Indiana volleyball loses on the road to No. 9 Minnesota, wraps up ranked opponent stretch

Indiana volleyball fell 3-0 to the No. 9 Minnesota Golden Gophers on Sunday. The matchup concluded the difficult five-match stretch the Hoosiers just lately performed in opposition to ranked opponents, throughout which they went winless. 

Minnesota has had a profitable season up to now with spectacular wins over then-No. 5 Wisconsin and then-No. 6 Ohio State. The Golden Gophers proved to be the stronger crew in Sunday’s assembly as Indiana did not maintain the ultimate units shut and prolong the match.  

Minnesota started the primary set with a rapid-fire assault, scoring the primary 5 factors. Indiana junior center blocker Kaley Rammelsberg responded with a kill to offer the crew its first level of the evening. This kill began a four-point streak to place the Hoosiers inside one of many Gophers early. 

Shortly after, Indiana discovered itself down 5 factors and wanted to muster up a comeback earlier than the set received out of attain. With the rating 17-12 in Minnesota’s favor, Indiana went on a necessary 5-0 run with the spotlight of two aces from sophomore setter Camryn Haworth.  

Quickly after, Minnesota discovered its rhythm and led 21-18 late within the first set. A piercing kill from sophomore exterior hitter Mady Saris inched the Hoosiers nearer to the Gophers, however Minnesota stored the lead for the remainder of the set to win 25-22.  

The subsequent two units weren’t equally shut battles as Minnesota received the 2 frames by a mixed 26 factors.  

Indiana did have shining moments within the latter half of the match, together with an early kill within the second set by junior exterior hitter Morgan Geddes. The kill by Geddes decreased Minesota’s result in 7-5. One other spotlight for Indiana got here when junior exterior hitter Grae Gosnell delivered a service ace, restoring the Hoosiers’ spirit late within the third set.  

Minnesota received the ultimate two units 25-9 and 25-15, making certain the Golden Gophers a straight-set win. Indiana will return to Bloomington to face Northwestern at 7 p.m. Friday in Wilkinson Corridor.