Minnesota Gophers volleyball team defeats UCLA Bruins in five sets as Melani Shaffmaster makes history with 4,000 assists, 1,000 digs, 300 kills, and 300 blocks. Gophers bounce back from loss against Purdue.
BollywoodFever: The Minnesota Golden Gophers volleyball team (9-4, 2-1) secured a thrilling five-set victory over the UCLA Bruins (7-5, 1-2) at Pauley Pavilion on Friday night. The match marked the Gophers’ first road win against their new Big Ten Conference foe.
Melani Shaffmaster made Gophers history, becoming the first player in the program to record 4,000 career assists, 1,000 digs, 300 kills, and 300 blocks. Her impressive performance included 41 assists, nine digs, eight kills, and four blocks.
Minnesota hit .189 compared to UCLA’s .183, while also leading in blocks (12-11) and aces (6-4). Although the Bruins edged the Gophers in kills (68-58) and digs (84-66), Minnesota closed out the match with a strong fifth set, winning 15-10.
Lydia Grote led the Gophers with 13 kills, while Calissa Minatee added 11 kills and three blocks. Phoebe Awoleye contributed six blocks, helping the Gophers bounce back from their recent loss to No. 10 Purdue.
The Gophers won the first two sets (25-21, 25-22) before UCLA responded by taking the next two (25-21, 27-25). In the decisive fifth set, Minnesota jumped to an early lead and maintained control to seal the victory.
Minnesota will next face No. 21 USC (10-3, 2-1) at the Galen Center on Saturday night, with first serve scheduled for 10 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network.
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