The University of Minnesota volleyball team got its second day in Maribor, Slovenia started with a couple of different activities that took place on the mountain. The team took cable cars to get up to what the resort calls the adrenaline course.

Since the team had a match later in the day, it only took part in a couple of the events on the course so as to not wear itself out for the match. There were two different stations that the team participated in. In one of the events you climbed about 30 feet up a pole and then gathered your balance at the top. It looked like a tough climb, especially at the end, but most of the players were successful in doing it.

The other station was set at the edge of part of the mountain. One of the people in charge of the course would harness the person in, and raise them up about 20 feet off the ground. Once they were off the ground, they would pull a rope that would shoot them forward. They would go back and forth for a number of swings before coming to a stop. This was an activity that a lot of the staff and family did, along with the players.

After taking the cable cars up the mountain, everyone took the alpine sled down. There was a lever on the alpine sled. To go fast you would push forward and to brake you would pull back. Everyone in the group went down at varying speeds.

Following the alpine sled, everyone had a break to rest or walk around the resort area until 3:50 p.m. (local time) when the players showed up to warm up for their match.

Minnesota put forth a very sharp effort in the match defeating the Croatian Junior National Team in three games by scores of 25-19, 25-17, 25-10. The two teams played two more games to get five games in for the day. Minnesota won the fourth game 25-22, and lost the fifth 25-19.

Following the match, the teams took the gondola up to eat dinner. Both teams ate in an outdoor area at restaurant that overlooked a gorgeous view of the mountain. Most of the food prepared for the meal was cooked the on the grill. For a second straight night, the Minnesota players got a chance to sit down and converse with the Croatian Junior National Team.

Minnesota will play its last match of the tour on Wednesday, June 21 when it faces the Slovenian National Team in Maribor, Slovenia. The Golden Gophers will spend their final day in Venice, Italy on Thursday, June 22, before taking off to come back to Minneapolis.

Match Recap:
The Minnesota volleyball team defeated the Croatian Junior National Team in three games by scores of 25-19, 25-17, 25-10 on Tuesday, June 20 in Maribor, Slovenia. The two teams played two more games afterward with Minnesota winning game four 25-22 and the Croatian Junior National Team winning game five 25-19.

It was the second day in a row that the Golden Gophers defeated the Croatian Junior National Team. Minnesota moved to 3-2 on the tour with the win.

With the score tied at 6-6 in the first game, Minnesota took control with five of the next six points to move ahead 11-7. The Croatians cut it to 13-11, but Minnesota scored the next two points to take a 15-11 lead. The Croatians cut it two points again, and had it at 19-17. Minnesota scored the next three points to take a 22-17 lead. The first point came on a combined block by Kelly Bowman (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Jessy Jones to make it 20-17. Kyla Roehrig (Papillion, Neb.) followed with a solo block, and Meredith Nelson (St. Croix Falls, Wis.) finished the run with a kill.

The Croatian Junior National Team got it to 23-19, but Roehrig delivered a kill to make it game point at 24-19, and Minnesota claimed the game 25-19 to take a 1-0 lead in the match.

In the second game, the Golden Gophers fell behind 7-6, but scored seven of the next nine points to claim a 13-9 lead. The Croatians cut the lead to 13-11, but Minnesota 10 of the next 12 points to take a 23-13 lead. After the run, the Croatians answered with four straight points to cut it to 23-17. However, Rachel Hartmann (St. Charles, Ill.) stopped the run with a kill to give the Golden Gophers game point at 24-17. Katie Vatterrodt (Bloomington, Ill.) delivered a kill to give Minnesota the game 25-17.

With the score tied at 5-5 in game three, the Golden Gophers went on a 16-4 run to take a commanding 21-9 lead. The Croatian Junior National Team scored just one more point in the game, as Minnesota moved to a 25-10 game three victory to claim the match in three games.

The two teams agree to play two more games, and in the fourth game the Croatian Junior National Team jumped out to 12-7 lead. However, Minnesota answered with a 10-2 run to claim a 17-14 lead. The Croatians cut it to 19-18, before the Golden Gophers ripped off the next three points to move ahead 22-18. Jones started the run with a kill, and Krista Chin (Wheeling, Ill.) delivered a service ace for the third point of the run. With the score at 23-19, Michele Wilber (Anoka, Minn.) delivered a service ace to make it game point at 24-19. The Croatians claimed the next three points to make it 24-22, but Vatterrodt delivered a kill to give Minnesota game four 25-22.

In the fifth game, the Croatian Junior National Team jumped out to a 14-9 lead. However, the Golden Gophers scored the next four points to cut it to 14-13. The Croatians answered with five consecutive points to move ahead 19-13, eventually moved ahead 23-16. Minnesota scored three of the next four points to cut it to 24-19, but the Croatians claimed the game 25-19.

Minnesota will finish up competition in the European Tour with a match against the Slovenian National Team on Wednesday, June 21 in Maribor, Slovenia.

Meghan Cumpston Diary
Today was our second day in Maribor, Slovenia. We ate breakfast at our hotel where they had an interesting selection of food. Our team’s favorite was the spread able meat (just kidding).

In the morning, the team rode the ski lift up the mountain to attempt their athletic ability and strength. Me being extremely afraid of heights, decided to walk up the steepest mountain in the world with coach David Boos. By the time we reached the top we were drenched in sweat and our calves burned horribly. I would still climb the mountain instead of ride the chair lift if I had to do it again! That’s how much I hate heights.

Everyone then attempted two different obstacles on the rope course. There was a giant swing that swung over the edge of the mountain, and a telephone pole that you had to climb up and stand up on. The team did a great job and there were many cries of excitement , the best being from coach Dave Manka on the swing.

After the ropes course we played our second match against the Croatian Junior National Team. We won in three games, and it was a lot easier because we had played them the night before and we knew what they would try to do. After the game, we ate on the top of the mountain with the Croatian girls. I learned a lot about their culture and how volleyball is in their country. We danced and sang together to American music and then said our goodbyes.