Gameday preview: Gophers volleyball vs. Wisconsin in the Elite Eight

The two border rivals will meet for a third time this season. The Badgers won the first two matches, but the most recent went five sets.

December 10, 2021 at 11:40PM
Minnesota Gophers outside hitter Airi Miyabe (8) eyes the ball during the second set Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021 at Maturi Pavilion in Minneapolis, Minn. The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers played the Stanford University Cardinal in the second round of the NCAA tournament. ] AARON LAVINSKY • aaron.lavinsky@startribune.com
Senior hitter Airi Miyabe has been everywhere during the Gophers run to the Elite Eight. (Aaron Lavinsky, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Gophers volleyball gameday

7 p.m. at Wisconsin • NCAA tournament Madison Region final • ESPNU

Gophers update: Minnesota welcomed the return of libero CC McGraw on Thursday in the regional semifinals after she missed the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament with an illness. The Gophers' 26-28, 25-22, 20-25, 25-23, 15-10 victory over Baylor moved them to 5-2 on the season in five-setters. Senior hitter Airi Miyabe led the team with 18 kills against the Bears — one of the only hitters to find success against Baylor's athletic defense, she hit .324. Minnesota has lost one regional final under coach Hugh McCutcheon, a four-setter to Penn State during his first season in 2012.

Wisconsin update: The Badgers haven't dropped a set the entire tournament, sweeping Colgate, Florida Gulf Coast and UCLA. They have lost three matches this season — two to Purdue and a five-setter against Maryland. In the Sweet 16 victory over the Bruins, every attacker for Wisconsin hit over .300, led by freshman outside hitter Julia Orzol, who had a team-high 11 kills and 15.5 points. Dana Rettke led the Big Ten in hitting percentage this season at .445 with 369 kills, while setter Sydney Hilley (Champlin Park) led the conference in assists per set with 11.98. Wisconsin has reached the Final Four the past two seasons..

about the writer

about the writer

Jeff Day

Reporter

Jeff Day is a Hennepin County courts reporter. He previously worked as a sports reporter and editor.

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