In this issue
From
Coach Hebert:
Now that the 2005 season is in the books it seems appropriate that I offer some reflection, as well as some thoughts about the future.
If I were to describe the biggest difference between the 2005 team and the 2004 team it would be the ability of the 2004 team to play its best volleyball under pressure. That team won so many close matches. They were able to brace themselves to come from behind and take control of games. They could do this because they had grown to know and trust each other through the ups and downs of previous seasons.
This year’s team wasn’t able to do that as well. They lacked the element of trust that can only come from battling in matches together over a long period of time. And there were so many new players. We lacked the critical mass of veterans that could overcome the uncertainties felt all season by the newcomers.
Yet still, the team went 25-8. Had we finished off Tennessee when we had them down we would have earned the right to play in another Sweet Sixteen regional. Just a few points away!
The 2005 season reminds me of the 2001 season. That year we lost to Northern Iowa on their home floor (also in the second round) 16-14 in the fifth game! This same nucleus of players went on the win the Big Ten in 2002, and qualify for Final Four’s in both 2003 and 2004.
Four years later (2005) we find ourselves in the same position. I don’t know if the 2006 team will win the Big Ten title and go to the Final Four. But I do know that the 2006 team is now emotionally positioned to play harder and with more grit...just like the 2002 team did.
We lost some valuable seniors. But we return virtually every starter. Plus, you will be very happy with our new libero candidates, Krista Chin (transfer from Arizona) and Christine Tan (from Tampa Bay VBC). And wait til you see our new outside hitter, Rachelle Hagerty (sister of Washington’s starting left side, Brie Hagerty). Rachelle can bang the ball harder than anyone on our present roster. She is 6'2" and still growing.
This will be a very important off-season. We will evaluate our system of play to see what makes sense for 2006. Do we stay with our hybrid 6-2? Go to a 6-2 by substituting for both setters in the front row? Return to a 5-1? We will address our passing needs after the loss of Paula. And we will continue to improve our serve-block-defend-counterattack game.
Finally, let me issue, on behalf of our program, a giant THANK YOU to all of you for making the 2005 season so very special. We set an all time average attendance record (just under 4,000 per match). Our Golddigger membership roster reached an all time high (over 100 members). We are truly grateful for everything you have done to cultivate the warm glow that follows Gopher Volleyball everywhere we go.
Head Coach
Minnesota Volleyball
From John Oravis:
Hello Golddiggers!
First, our congratulations to the Gopher volleyball team for its NCAA tournament victory over Winthrop in the NCAA first round. Unfortunately, the season ended disappointingly early in the second round against a hot Tennessee team that eliminated both the Gophers and Penn State, and then Missouri, before falling to eventual national champion Washington.
As this season is officially in the books now, I offer my thanks to each of you for your support of me, this booster club and the Gopher volleyball program. I also am very pleased to announce that we -- as a booster club -- have pledged to sponsor (yes, and also to fund!) the renovations of the volleyball team’s locker room over the next five years. The total pledged amount is approximately $30,000.00, so we will need your continued financial support -- now more than ever -- as this is a significant financial undertaking!
I would also like to thank (again) Head Coach Mike Hebert and Associate Coach Dave Boos, booster club liaison coach Nao Ikeda, club treasurer John “JT” Thompson and club e-newsletter editor Matt Leach for all of their efforts, contributions and coordination throughout the 2005 season. It was very much appreciated and it did not go unnoticed!
Congratulations and thanks again to our three seniors, Athena Mallakis, Jessica Byrnes, and Paula Gentil. You will be remembered as outstanding student-athletes, role models and ambassadors of the University of Minnesota -- as well as the winningest senior class in Minnesota school history. Good luck to each of you!
I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Point U!
John Oravis, President, Golddiggers
We offered the opportunity for all of the seniors to say goodbye to their fans and Paula Gentil took us up on the offer. We wish all three the best of luck!
Question:
Walk us through your injury in last year’s final. What happened and what was
going through your mind at the time and after?
