Gophers sweep Rutgers in volleyball for their third consecutive victory

Lydia Grote had 11 kills to lead the Gophers volleyball team to a sweep of Rutgers on Friday in a Big Ten match in Piscataway, N.J.

The 25-13, 25-22, 25-17 victory was the third straight for the No. 14 Gophers (12-5, 5-2 Big Ten), who lost in four sets at Rutgers last season.

Minnesota has won 11 of its past 13 matches and four of its past five in conference play.

The Gophers’ Melani Shaffmaster had a team-high 23 assists to go along with 11 digs for her ninth double-double of the season and 68th of her career.

Julia Hanson had eight kills and nine digs, and McKenna Wucherer and Phoebe Awoleye each added six kills for the Gophers. Awoleye, who is 12th in the nation in blocks per set, posted a team-best seven blocks. She’s had seven or more in three straight matches. The Gophers posted 12 blocks as a team, their 10th time this year with 10 or more.

It was Grote’s 10th match this year with 10 or more kills and her seventh straight. The Gophers hit .326 for the match and posted 12 blocks and held Rutgers to .133 hitting. The Gophers hit over .300 for the seventh time this season.

Avery Jesewitz, who played for Wayzata in high school, had eight kills to lead Rutgers (5-13, 0-7), which lost its seventh straight match. The Gophers are 13-3 all-time against Rutgers, including 6-1 on the road.

The Gophers play at No. 3 Penn State on Sunday.