hitFreshman middle blocker Jessica Byrnes (Minnetonka, Minn.) was one of two Minnesota players with double figure kills, and hit .909 (10-0- 11) as the Golden Gophers moved to 3-0 in the Florida Atlantic Tournament with a 3-0 win over Youngstown State. With the win Minnesota moved to 4-1 overall, while Youngstown State fell to 0-2.

In the first game the Golden Gophers fell behind 8-6 early, but ran off 10 straight points to go up 16-8. With the score at 22-14, Minnesota scored eight of the last 10 points to claim the game 30-16 and go up 1-0. The Golden Gophers held Youngstown State to a -.179 hitting percentage allowing just four kills by the Penguins. Meanwhile, Minnesota hit .379 and was paced by six kills in the game from Erin Martin (Ames, Iowa).

Minnesota jumped out to a 15-7 lead in game two and never looked back. With the score at 24-17, the Golden Gophers scored six of the last eight points to take game two 30-19 and go up 2-0 in the match.

Early in the third game, Minnesota jumped out to an 8-2 lead and would not trail the rest of the way. The Golden Gophers led the whole way, and with a 25-19 lead, proceeded to score the last five points of the game to win 30-19 and close out the match.

Byrnes and Martin each led the way with 10 kills for Minnesota. Byrnes’ .909 hitting percentage was a school record in rally scoring matches for the Golden Gophers. Paula Gentil (Fortaleza Ceara’, Brazil) had a match high 14 digs. Lisa Axel (Buffalo, Minn.) had 12 assists from the setter position in game three and recorded a season- high three service aces, while Erin Lorenzen (Pipestone, Minn.) recorded a season-high eight kills.

Minnesota held Youngstown State to a –.033 hitting percentage, and hit .354 on the match.

Minnesota will play its fourth and final match of the tournament when it takes on host Florida Atlantic at 6 p.m.

- UM -