MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Rutgers volleyball team made it back-to-back matches against the nation's top 15 as the Scarlet Knights saw thrillers in the first and third sets in its loss to No. 12 Minnesota.

The Scarlet Knights and Golden Gophers were tied 20 times over the three sets, including a comeback surge in the final frame in the 25-22, 25-13, 29-27 setback.

The loss dropped Rutgers to 9-5 overall and 0-2 in Big Ten action. Minnesota's win streak continued with its 12^th-straight victory to improve to 12-1 overall and 2-0 in league play.
 

• Sophomore Aspen Maxwell collected a match-high 14 kills, ending the match hitting .310.
• Classmate Lily Bolen directed a match-high 39 assists.
• Senior Lexi Visintine and junior Jenna DeLaMater served up a pair of aces each.
• Sophomore Natalie Robinson led RU on the block with a match-high four stops, while junior Zora Hardison moved into a tie for the single-season leader in solo blocks with her 21^st of the season.
• Sophomore Alleigh Dutton led the defense with a match-high 10 digs and delivered a crucial ace to knot the score at 24-24 in the third set.
   

• SET 1 (22-25) | The opening set was even on 10 occasions and RU held a 21-18 edge, but was unable to stop the late surge from the hosts. Aspen Maxwell swung to give the Scarlet Knights the 21-18 edge, but the Gophers countered with a 7-1 run to close. It was neck and neck throughout the set. Back-to-back kills from Natalie Robinson, an ace from Lily Bolen and a successful attack from Tara Garvey saw RU pull in front 12-9. The Golden Gophers came back to tie the set at 18-18, but the Scarlet Knights pushed ahead with points on the next three opportunities before the hosts made their late run.

• SET 2 (13-25) | Minnesota went out to a 6-2 advantage and led the entire way. Kills from Lexi Visintine and Zora Hardison helped RU to three straight to close the deficit to three with RU down 15-12. The burst prompted a Golden Gopher timeout, however out of the huddle, Minnesota collected six unanswered and finished on a 9-1 run.  

• SET 3 (27-29) | Rutgers trailed 15-13 when Minnesota outscored the Scarlet Knights 7-1 to go out to a 22-14 advantage. The Golden Gophers were up 23-15 and two points away from taking the match when Rutgers went on a tear. RU poured out six straight and went on a 9-1 run to knot the score at 24-24. The two squads traded the next six points and Maxwell tied the set up at 27-27 with her ninth kill of the frame. The Gophers, however, captured kills on the next two opportunities for the win. Maxwell swung .667 for the set with nine kills on 12 attacks with only one error while Rutgers served up four aces including a pair from Lexi Visingine.

• Rutgers volleyball begins a four-game homestand next week, starting off with Maryland on Friday, Oct. 3, the first game of the Discover In-Season Volleyball Challenge, at 7 p.m., and versus No. 1 Nebraska on Saturday, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m.
• Both games will be a SCARLET OUT with red Block R shirts available at the door while supplies last. Additionally, the team will be on the concourse following both matches for autographs. 
• Click here to purchase tickets.