Our Gophers entertained NDSU this evening in their first Spring Match of 2023 played in what we used to call the “Lower 48.” And swept 4 sets, 25-15, 25-19, 25-16, 25-17, from the vertically-challenged Bison.
As one would expect, Taylor “Shock & Awe” Landfair, the #1 national recruit in the Class of 2020, and McKenna “The Wooker” Wucherer, the #1 national recruit in the Class of 2022, scored almost at will against the Packer-colored Bison. I had (there are no official stats for these Spring Matches) Landfair with 12 kills (including 3 dinks and 2 back-row kills), and Wooker with 16 kills (including 2 right-side attacks and 1 from the back-row): both in the 3 sets they played. Wooker played all 6-rotations (which she never did last year) and served strong. And I thought Shaffmaster played well.
The positive surprises included:
- Lauren Crowl looked very good hitting right-side, with 10 kills in 3 sets (including 1 from the back-row and 1 from the left-side. (There is one serve-receive position where Crowl hits left-side and Wooker hits right-side because it is too difficult to switch during the receive.) Crowl has potential competition from sophomore Julia Hanson and freshman Sydney Schnichels, but Crowl looked like the starter to me.
- Back-up setter Elise McGhie, who earned playing time as a designated server last year. McGhie continued her strong serving, and looked decent as “the other” setter in a 6-2 used in sets 3 & 4.
- Freshman Middle Calissa Minatee, who I had with 6 kills (mostly on “quicks”) and 6 blocks.
- And returning Middle Arica Davis, last years portal acquisition, who I had with 6 kills and a couple of blocks.
(Worth remembering, of course, that NDSU was under-sized, as are Minatee and Davis.)
The disappointments included:
- Sophomore Hanson and freshman Schnichels, neither of whom showed me much when on the court, and
- Skylar Gray, who handled the Libero duties.
In-Transfers not in attendance included:
- Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Libero Kylie Murr.
- Middle Phoebe Awoleye
- Opposite Lydia Grote
Maybe they aren’t allowed to participate in Spring Matches – or maybe they are still taking classes at their previous schools?
Murr will definitely be our starting Libero when she’s eligible. That drops Gray to D.S. – where she should get competition from McGhie or Hanson.
NEXT UP: ATHLETES UNLIMITED,* April 4, 7:00 (not free)
* Athletes Unlimited is a professional team made up of former collegiate players, and Olympic candidates. The name that jumps out at me is former Champlain Park and Wis Badger setter Sydney Hilley.