Gophers volleyball's tough stretch continues with matchup against No. 6 Nebraska

A.J. Condon, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
·2 min read

Oct. 29—The schedule never slows for the Gophers volleyball team, even after facing eight ranked teams thus far. Minnesota's season is far from over as the Gophers are still set to face five more ranked teams to end their regular season, including a matchup against No. 6 Nebraska on Saturday.

The 11th-ranked Gophers (13-6, 8-3 Big Ten) haven't been able to catch their breath going from ranked game to ranked game. After being swept by then-No. 14 Penn State, the Gophers turned around quickly and took down then-No. 6 Ohio State.

Saturday looks to be the Gophers' biggest test of the season when they face the Cornhuskers (16-4, 10-1).

"They're good. They've got a lot of good arms, they play good volleyball," Gophers coach Hugh McCutcheon said about the Cornhuskers. "That's the main thing, that they're good, but I think we are too, so hopefully we can get out there and compete and see what happens."

Defense will play a major role if the Gophers are able to give Nebraska its second conference loss. That has been one of Minnesota's strong suits thus far, leading the Big Ten with 16.61 digs per set.

On the offensive end, redshirt senior Airi Miyabe has picked up a big role in the starting lineup as she picked up her seventh straight double-digit kill match in Wednesday's win over Indiana.

"It's been great, not surprising, but just great to see her embrace this role and make some opportunity in the adversity of Taylor (Landfair's) injury," McCutcheon said of Miyabe's emergence.

As good as Nebraska has been this season, sophomore Melani Shaffmaster knows all Minnesota can do is come in and play its game. Shaffmaster said serving will be key to the Gophers' game plan to allow them to be in the driver's seat and play their style.

"I think, for us, (it's) focusing on our side of the net and knowing our scouting report. Running an even offense and spreading it to everyone and not just getting ganged up on one person," Shaffmaster said.

It's been a long and tough season, but it isn't over yet. Shaffmaster and the Gophers are in for the long run, even when that means missing out on a normal college lifestyle.

"Our team has given up a lot of social lives and other things outside of volleyball and school to be able to do this. So I think we know it's a really big stretch and we're treating it like that," she said.