Gophers upset No. 3 Nebraska to take first place in Big Ten volleyball

October 24, 2015 at 5:25AM

Lincoln, Neb. – The Gophers volleyball team got its biggest victory in several seasons Friday night.

Minnesota upset No. 3 Nebraska 3-1 on its home floor before 8,515 fans at Devaney Sports Center in a match for sole possession of first place in the Big Ten Conference.

Daly Santana led the No. 9 Gophers (16-3, 8-1) with 23 kills and 15 digs. Three teammates also were in double figures in kills: Hannah Tapp had 17, Sarah Wilhite 11 and Molly Lohman 10.

The set scores indicated how close the match was from start to finish; Minnesota won 25-23, 25-22, 24-26, 27-25.

Two Wilhite kills ended the match.

The Gophers won the first set 25-23, getting back-to-back kills by Santana for the final two points. Neither team led by more than three points in the set, which was tied 13 times.

Minnesota led 13-9 and 15-10 in the second set before the Cornhuskers rallied for a tie at 17. The Gophers won 25-22 on a block by Lohman and Tapp.

The third set was close, too, but the Cornhuskers prevailed 26-24 on two Amber Rolfzen's kills.

Nebraska (16-3, 7-2) had won 13 of its past 14 matches and against Minnesota had a 33-5 lead in the all-time series, dating to 1975. This was the Gophers' first win in Lincoln since 1980.

The Gophers hit .240 as a team, the Huskers .253.

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