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Gophers Volleyball Stuns No. 1 Texas in Epic Five-Set Upset

Unranked Minnesota Hands Longhorns First Loss of Season

In a thrilling upset, the unranked Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the No. 1 Texas Longhorns 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 25-21, 19-25, 15-12) on Friday night in Austin, Texas.

The victory marks the first time Minnesota has defeated a No. 1-ranked team since 2004 and snaps Texas's 16-match winning streak.

Key Stats

• Minnesota outhit Texas .242 to .214
• The Gophers had 66 kills to Texas's 60
• Texas led in blocks (11-9) and aces (7-4)

Minnesota's Victory

The Gophers were led by senior middle blocker Regan Pittman, who had a match-high 20 kills. Sophomore outside hitter Jenna Wenaas added 17 kills, and senior setter Taylor Morgan dished out 53 assists.

Minnesota played a gritty and determined match, never giving up despite facing a set point in the fourth set. The Gophers' defense was also strong, as they held Texas's All-American outside hitter Logan Eggleston to just 12 kills.

Texas's Loss

The loss was a disappointing one for Texas, which had been ranked No. 1 in the AVCA Coaches Poll since the preseason. The Longhorns were coming off a 3-0 victory over No. 10 Baylor on Wednesday night.

Despite the setback, Texas remains one of the top teams in the country. The Longhorns will look to bounce back next week when they host No. 15 Iowa State on Friday night.