It had been seven years since the Gophers volleyball team defeated Texas.
That match only lasted four sets in Austin — and wasn’t an upset. At the time, the Gophers were ranked No. 1 in the nation and would eventually open the 2017 season with 12 consecutive victories.
Since then, Texas and Stanford had been the two most dominant programs in the sport with four of the last six NCAA women’s titles. Stanford’s last title came in a memorable year for the Gophers with their last Final Four in 2019.
That was also the last time Minnesota’s program defeated the No. 1 team in the nation by upsetting the Cardinal five years ago.
After taking No. 5 Stanford to the wire in a five-set loss in Sunday’s opener, the No. 18 Gophers got their first victory this season by surprising the country Monday night with a thrilling 3-2 upset against No. 1 Texas to end the Volleyball Showcase at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee. The Gophers won 22-25, 25-19, 25-20, 13-25, 15-7.
After being picked fifth in the Big Ten preseason poll, second-year Gophers coach Keegan Cook took a 17-13 team from last season and snapped two-time defending NCAA champion Texas’ 11-match win streak in his second match. Before the Sept. 10 home opener vs. St. Thomas, the Gophers’ loaded opening schedule continues Friday and Saturday vs. Baylor and TCU in Waco.
“I don’t think I really have words,” senior setter Melani Shaffmaster said on FS1 after the match. “We’re not the team we were last year. We’re not the team we’ve been in the past. We have a really good group of people with us … it’s just crazy. It took the whole entire team to get this done.”
Fittingly, Wisconsin native and junior outside hitter Mckenna Wucherer sealed the fifth set by slamming her 12th kill before being swarmed by teammates in celebration after the huge victory returning to her home state.
