more tech-savy than I, and a $10 monthly subscription, I managed to get onto ESPN + now, where I am watching the first round of some golf tournament. Will I be able to get onto it tomorrow, when I need to, by myself? We’ll see.
A story in this morning’s Strib details the challenges faced, this season, by four 2021 prep Championship Teams: Wayzata Volleyball, Lakeville South Football, Minnetonka Tennis and Stillwater Girl’s Soccer. Wayzata Volleyball is the lead story (over Lakeville Football; you wouldn’t have seen that 10 years ago). Wayzata faces an uphill challenge (according to the Strib), because they graduated 4 of the 5 top hitters from last year’s team. But guess who they have returning? The Swenson Sisters. I have no idea who will fill the shoes of the graduated Trojan hitters, or what other prep teams might be loaded this fall. But I’m guessing the ’22 Trojans, led by the Gopher-Bound Swenson Sisters will do okay.
The Strib didn’t cover it, and as yet there is no coverage (besides announcing it would take place) on the Gopher VB Website, but yesterday, the Gophers held an open-to-the public, intra-squad scrimmage at the PAV. The Goph’s non-conference season starts Friday in Ft. Worth; these early games don’t count toward their Big Ten record, but they will count very much toward the national rankings which influence seeding for the NCAA Tournament, so wins and losses are important. That leaves the intra-squad scrimmage the best opportunity for would-be starters, who want to real starters, to show the fans what they can do.
I got there with the help of Wife Maureen, Daughter Phoebe and a borrowed wheel chair. But uncertain that I would be able to attend, I reached out to GOPHERVBALLROCKS readers for help with the coverage, and reader R.A. volunteered. So let’s start with RA’s take:
Knees: Very happy that neither CC McGraw nor Jenna Wenaas sported knee braces again. Only Naya Gros had one on her left leg. Let’s hope for good health.
Impressed: Julia Hanson had easily the best elevation on her kill shots. I noticed this during warmups and she continued to impress. Jenna Wenaas was the only other player to impress me with elevation. Carter Booth had some nice kills and blocks, but without getting high off the court. Technique.
Melani Shaffmaster surprised me with the drop on her serves. The first of the match looked like it went straight down (not possible, physics) for an ace, as did a couple others. Ironically, her only service error was a ball that dropped too early into the net. Oops!
Noteworthy: Jenna Wenaas tossed the ball so high on serves, she actually had to wait twice before she started her leap. She got one strong ace, though it didn’t seem to make an appreciable difference most of the time.
Pleased: Carter Booth made some strong plays on kills and blocks, though she wasn’t regularly a factor. Hard to know if she could have done better with more sets and passes.
Melani Shaffmaster’s set to Taylor Landfair, a nonfactor early, became very effective halfway thru second set. Taylor was able to place her shots to open court better.
Mixed: Taylor didn’t do much the first half of the match, plus had trouble in the back row — listless? — but both improved after that.
Lauren Crowl had a couple nice kills on accurate placements, but lacked power on most of her shots. She dinked and dunked more often.
Concerns: Rachel Kilkelly struggled with receives and passes in the back row, then became adequate. She won’t get much lineup pressure from Skylar Gray, who was weak on receive/pass, plus being out of position.
Befuddled: All three setters seemed to pass balls too low to the net. Melani and Taylor klicked at the end and Miranda Wucherer was better than Elise McGhie, though neither looked like a backup this first outing of the season.
Didn’t Play: Chloe Ng and McKenna Wucherer wasn’t there.
JOHN’s TAKE:
Thanks, R.A.
My regular seats are in row 14, which I like a lot – fairly close to the court but with a slightly elevated view. Yesterday, in my borrowed wheel chair, I was court-side. The big difference: the size of our impressive Gopher athletes! I’m not small; I was 6-5 when I played water polo for the Gophers (6-3 these days), but I am not accustomed to being close to young women as tall or taller than I am.
My BIGGEST SURPRISE was the absence of Freshman Outside Hitter McKenna Wucherer, the nation’s #1 recruit. As R.A. notes, she was not in attendance. Immediately, my thoughts went uh-oh, will she not be playing for the Gophers? Has she transferred? Dropped out of school? Become seriously injured? But after taking a deep breath, I doubt it’s anything that serious. If she had a minor injury, she would have been there in street clothes. Best Guess: She tested positive for covid, and will be back soon. IF ANYONE KNOWS, OR HEARS ANYTHING, PLEASE SHARE IT WITH GOPHERVBALLROCKS.
My impression, from watching McKenna play with the Gophs during the Spring-Exhibition Season, is that McKenna is every bit the talent one would expect from the nation’s #1 recruit – i.e., she’s Landfair & Wenaas, almost-can’t-miss, good. I’m not sure where she fits into this already-loaded line-up, but despite her absence yesterday, I suspect she will be contributing this ’22 GOPHER squad. Likely sooner than later.
A second incoming freshman even more-certain to make an impact is 6-7 Carter Booth. I had Booth with at least 7 kills in 3 sets, including at least 2 off of quick-sets. Sure, it was only an inter-squad scrimmage, but Booth has the size, and I think the potential, to be the best Gopher-Middle ever, even better than Regan Pittman or the Tapp Sisters! You’re gonna love this girl.
