Gophers volleyball dominates North Dakota

Julia Hanson finished with 11 kills and Alex Acevedo added nine kills to lead the Gophers volleyball team to a 25-16, 25-9, 25-13 victory over North Dakota on Friday night in Green Bay, Wis., at the Capital Credit Union Classic.

Melani Shaffmaster, who was one of 36 players named to the AVCA's Watch list for Division I Player of the Year on Thursday, had 19 set assists and seven digs and Zeynep Palbiyik contributed 10 digs for the 17th-ranked Gophers (6-3).

Cala Cooper had seven kills to lead the Fighting Hawks (6-4), who hit .034 to the Gophers' .433.

The Gophers have won five consecutive matches, including a sweep of host Wisconsin-Green Bay on Thursday. They will take on Chicago State in Green Bay on Saturday in their final nonconference contest in the regular season. Big Ten competition begins Wednesday night with a match against seventh-ranked Wisconsin at Maturi Pavilion.