Seven players to know about as Gophers volleyball opens 2022 season

Depth and balance are the words being used to describe this year's roster. Here are seven players to keep an eye on.

August 26, 2022 at 1:06AM
Gophers senior CC McGraw is back for a fifth year after earning All-Big Ten First Team honors last year for the second time in her career. (Renée Jones Schneider, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Arica Davis, middle blocker

After helping Ohio State to the Sweet 16 as a freshman, and ranking 23rd in the nation in blocks per set, Davis transferred to the U with three years of eligibility remaining. Will battle for playing time amid a suddenly crowded defensive interior.

Naya Gros, middle blocker

A graduate senior transfer, Gros knows the Big Ten. She spent four seasons starting at Michigan State and ranked fifth in the conference last season with 1.31 blocks per set to go along with a career 1.80 kills per set.

Taylor Landfair, outside hitter

One of the most important returning players in college volleyball, Landfair battled a serious abdominal injury last season after an electric freshman campaign that saw her make First Team All-Big Ten.

CC McGraw, libero

It was a no-brainer for McGraw and the Gophers coaches to exercise a fifth-year of eligibility due to the pandemic. A First Team All-Big Ten libero in 2019 and 2021, she ranks fifth in program history with 1,554 career digs.

Melani Shaffmaster, setter

The junior feels ready to break out, settled and confident in her role after making AVCA All-North Region and ranking fifth in assists per set in the Big Ten last season. At 6-3, she posted 71 blocks in 2021, fourth best on the team.

Jenna Wenaas, outside hitter

Named preseason All-Big Ten this year, Wenaas will be central to the Gophers attack. Wenaas can do a bit of it all — she finished second on the team in kills (3.28 per set) and fourth in digs (2.70 per set) last season.

Mckenna Wucherer, outside hitter

The Wisconsin native is the top-rated freshman recruit in the country and comes in with a stellar class including middle blocker Carter Booth and attacker Julia Hanson. Wucherer's all-around game could see immediate playing time.

Arica Davis, (20) in Minneapolis.,Minn. on Monday Aug 8, 2022.
Arica Davis (Jerry Holt, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Naya Gros, (8) in Minneapolis.,Minn. on Monday Aug 8, 2022.
Naya Gros (Jerry Holt, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Taylor Landfair, (12) in Minneapolis.,Minn. on Monday Aug 8, 2022.
Taylor Landfair (Jerry Holt, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
CC Mcgraw, (7), in Minneapolis.,Minn. on Monday Aug 8, 2022.
CC McGraw (Jerry Holt, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Melani Shaffmaster,(5) in Minneapolis.,Minn. on Monday Aug 8, 2022.
Melani Shaffmaster (Jerry Holt, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Jenna Wenaas,(2) in Minneapolis.,Minn. on Monday Aug 8, 2022.
Jenna Wenaas (Jerry Holt, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Mckenna Wucherer, (3) in Minneapolis.,Minn. on Monday Aug 8, 2022.
Mckenna Wucherer (Jerry Holt, Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Jeff Day

Reporter

Jeff Day is a Hennepin County courts reporter. He previously worked as a sports reporter and editor.

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