Minnesota’s march in the NCAA volleyball tournament ended Thursday as they lost to Ohio State in the Sweet 16.
Minnesota, the No. 2 seed in the Texas regional, won the first set before the No. 3 Buckeyes rolled in the next three sets, 25-21, 25-21 and 25-19 to win the best-of-five match.
Minnesota led the second set 18-16 before the Buckeyes rattled off six straight points to take a 22-18 lead. The Gophers cut it to 22-19 but Ohio State maintained control and won the set 25-21 – and they kept the foot on the gas after that.
They rolled in the third set on the arm of Emily Londot, who had 13 of her career-high 29 kills in the set. Ohio State advances to the Elite 8 where they will face the winner of No. 1 Texas and No. 4 Marquette on Saturday. Texas is the No. 1 team in the country.
Minnesota finished the 2022 season – the last for 11-year head coach Hugh McCutcheon, with a record of 22-9.
