Thursday, November 19
2:30 p.m. - Gangelhoff Center - St. Paul, Minn.
No. 3 seed #7 Nebraska-Kearney (33-3) vs. No. 6 seed #15 Minnesota Duluth (23-8)
BOX SCORE - PHOTOS - UNK PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO - UMD PRESS CONFERENCE VIDEO
RECAP: ST. PAUL, Minn. - #15 Minnesota Duluth (23-8) entered the 2009 Central Region Tournament in a foreign position, as the no. 6 seed among the field of participants. Matched up against no. 2 seed and #5-ranked Nebraska-Kearney (33-3), the Bulldogs had their work cut out for them as the Lopers had only dropped two contests all season. The Bulldogs were determined to continue their historic past and came into the match with all of the momentum. The amped-up team finished with 14 blocks and 45 kills to down the Lopers in three sets, 25-17, 25-18, 25-21.
Middle hitter Alyssa Nelson put up nine blocks (1s, 7a) and 11 kills in the match, hitting at a .417 average with only one hitting error made. She joined blocking forces with rightside Katie Kuffel who put up seven blocks (1s, 6a) in the win. Outside hitter Anna Zyvolski had a team high 12 kills in the match and also put up seven digs and four blocks. Libero Rachel Jacobson had 18 digs for her Bulldog effort. UMD hit at a .287 average.
The Lopers made runs at the Bulldogs throughout the match, but their hitting average was greatly affected by the Bulldog block and they were never able to pull out a set win. Middle hitter Nikki Scott finished her career with a team high 12 kills, the only Nebraska-Kearney player to finish in double figures for kills. The Lopers saw many players push through defensively, led by libero Katlyn Heiserman with 12 digs and Kelli Wemhoff with nine.
The Bulldogs advance to the semifinal round of the tournament where they now face off with RMAC Tournament champions Metro State, who knocked Nebraska-Kearney out of the conference tournament and dropped them in both the regional and national polls.
Nebraska Kearney Match Notes: UNK reached the 30 win mark on the 2009 season ... Since 1970, UNK has won at least 30 matches 25 times ... UNK won its sixth straight RMAC regular season title ... Nikki Scott was named the 2009 RMAC Player of the Year ... Kelli Wemhoff needs 26 digs to break the school record of 2,058.
Minnesota Duluth Match Notes: UMD is the 15th ranked team in the nation ... The Bulldogs snapped a four-match losing streak last weekend with their win at Augustana ... UMD swept UNK in a 2003 tournament at North Dakota State ... Duluth owns a 4-2 lead in the series against Kearney.
NEBRASKA-KEARNEY QUOTES:
Head Coach Rick Squire
Opening Statement: “First of all I would like to congratulate Minnesota Duluth. They played well and prepared. I am disappointed we didn’t compete better. Although, I think we put forth a great effort. UMD made it tough on our defense. We struggled today. We needed consistency on offence. Hats off to our seniors for great careers.”
On negative shot percentage in game one: “I told the girls to keep swinging. Duluth’s blocks contributed to the low percentage. They kept us off balance. We were just nog clicking on all cylinders.”
On what his team could have done better: “We have been struggling going back through the conference tournament. We had no consistency.”
Senior middle hitter Nikki Scott
On her impression of the game: “Duluth played great. They made it tough to block or dig.”
Senior middle hitter Kelli Wemhoff
On losing the RMAC Tournament: “We needed to stay confident and stick together. A loss can make you stronger.”
MINNESOTA DULUTH QUOTES:
Head Coach Jim Boos:
Opening Statement: "I am very pleased with our performance this afternoon. We proved that we could show up and play at a high level of competition. The girls executed the game plan to a "T". Are younger girls showed up and played really well. They haven't always showed up in big games, but today they played exceptionally well. We played fearless volleyball and I think that is when we are at our best, when we play aggressive. We weren't afraid to make an aggressive mistake on a big play, and we forced the other team to have to make plays."
On being the no. 6 seed in the tournament: "We've been here quite a few times, especially here at the Gangelhoff. We talked going in that the difference between being the third or the sixth seed is nothing because you're playing tough opponents, especially in this region because seedings are pretty irrelevant at this point of the season. We can approach the match as an underdog, that allows us to come out and play a little more fearless. Understanding from a national perspective we're not supposed to win, why not go out there and play hard and swing for the fences and force them to handle our game. In the long run the seeds don't really matter because this region is too strong. Its about taking it one match at a time and now we have to come out and get prepared for tomorrow."
Junior middle blocker Alyssa Nelson:
On her 11 kills: "In the end all that I care about is the team. One of us can have the worst game of our life but in the end the only thing that matters is that we win the game. I'm a true believer that the team comes first. In the end all that matters is that we win the match."
On entering the match with a lot of energy: "Our team is based off energy so any given time we are always having fun, its easy for us, so we can feed off of each other. I think we kind of scared Kearney a little bit, we were ripping and roaring, jumping up and down. I don't think they had ever seen that before. We were just excited to be around each other and playing to have a good time."
Sophomore outside hitter Hannah Johnson:
On preparing for Metro State: "We have to get the momentum right away so we can play an aggressive game."