Paula
Gentil: All I remember is that I
was going down for a ball and Marci came for the same ball and we collided, her
knee hit the back of neck. I got scared and decided to wait for the trainer,
but I guess it was not a good idea since the medical staff did not allow me to
go back to the game. It was very hard to watch my teammates and my team going
down and I was there and could not help. I felt terrible for that reason.
Q:
What is your favorite memory from your Gopher career?
Paula: There were many but when we beat Washington
to go the Final Four was a great one. My mom and my host mom were there to
watch which made it even more special.
Q:
What are your plans for life after Gopher volleyball?
Paula: All I know is that I want to be a normal
student for awhile and then I want to travel, learn languages and maybe play
some volleyball.
Q: If
you could change one thing in your Gopher
career, what would it be?
Paula: Definitely that injury at last year’s Final Four.
Q: Do
you have any response to those who call your play “overly dramatic”?
Paula: I
actually do now that I am done playing. Where I come from people play with a
lot of heart and they will show how and what they are feeling, and yes if you
are in pain you are going to show it too. Also, people don’t understand that
sometimes I want to stop the game for some reason so, I did that at times to
take my time to refocus.
Q: Of
all your Gopher
achievements, what makes you most proud?
Paula: I am definitely most proud of how many friends
and great people I met through all 4 years here. All the awards and wins are
great but there are more important things in life!
Q:
What will you miss the most?
Paula: There
are so many things that I am going to miss such as games and the preparation
for it. The FANS are a big one, it was so awesome to see everyone at the games,
that it’s going to be hard not to see them as often.
Q:
Anything else you’d like to say to your fans?
Paula: Just that I am very glad that I chose to come to Minnesota. You guys made the 4 years I played here the best I could ever have. I hope that I will be around and I want to stay in touch with everyone. Love you all and thanks again for all the love and care that you guys have given to me.
It has been announced that assistant coach Jill Pearson will be leaving the program. Jill had the following responses to some e:mailed questions.
Can you tell us a little about your decision to leave and your future
plans?
My experience with the Gopher volleyball team has been remarkable, but it
has become clear to me that continuing to coach at the collegiate level does
not align with my long term career goals. I plan to begin coaching for a local
club volleyball program, Club Tonka, in January as well as take on
administrative duties for the club.
Is there one specific memory (or several, for that matter) from your
tenure with the Gophers
which stands out?
It’s hard to name just one specific memory,
but the one that stands out most vividly is the team meeting we had back at the
hotel after our loss to Stanford in the National Finals. To me, that moment
defined what sports and competition are all about. As a coach, I had the
privilege to sit there in that moment with a sense of true joy and satisfaction
as our players demonstrated through their words how much they had grown as
individuals throughout their college career. That’s what it’s all
about…competing with the best of the best while maintaining personal integrity
and looking back with no regrets.
What will you miss the most?
I will greatly miss my relationship with
each member of the coaching staff and team. Minnesota Volleyball is truly a
tight knit family and I will miss not being an integral part of that.
How about the least?
I won’t miss the hectic travel schedule of a
college recruiter.
+ + +
Jill is going to greatly missed. The entire Gopher community wishes her the best of luck in her future endeavors.
What better time than the dead of winter to look to the future? In the previous edition of this Newsletter, we listed the team’s 2006 recruits. Here are some photos (from www.arcticferret.us) of some more additions to the program, as reported by RichKern.com.
Krista Chin 
Krista is a transfer from the University of Arizona. She is a 5’7” DS/libero originally from Wheeling, IL. She played JO volleyball for Sports Performance in Chicago, and played on the 2004 Gold Division Champion team with Katie Bruzdzinski, Maggie Griffin, Laura Holloway and Elizabeth Jacques, among others. Jessy Jones was also on this team prior to a season-ending injury.
