Volleyball | 8/10/2022 9:55:00 AM
The Minnesota Golden Gophers Volleyball program stepped back on the floor for the first time this fall on Tuesday, Aug. 9 after reporting to camp on Monday morning. On the ‘U’s report day on Monday, the team went through a series of meetings with department staff before capping off the afternoon with media day activities, including a photo shoot, video shoot and interview sessions.
Head coach Hugh McCutcheon enters the 11th year of his tenure at Minnesota with a talented team that holds lofty goals in 2022. Minnesota went 23-9 (15-5 Big Ten) in 2021, tying for third in the Big Ten regular season standings. The Gophers earned the No. 12 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and defeated South Dakota, Stanford and Baylor before falling in the Regional Finals. Redshirt senior Stephanie Samedy had a historic season, earning her fourth AVCA First Team All-America honor and second straight Big Ten Player of the Year award. Senior libero CC McGraw was AVCA All-America Honorable Mention and First Team All-Big Ten while sophomore outside Jenna Wenaas had a breakout season, making Second Team All-Big Ten.
Minnesota will begin 2022 on Friday, Aug. 26 against Baylor in a rematch of the five-set 2021 Sweet 16 battle. In addition to McGraw and Wenaas, Minnesota returns starting outside Taylor Landfair, defensive specialist Rachel Kilkelly and middle blocker Ellie Husemann, amongst others. The Gophers also added another top-10 recruiting class, including No. 1 overall player Mckenna Wucherer (outside, Brookfield, Wis.), Colorado Gatorade Player of the Year Carter Booth (middle, Denver, Colo.) and Star Tribune Player of the Year Julia Hanson (outside, Prior Lake, Minn.). The Gophers added transfer middle blockers Naya Gros (grad transfer, Michigan State) and Arica Davis (sophomore, Ohio State) in addition to setters Elise McGhie (junior, Kansas) and Miranda Wucherer (grad transfer, Northern Kentucky).
Under McCutcheon, the Gophers have made it to four Sweet 16’s, three Final Four’s and two Elite Eight’s in 10 years. He holds a 255-65 (.800) collegiate coaching record and has led Minnesota to two Big Ten Championships. He feels like his 2022 team could be one of his most talented yet.
“We are so fortunate to have a lot of depth and talent on this team and this preseason is going to be critical in terms of establishing the lineups and depth charts,” McCutcheon said. “I think one of the opportunities that this current iteration of our team presents is a lot of balance. So I think not that we were somehow unidimensional before. But it feels like there’s a lot of different ways that we can attack teams and I think having that balance is going to be something that we’re going to really try to play to.”
With the eight new players coming in this year, the Gophers have had to take time to jell together in the off-season. Both sophomore outside Taylor Landfair and fifth-year libero CC McGraw spoke on the newcomers at Big Ten Media Days.
“I think that we really took in those people that came in, and just making sure they all feel they have a voice and making sure we all gelled really well as a team,” Landfair said. “What goes on off the court comes onto the court. So, I think building chemistry, making sure we have a lot of trust within each other, making sure our competitive drive is where it needs to be and making sure our standards are where they need to be also.”
“I think our freshmen class and a lot of our newcomers and transfers are definitely going to add a lot of depth to our roster, which is great,” McGraw said. “I think in years past we haven’t had as much depth. I think that will be a big shift for us this season. A lot of moving parts and people that can play multiple positions, so I think that will be a strength of ours.”
McGraw was asked about her focus going into her final year in the maroon and gold. She’s been a part of two Sweet 16 teams, an Elite Eight team and a Final Four team. She says that a national championship is definitely on her mind.
“Hands down. I think that’s [a national title] everyone’s goal. But especially this being my last hurrah. Like going all out, like, being myself again and healthy mentally and physically. I want to win some games and compete and play with my teammates. Definitely that’s my approach this season,” she said.
The Gophers will practice from Aug. 8 until Aug. 24 before leaving for the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge in Dallas, Texas. They will play Baylor on Friday, Aug. 26 and TCU on Saturday, Aug. 27. Both matches will be in TCU’s gym. Minnesota will play a true road match at Texas on Wednesday, Aug. 31 before returning to the Twin Cities for the home opener on Sunday, Sept. 4 against Florida.
News & Notes to Know:
-The Big Ten hosted the first ever Big Ten Volleyball Media Days on Aug. 1 and 2 in Chicago, Ill. CC McGraw, Taylor Landfair and coach McCutcheon represented Minnesota.
-A Freshman All-American and the 2020 No. 1 overall recruit, Taylor Landfair sat out most of the 2021 season with an abdominal injury. She’ll be back starting on the pin in 2022 as a third year player.
-Senior middle Ellie Husemann finished first on the team and ninth in the Big Ten in blocks per set (1.27) in 2021. She’ll add to a middle group with a trio of instant impact newcomers.
-Senior Rachel Kilkelly played in 112 of 117 possible sets last year, reeling in 1.93 digs per set. She also filled in at libero when McGraw missed two matches due to illness.
-For the second time in three years, the No. 1 overall recruit is a Gopher. Brookfield, Wis., native Mckenna Wucherer is a freshman in the 2022 class.
-Last week, the Big Ten Conference announced its volleyball television schedule for the fall. The Gophers will be featured on the Big Ten Network 11 times this year. Minnesota also plays one game on ESPNU and will play a couple on FOX9+.
-The Gophers are scheduled to host an open scrimmage at Maturi Pavilion on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 3:15 p.m. CT. Admission is free.
-Fifth-year libero CC McGraw and junior outside Jenna Wenaas were both named Preseason All-Big Ten. Each earned all-league honors last year.
-The Gophers were picked to finish third in the Big Ten in the annual coaches poll. Wisconsin and Nebraska were picked Nos. 1 and 2.
-Coach McCutcheon hired Sanky Sanny as video coordinator and Pedro Mendes as volunteer assistant. Jen Houk was promoted from video coordinator to assistant coach.
-Both season tickets and single match tickets are on sale now for the 2022 season.
Schedule Notes:
-Matches against teams that finished in the AVCA Top-25: 16
-Matches against teams that finished in the AVCA Top-10: 7
-Home matches against teams that finished in the AVCA Top-25: 8
-Road/Neutral matches against teams that finished in the AVCA Top-25: 8
-Matches against 2021 NCAA Tournament Teams: 19
-Matches against 2021 Sweet 16 Teams: 12
-Seven of Minnesota’s eight non-conference matchups are vs. 2021 NCAA Tournament teams. 12 of 20 conference games are against tournament teams.
