Minnesota Falls to LSU in Three Games in Billiken Invitational

The University of Minnesota volleyball team (1-1) fell to LSU (4-1) in three games in its second match of the Billiken Invitational at the Baumann-Eberhardt Center on Saturday, Sept. 2. Minnesota is now 1-1 in the tournament, while the Tigers moved to 2-0.

Minnesota was led by Katie Vatterrodt (Bloomington, Ill.) who had 11 kills, two solo blocks and hit .409 (11-2-22). Senior Meredith Nelson (St. Croix Falls, Wis.) hit .727 (8-0-11) with eight kills.

Freshman Christine Tan (Palm Harbor, Fla.) led the Golden Gophers with 10 digs for the match. Jessy Jones (Naperville, Ill.) also chipped in with five blocks for Minnesota. Kyla Roehrig (Papillion, Neb.) and Meghan Cumpston (Red Bluff, Calif.) each had six kills for the Golden Gophers.

Sophomore setter also finished with 29 assists and six digs for Minnesota.

LSU outhit Minnesota .339 to .178, and had 56 kills to 36 for the Golden Gophers. The Tigers also had eight service aces to two for Minnesota for the match.

The Tigers jumped out to an 11-7 lead before Minnesota scored consecutive points to cut it to 11-9. The Tigers moved it to 12-9, but the Golden Gophers scored consecutive points to cut the lead to 12-11. LSU rattled off six straight points to take an 18-11 lead over the Golden Gophers. The Golden Gophers cut the lead to 20-14, but the Tigers ripped off four straight points to take a 10-point lead at 24-14. The Golden Gophers got it down to 26-18, but LSU scored the final four points of the game to claim it 30-18.

LSU outhit Minnesota .312 to .138 in the first game, and had 15 kills to the Golden Gophers’ 11. Cumpston and Vatterrodt led the way with three kills apiece in the first game.

Minnesota jumped out to an early 4-1 lead in game two, but LSU cut it to 6-5. The Golden Gophers scored three of the next four points to go up 9-6. LSU cut it to one point at 9-8, before Minnesota scored five of the next points to take a 14-10 lead. The Golden Gophers expanded the lead to 17-12, but the Tigers came roaring back with eight straight points to take a 20-17 lead. The Golden Gophers came back with three straight points paced by a solo block and a kill by Vatterrodt to tie at 20.

The two teams exchanged the next 12 points to be tied at 26. Minnesota reclaimed the lead on a Vatterrodt kill to move ahead 27-26. LSU tied the game at 27, but Nelson delivered a kill to put the Golden Gophers ahead 28-27. The Tigers grabbed the lead back, and pushed it to game point at 29-28. Vatterrodt delivered a kill to tie it at 29 as Minnesota fought off game point. However, LSU scored consecutive points to take game two 31-29.

Minnesota narrowly outhit LSU .364 to .359 in the game, but the Tigers had 21 kills to 15 for the Golden Gophers. Vatterrodt led the Golden Gophers with five kills in the game, while Nelson had four. LSU also had four service aces in the game. The game featured 12 ties, along with four lead changes.

LSU jumped out to a 5-2 lead in game three, but Minnesota scored five of the next six points to take a 7-6 Minnesota scored three of the next four points to take a 9-7 lead. With the score at 11-9, Nelson and Roehrig delivered back-to-back kills to push the Golden Gopher lead to 13-9. LSU answered with back-to-back points, but Jones retaliated with kill and a solo block to give Minnesota a 15-11 lead. The Tigers cut the lead to 15-14, before the Golden Gopher temporarily halted the momentum with a point to make it 16-14. LSU followed by rattling off seven straight points to grab a 21-16 lead. The Golden Gophers cut the led to 22-19, but LSU rattled off eight of the last 12 to claim the third game 30-23 to give the Tigers the match.

The Tigers were led by Marina Skender who had 13 kills, seven digs and three service aces. Melody Clark and Vanessa Freeman each had 11 kills, while Daniela Romero had five kills, 41 assists and four digs.

Minnesota will play its final match of the tournament later tonight against Texas A&M at 7:00 p.m.