Lauren Gibbemeyer 
Brook Dieter 
Lauren and Brook are both from Minnesota, and, according to RichKern.com, verbally committed to the Gophers for 2007. Lauren is a 6’3” MB, who attends Cretin-Derham Hall, where she was All-State in 2005. Brook is a 6’2” OH, from Bethany Academy. Both play for the Kaepa Northern Lights 17-1 Juniors team (link to website follows). If you have the chance, try to see this team and these extremely athletic players this winter at a JO tournament. But remember: these girls cannot officially commit to Minnesota until next Fall. Boosters are prohibited from contact with them, unless you had a prior relationship.
http://www.midwestvolleyball.com/nlj/nljhome.htm
http://www.gophersports.com/Compliance/pdf/SAExtraBenefit.pdf (Booster regulations *PDF*)
There are some additional photos from this past season (the match at Columbus) which may interest Golddiggers at the link below, also courtesy of arcticferret.
http://www.arcticferret.us/5collegewpage7.htm
And, finally, some more news about Nicole Branagh can be found at the following link, giving us Gophers past, present and future.
http://www.avp.com/newsroom/newsroomNewsDetail.jsp?id=3828
The Gophers opened up the NCAAs against the Winthrop University Eagles on Friday, December 2. The Gophers, as the boxscore below will attest, were simply dominant in this match, winning 3-0 (30-13, 30-13, 30-24), and hitting .421 as a team while holding the Eagles below .000 until the third game of the match.
Individually, Meredith Nelson had the first of her two huge offensive outputs for the weekend (8 kills/.600), while Meghan Cumpston led the team with 12 kills (hitting .556). Paula Gentil set a tournament record for the Gophers with 5 aces for the match.
Winthrop vs #17 Minnesota (Dec 02, 2005 at Knoxville, Tenn.) Winthrop | ATTACK |SET| SERVE |SRV|DEF| BLOCK |GEN## Name GP| K E TA PCT| A| SA SE| RE|DIG|BS BA BE|BHE-----------------------------------------------------------------------------1 HOCK, Mary.......... 3| 10 6 24 .167| 1| 2 2| 4| 6| 0 1 0| 03 GRAFEMAN, Tori...... 3| 2 8 16 -.375| 1| 0 0| 1| 2| 0 0 0| 05 GINEST, Chandra..... 3| 3 1 6 .333| 22| 0 4| 0| 3| 0 2 1| 17 REYNOLDS, Siera..... 3| 2 1 9 .111| 1| 0 1| 0| 0| 0 1 0| 013 SURBAUGH, Taryn..... 3| 5 4 23 .043| 0| 0 1| 0| 0| 0 1 0| 017 CLEARY, Caitlin..... 3| 5 1 9 .444| 0| 0 0| 0| 0| 0 1 0| 02 HECKL, Emily........ 3| 0 0 0 .000| 0| 0 0| 0| 4| 0 0 0| 04 ELCESS, Lauren...... 3| 0 0 1 .000| 0| 0 3| 1| 2| 0 0 0| 06 WAGGONER, Beth...... 3| 0 0 0 .000| 1| 0 0| 4| 2| 0 0 0| 0TEAM................ | | | | 1| | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Totals.............. 3| 27 21 88 .068| 26| 2 11| 11| 19| 0 6 1| 1 TEAM ATTACK PER GAME TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 3.0Game K E TA Pct1 8 7 28 .036 GAME SCORES 1 2 3 TEAM RECORDS2 6 9 27 -.111 Winthrop............ (0) 13 13 24 28-63 13 5 33 .242 Minnesota........... (3) 30 30 30 25-7
