LEXINGTON, Ky.- Gopher volleyball barely scraped by a fierce Western Kentucky team advances to the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament on Thursday evening.
The WKU Hilltoppers defeated No. 6 Minnesota in almost every phase of the game. They hit .250 to Minnesota’s .186, recorded more digs and scored 59 kills compared to Minnesota’s 50. But in the end they had 18 service errors and Minnesota was able to cruise to a four-set victory (25-22, 25-20, 19-25, 25-23).
“I feel fortunate to be able to coach my team another night,” head coach Keegan Cook said after the game. “But definitely as unhappy as I can be with an NCAA win, and these guys know that. I feel fortunate to be able to tell them that, and they’re mature enough to handle it.”
The Gophers took the first two sets, but a late spurt in set three kept the Hilltoppers in the match.
“I think we just kind of settled down, that’s my impression of what happened,” senior setter Melani Shaffmaster said. “Ultimately, we can’t get stuck in the rotation for eight points.”
The Gophers trailed 23-22 in set four, but an ace from Mckenna Wucherer – who hasn’t served consistently for most of the season – gave Minnesota the momentum to close.
“I thought they were better than us long term,” Cook said. But the serve-and-pass game, which Minnesota struggled with this year, was able to get them through, he noted.
On Friday, the Gophers will play No. 3 Kentucky, which dominated Cleveland State (25-15, 25-14, 25-16). The Cats won the SEC Championships for the eighth straight season, led by sophomore outside hitter Brookyn DeLeye and senior setter Emma Grome.
Last year the Gophers lost in the second round to Creighton. But as the team continues to grow under Cook’s tenure, they hope to advance to the Sweet 16.