And as noted by R.A., Prior Lake’s Julia Hanson is a third, talented, incoming freshman worthy of attention. She looks small standing next to Landfair, but she’s 6-3, she’s got hops, she’s got finess, and she was the #1 player in Minnesota’s class of ’22. As I said about McKenna Wucherer, I’m not sure where Hanson fits into this line-up, but she’s a player.
And while we’re talking freshmen, we can’t forget red-shirt freshman Lauren Crowl. Crowl, the only lefty on the squad, is a natural for right-side hitter, and will certainly get the opportunity to contribute. Last night she demonstrated a broad tool-kit including multiple power-kills, short and long dinks, one nifty kill from the left-side, an ace, and at least one block. Crowl is not going to make us forget Steph Samedy anytime soon, but I think she’ll be okay. (And if she isn’t, there are other options.)
SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US?
Setter/Libero/DS: Melanie Shaffmaster, CC McGraw, and Rachael Kilkelly are returning as our setter, libero, and DS, respectively. Baring injury, these 3 should be at least as good as last year, and with another year of experience, a little better. How much better is critical, especially for Shaffmaster. If Shaffmaster is only a little better, this is likely another Sweet Sixteen Team. But if Shaffmaster is a lot better, this is likely a Final Four Team.
And if that happens, it will be because Shaffmaster has pushed herself; she will not be pushed by backup transfers Elsie McGhie (from Kansas) or Miranda Wucherer (from Northern Kentucky). If Shaffmaster gets injured, expect to see the Gophers go to a 6-2, with McGhie and Wucherer sharing the setting.
Middles: Middles were the ’21 Gophers main weakness, and it didn’t help that it was the Badgers main strength. But Dana Rettke doesn’t play for the Badgers anymore. The Badgers Anna Smrek is back, and she’s good, but the Gophers Carter Booth is going to be better. They’re both 6-7, and Smrek has a year’s experience over Booth, but I am already convinced that Booth is the superior athlete and will eventually dominate Smrek. (Maybe as soon as Sept 25 at the Pav.)
The Gophers will play 2 Middles. It is likely that Booth and red-shirt senior Ellie Husemann will be the starters. But Grad-transfer Naya Gros (Michigan State) and Sophomore transfer Arica Davis (Ohio State) are both talented Middles with Big Ten experience, ready and able to step in if Booth or Husemann struggle. Gros showed me more last night than Davis did.
Outside Hitters: The Gophers will play 3 Outside Hitters, 2 on the left-side and one on the right-side. Currently, they have 2 proven stars, Landfair & Wenaas, and 3 potential stars, McKenna Wucherer (missing last night), Lauren Crowl (a natural right-side hitter), and Julia Hanson. An embarrassment of riches. Assuming they are healthy, Landfair & Wenaas will be in the line-up every night; meaning only one of the other 3 are going to play.
Landfair & Wenaas have been left-side hitters, and Crowl is a natural right-side hitter, so that seems the obvious choice. But Wucherer and Hanson are really good. Surprisingly, Wenaas shows up on the roster as “Outside/Opposite” (i.e., right-side), the only such reference on the roster, so apparently somebody sees Wenaas playing right-side.
Even more surprising, to me at least, was the second set last night, when Landfair played right-side – and dominated. I had her with 7 right-side kills in the 2nd set. Seven kills! In one set! That’s dominance that Steph Samedy would be proud of. Maybe Landfair will end up at right-side.
Crowl won’t be competing with Wenaas or Landfair for playing time; she will compete with Wucherer and Hanson. If either of those two can prove to Coach McCutcheon that they can play left-side so well that they have to be in the line-up, it will be at the expense of Crowl, with Wucherer or Hanson moving to right-side. Or maybe it will be Crowl who proves she belongs in the line-up. Either way, we’re going to have great outside hitting.
The Gophers have a grueling non-conference schedule, and then the tough-match-every-night Big Ten. But if Shaffmaster can stay healthy, and if Booth can quickly adjust to the demands of play at this level, this is going to e a very good team!
We are a mere 3 weeks (plus a couple of days) from the start of the season. On Saturday, Aug 20, our currently 7th ranked Gophers are holding an open-to-the public, intra-squad scrimmage at the PAV (I think it will be free). I will likely not be able to attend due to my (hopefully) temporary disability*; it would be great if a GOPHER V-BALL ROCKS READER would attend and write it up for us.
And 6 days later, the Gophs open their non-conference season at the Big 12 Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, where they will play # 10 Ranked Baylor on Aug 26th, TCU on the 27th,, and #5 ranked Texas, in Austin, on the 31st. (As of now, it does not appear that any of these matches will be televised.)
Then the Gophs will be back at the PAV for matches against:
And then the Big 10 Season starting at #6 ranked Purdue on Sept 23, and back home to host #1 ranked Wisconsin at the Pav on Sept 25. (I think this is the match where we kick some Sconnie butt.)
That’s right, 8 of our first 10 opponents are ranked in the top 25, nationally, 4 in the top 10! We should learn a lot about this team between Aug 26 and Sept 25. I think you’re going to love this team.