Minnesota | ATTACK |SET| SERVE |SRV|DEF| BLOCK |GEN## Name GP| K E TA PCT| A| SA SE| RE|DIG|BS BA BE|BHE-----------------------------------------------------------------------------1 Bowman, Kelly....... 3| 3 0 5 .600| 29| 2 1| 0| 6| 0 2 0| 03 Florian, Sarah...... 3| 7 3 17 .235| 1| 0 1| 0| 1| 2 0 0| 04 Cumpston, Meghan.... 3| 12 2 18 .556| 0| 0 0| 0| 1| 0 0 0| 05 Nelson, Meredith.... 3| 8 2 10 .600| 2| 0 3| 0| 2| 0 1 1| 011 Jones, Jessy........ 3| 6 1 11 .455| 0| 0 0| 0| 1| 0 5 1| 012 Roehrig, Kyla....... 3| 6 1 11 .455| 1| 0 0| 0| 1| 0 5 0| 02 Fallon, Kelly....... 1| 0 0 0 .000| 1| 0 0| 0| 0| 0 0 0| 06 Peniata, Malama..... 3| 0 0 0 .000| 1| 2 1| 0| 5| 0 0 0| 17 Schmidt, Kelly...... 1| 0 0 0 .000| 0| 0 0| 0| 0| 0 0 0| 08 Hartmann, Rachel.... 3| 0 0 0 .000| 5| 2 2| 0| 8| 0 0 0| 010 Byrnes, Jessica..... 2| 0 1 2 -.500| 1| 0 0| 0| 0| 0 1 0| 014 Mallakis, Athena.... 1| 0 1 1-1.000| 0| 0 0| 0| 1| 0 0 0| 015 Gentil, Paula....... 3| 0 0 0 .000| 0| 5 1| 1| 5| 0 0 0| 016 Vatterrodt, Katie... 1| 1 0 1 1.000| 0| 0 0| 0| 0| 0 0 0| 0TEAM................ | | | | 1| | |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Totals.............. 3| 43 11 76 .421| 41| 11 9| 2| 31| 2 14 2| 1 TEAM ATTACK PER GAME TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 9.0Game K E TA Pct1 12 2 20 .500 Site: Knoxville, Tenn. (Stokely Athl. Center)2 15 3 27 .444 Date: Dec 02, 2005 Attend: Time: 1:153 16 6 29 .345 Referees: Barbara Vaughn, Mary Blalock The next night, the Gophers faced the site hosts, the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers. The Vols had turned their season around in the last month of the regular season, notching wins over Florida and Notre Dame on the way, and securing a surprising #15 seed and the right to play at home.
After a rough first game, where the Vols extended an early 10-8 lead to 15-10, then to 20-13, and finally to a 30-19 win, the Gophers appeared to have this one well in paw. Tennessee’s hitting had cooled off from .417 after game one to .160 after game three. Meanwhile, the Gophers had played much better in game two (a 30-24 win), and a near-perfect third game (30-20), with 19 kills and only 5 hitting errors. Meredith was hitting over .600 (with NINE kills in game three!), and Paula had set the all-time career digs record (in game two). Who could blame any of us for thinking the team was on its way to its fourth straight Regional?
But the best laid plans of mice, men and also -- alas -- Gophers can go awry. Ahead 23-17 in game four, with Paula about to serve following a Vols’ timeout, Tennessee staged a frantic, valiant -- and improbable -- comeback. They had clamped down on Meredith earlier in the game and the Gophers were suddenly struggling to find the floor with their swings. After a sideout to close to 25-21, Amy Morris served 3 straight points. A Kelly Bowman kill put the Gophers back up 26-24, but Kirsten Andre immediately cut it to 26-25 with a kill. Chelsea Noble then served 3 more points for the Vols to put them in the lead for the first time since 3-2. Meredith brought the Gophers back to within 27-28 with her 21st kill of the match, but the next two points went to the hosts. The game had slipped away 30-27 to the Vols, and, as it turned out, so had the match. Tennessee closed out the match hitting .500 in the decisive game five, and winning 15-11.
Meredith had hit .450 for the match, with 23 kills -- and .480 for the weekend. Meghan had hit .367 with another 15 kills -- .438 for her weekend. But it was simply not to be.
