Gophs over Wolverines in four sets, 25-8, 24-26, 25-17 & 25-15. The Gopher “pins,” collectively with 51 kills and a .357 % (Hanson 24, .400!, Grote 16, .342 and Wooker, back in the line-up, even if not 100% healthy, with 10, .250) were too strong for Michigan.
We swept Michigan at Ann Arbor (25-23, 25-19 & 25-21 )just 2 weeks ago, and one might think that if we swept them at Ann Arbor, shouldn’t we sweep them at the Pav? But in one sense, today’s match was less close. The composite score at Ann Arbor was 75 – 63, and today’s composite score, even though we dropped Set 2, was 99 – 66. And while I’m making comparisons, let’s look at Thursday’s loss at Lincoln, where we stunk-up Set 1, but came back to win Set 2 before losing in 4 sets – just like the Wolverines today. at the Pav. The composite score in Lincoln was 78-97, a more respectable loss, for what it’s worth, than today’s effort by Michigan. One could argue, and I guess I will, that our 6th-place Gophers (10 & 6 in Big 10 play after today’s win) are closer, in quality, to unbeaten Nebraska than we are to 6 & 10 Michigan.
Acevedo was another bright spot. She didn’t set foot in the front row, but served for Wooker, as she has been doing, and today stayed in the back row to receive serve and dig. Earlier in the season, especially during the Gophers’ California trip, Acevedo was a major liability in serve-receive, but I didn’t score her with a single receiving error today. Plus, she served 7 aces, vs only one error! Granted, this was more about Michigan’s receiving problems than Acevedo’s devastating serves – but 7-1 is a nice ratio. I’d guess she served maybe 30 % of the Gopher points.
Back to Hanson (another comparison), it was disappointing when we learned, last winter, that Landfair, capable of “shock & awe” kills, was transferring to Nebraska, but it created an opportunity for Hanson to play front row, an opportunity she hadn’t had during her freshman & sophomore years. Look at these numbers:
- In 94 sets, coming into today, (these numbers will go up after today’s performance) Hanson has 418 kills (3.88/set) with a hitting % of .270.
- All last year, Landfair had 361 kills ((3.19/set) with a hitting % of .222.
- And so far this year, for the Huskers, Landfair has 150 kills (2.54/set) with a hitting % of .237.
Plus Hanson is starting to produce those intimidating “shock & awe” kills. And Hanson, while not a star receiver/digger, is much less of a liability than Landfair was. We aren’t missing Landfair much.
NEXT UP: Wednesday, 8:00, our 6th place in the Big 10, currently #16 ranked nationally (shouldn’t change much) Gophs visit 3rd place in the Big 10 (at 14 & 2), #6 ranked nationally Wisconsin (BTN). The Badgers will no doubt remember that their only conference loss (besides to Nebraska) was at the Pav, and be pumped for revenge. But there is no reason for this Gopher squad to feel intimidated.