We, as in the Gophers, playing their first VB (after cancelling the past two weeks due to illness within the team) since early December, and we, as in GopherVBRocks, there to watch and report on it. For the record (or non-record given that these are Exhibition Matches), The Gophs swept South Dakota 2-0 and Northern Iowa 2-0. The Gophs dominated SoDak, but the sets versus UNI were super-tight, 30-28 and 25-22. (The Panthers were an NCAA second-round Tournament Team last December.) I thought there was going to be a mini-match against a third team, but either I misunderstood, or the Gophs were being cautious on their first outing.
The VERY GOOD news was that The Wooker was back in action, playing hard and crushing the ball! The BAD news was that she went down twice due to collisions – and both times came up wincing and holding her lower-back – the same lower-back that caused her to miss the last season and a half.
> If Wooker is 100% when the real season starts in late August, she will be the Gophers best hitter and likely to lead them to the best season in the Coach Cook era;
> If Wooker is still nursing her back injury through the ‘26 season, this could become a “drama,” which while not Wooker’s fault, could burden the entire team; and
> If Wooker ends up missing most of the season, the Gophers could still be good – but not as good as they would be with a healthy Wooker crushing the ball.
Given her troubling injury and the meaninglessness of today’s matches, should Wooker have even been playing? I think yes. She was surely involved in the decision, and if she’s not ready to play hard (which she did today) after 18 months, will she be ready to do so in 4 more? I’d like to know – but more importantly, Wooker and Coach Cook need to know.
Veterans Acevedo, Minatee and Palabiyik were present but not dressed – which makes sense and doesn’t concern me at all. All injured their knees (two ACLs and a meniscus) last September or October – and these are exhibition matches. Having broken my femur, lost both meniscuses (menisci?), and ruptured a quad-tendon, I get that knee injuries are serious. But their recoveries should be more predictable than Wooker’s back.
> I fully expect Palabiyik to reclaim her spot as the Gopher’s starting Libero.
> When the ‘26 season starts in late August, I think Minatee will be our “second” Middle, behind Taylor – but she will be challenged by Hoecke.
> If Wooker can’t go, Acevedo will likely be one of our starting Leftsides. If Wooker (and Gilk) are healthy, Acevedo will have to fight for playing time.
All three incoming freshmen played, some more than others.
> With Minatee not dressed, Middle Elena Hoecke started and played full-time (well, she’s a Middle, so only front-row), and looked good. Not dominant exactly, but good for an incoming freshman. I expect her to challenge a healthy Minatee for playing time.
> Leftside Makenna Crosson did not start but played a fair amount, even against UNI. She looked decent. I didn’t see enough today to make me think that she will challenge Kelley and Acevedo for our “second” Leftside behind Wooker this coming season, but when starters were injured last season, we saw freshmen take advantage of opportunity and grow into key roles, so who knows?
> Libero Madi Craft played sparingly behind Garr and Thibault today – not enough for a fair evaluation. If Palabiyik, Garr and Thibault all stay healthy, Craft might be a candidate for a “red-shirt.”
Veterans Stella, Gilk, Kelley & Taylor all played great; I thought Gilk especially. Georgia and Olivia also played; Georgia as half of a 6-2 in both Set 2s, and Olivia as a designated server – giving both an opportunity to demonstrate their value to the team.
IN OTHER NEWS: After two years of a 20-match Big Ten Schedule, which involved playing the other 17 teams once (and 3 of them twice, one of them a geographic rival, in our case Wisconsin), the Big Ten is switching to just the other 17 teams, once each – and then a BIG TEN TOURNAMENT.
There is some argument about better preparing Big Ten Teams for the NCAAs, but I find the logic underwhelming. I assume it’s about money, but that’s confusing too. I find it hard to believe that ticket sales for a 5-day tournament in Indiana, even at jacked-up prices, will exceed the ticket sales for 27 (18 divided by 2, times 3) on-campus matches, 9 of them against hated rivals. It must be TV money.
NEXT UP: The Gophers will host St. Thomas at the Pav next Friday, 4/24, at 6:00. This will be your last chance to see the Gophs this Spring – and it’s FREE (I think).
CONGRATULATIONS to the Gopher Women’s Gymnastics for making the FINAL FOUR!