/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47255890/CPC-GqeVEAAMOaO.0.0.jpg)
Via Twitter.com/GopherVBall
Going into this match the Minnesota Volleyball team had won 8 in a row with an amazing 22 sets in a row. Ohio State on the other hand had won 11 games in a row including against multiple Top 25 teams. Minnesota was the underdog but would deliver the win because they #DigDeep.
1st Set
It was a battle in the first set but the Gophers never trailed.
The #Gophers take set one on the road. #vbscores pic.twitter.com/wnmq3Mka3w
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) September 23, 2015
2nd Set
The Gophers would dominate but trailing 17-3 the Buckeyes seemed to start finding some momentum. Too late for that set.
The #Gophers will head to the break with a 2-0 lead over Ohio State. #vbscores pic.twitter.com/dx31u97N9o
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) September 23, 2015
3rd Set
Ohio State would score the first point and thus their first lead of the match. The lead would go back and forth. Minnesota seemed to let off the gas a little bit and Ohio State found their rhythm. For the first time in 24 sets, the Gophers would drop a set.
The Buckeyes come back for set three, but the #Gophers still lead 2 sets to 1. #vbscores pic.twitter.com/nN8HbHsx2r
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) September 24, 2015
4th Set
The Gophers started to make more mistakes, misfires, and Ohio State played great defense. It looked like the upset would slip away.
We're headed to a fifth here in Columbus as the #Gophers drop set 4. #vbscores pic.twitter.com/FLp2nDCPuR
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) September 24, 2015
5th Set - It's Go Time
Starting in the 3rd set the Buckeye faithful starting making some noise...on almost every play. Ohio also had a loud pep band (as the Gophers often do) and cheer leaders at the game. They starting playing Seven Nation Army, but the Gophers were not deterred. They would go up 11-10 and not look back.
WATCH: Match point and @dsantana_01 gets the kill to give the #Gophers a 1-0 record in #B1G play. http://t.co/uWHwYanpgf
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) September 24, 2015
#GOPHERS WIN! Minnesota pulls out the fifth set 15-11 and gets their first #B1G win. #vbscores pic.twitter.com/nJsFttZerP
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) September 24, 2015
Still, the Ohio State players and coaches deserve a lot of credit for the way they made adjustments and battled back. Good luck with the rest of the season Ohio State!
Result
For a second time in a week a higher ranked Ohio State team would loose the Big Ten opener at home to a strong but lower ranked Gopher team (The Gopher Soccer team, then unranked, defeated the #20 Ohio Team). How sweet it is! Star senior Daly Santana led the Gophers with 19 kills. Up next was Paige Tapp with 15 kills followed by Hannah Tapp with 12 kills. Breakout freshmen player Samantha Seliger-Swenson led the Gophers with a hitting percentage of .545 and 53 assists. Dalianliz Rosado had a good night with 20 digs while Paige Tapp lead the Gophers with 8 blocks.
Via Twitter.com/GopherVBall
Minnesota/OSU: 25-22, 25-12, 23-15, 19-25, 15-11.
Read the Gophersports.com recap here!
Up Next
Minnesota will travel to the #1 Penn State on Saturday (7 pm). Earlier tonight PSU defeated the #16 Wisconsin Badgers (at PSU) in straight sets. Their impressive win streak now stands at 39. Ohio State will stay at home and play Wisconsin. This is a huge weekend for Volleyball.
Minnesota will return home for their Big Ten opener versus Northwestern on September 30th and the #9 Illinois squad on October 3rd.
Nothing like a little post-win Rouser! #DigDeep pic.twitter.com/T3IzswDQKg
— Minnesota Volleyball (@GopherVBall) September 24, 2015
Go Gophers! Ski-U-Mah!
Outstanding start to the Big Ten season for @GopherVBall with a hard fought victory over OSU! Cheers @McCutcheonMN #PointU
— Beth Goetz (@bgoetz12) September 24, 2015