#17 Minnesota vs #23 Tennessee (Dec 03, 2005 at Knoxville, Tenn.) Minnesota | ATTACK |SET| SERVE |SRV|DEF| BLOCK |GEN## Name GP| K E TA PCT| A| SA SE| RE|DIG|BS BA BE|BHE-----------------------------------------------------------------------------1 Bowman, Kelly....... 5| 8 4 22 .182| 46| 0 1| 0| 10| 0 4 0| 03 Florian, Sarah...... 5| 15 9 46 .130| 1| 0 3| 0| 13| 0 1 0| 04 Cumpston, Meghan.... 5| 15 4 30 .367| 0| 0 0| 0| 0| 0 2 0| 05 Nelson, Meredith.... 5| 23 5 40 .450| 0| 1 4| 0| 2| 1 6 0| 011 Jones, Jessy........ 5| 6 5 23 .043| 0| 0 0| 0| 1| 0 4 1| 012 Roehrig, Kyla....... 5| 7 5 27 .074| 0| 0 0| 0| 2| 0 2 0| 02 Fallon, Kelly....... 2| 0 0 0 .000| 0| 0 1| 0| 0| 0 0 0| 06 Peniata, Malama..... 5| 0 1 1-1.000| 0| 0 1| 2| 6| 0 0 0| 17 Schmidt, Kelly...... 1| 0 0 0 .000| 0| 0 0| 0| 0| 0 0 0| 08 Hartmann, Rachel.... 5| 1 0 1 1.000| 24| 0 4| 0| 8| 0 0 0| 110 Byrnes, Jessica..... 2| 0 0 0 .000| 0| 0 0| 0| 0| 0 1 0| 014 Mallakis, Athena.... 1| 0 0 0 .000| 0| 0 0| 0| 1| 0 0 0| 015 Gentil, Paula....... 5| 0 0 0 .000| 1| 3 3| 0| 15| 0 0 0| 0-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Totals.............. 5| 75 33 190 .221| 72| 4 17| 2| 58| 1 20 1| 2 TEAM ATTACK PER GAME TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 11.0Game K E TA Pct1 14 10 42 .095 GAME SCORES 1 2 3 4 5 TEAM RECORDS2 18 8 45 .222 Minnesota........... (2) 19 30 30 27 11 25-8
3 19 5 42 .333 Tennessee........... (3) 30 24 20 30 15 23-84 15 7 39 .2055 9 3 22 .273 Tennessee | ATTACK |SET| SERVE |SRV|DEF| BLOCK |GEN## Name GP| K E TA PCT| A| SA SE| RE|DIG|BS BA BE|BHE-----------------------------------------------------------------------------1 Yuliya Stoyanova.... 5| 16 5 37 .297| 1| 0 2| 2| 5| 0 1 0| 03 Chelsea Noble....... 5| 0 0 1 .000| 15| 1 0| 0| 11| 0 0 0| 210 Kristen Andre....... 5| 14 7 31 .226| 0| 0 1| 0| 4| 0 3 1| 015 Kelsey Fautsch...... 5| 14 8 41 .146| 1| 1 0| 1| 12| 0 4 0| 024 Sarah Blum.......... 5| 10 3 23 .304| 0| 0 0| 0| 0| 0 7 1| 055 Julie Knytych....... 5| 3 2 10 .100| 35| 0 2| 0| 18| 1 2 0| 02 Jasmine Fullove..... 2| 0 0 0 .000| 0| 0 0| 0| 0| 0 0 0| 04 Mindy Flynn......... 5| 3 3 12 .000| 5| 0 0| 0| 3| 0 3 1| 07 Annie Sadowski...... 3| 0 0 0 .000| 1| 0 0| 0| 2| 0 0 0| 08 Joselyn Johnson..... 1| 0 0 1 .000| 1| 0 0| 0| 0| 0 0 0| 011 Milan Clarke........ 4| 3 1 5 .400| 1| 0 0| 0| 2| 0 1 1| 014 Amy Morris.......... 5| 0 0 0 .000| 0| 0 0| 1| 15| 0 0 0| 0-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Totals.............. 5| 63 29 161 .211| 60| 2 5| 4| 72| 1 21 4| 2 TEAM ATTACK PER GAME TOTAL TEAM BLOCKS: 11.5Game K E TA Pct1 13 3 24 .417 Site: Knoxville, Tenn. (Stokely Athl. Center)2 11 6 40 .125 Date: Dec 03, 2005 Attend: 502 Time: 2:053 10 9 36 .028 Referees: Mary Blalock, Barbara Vaughn4 17 9 41 .1955 12 2 20 .500 The complete final statistics for 2005 Gophers volleyball,
including final conference numbers, can be found at:
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/stattemplate.asp?stat_id=180&Ac_Yr=2005-2006&sport_id=wvoll
The statistics for all matches follow.