University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, October 5
Evanston, IL
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Northwestern
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Middle Blocker
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Libero/DS
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Photo by: Brad Rempel
No. 10 Minnesota Travels to Northwestern for Sunday Matinee
10/3/2025 12:00:00 PM | Volleyball
The Gophers enter at 12-2 (2-1)
EVANSTON, Ill. -- The No. 10 ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers are back in action on Sunday with a road match at Northwestern (11-3, 1-1 B1G). The Gophers fell at Michigan in four sets on Wednesday for their first loss since Aug. 25. Northwestern plays Michigan State tonight and is coming off a 3-2 win at home over Oregon last Sunday.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 10 Minnesota at Northwestern
Sunday, Oct. 5
2 p.m. CT
Welsh-Ryan Arena
Evanston, Ill.
TV: B1G+ - TBA (Play-By-Play) and TBA (Analyst)
Radio: GopherSports.com
Live Stats
NOTES TO KNOW
Minnesota is 66-20 vs. Northwestern
First Meeting: 1976
Last Meeting: 2024
HEADING INTO THE MATCH
77 -- Lourdes Myers comes in at No. 77 in the nation and 11th in the Big Ten with 1.25 blocks per set.
62 -- Julia Hanson is 62nd in the country and sixth in the Big Ten with 4.47 points per set
46 -- The Gophers are 46th in the country this year with 128.0 total blocks. That places them fourth in the B1G.
30 -- Stella Swenson comes in at No. 30 nationally and seventh in the Big Ten with 9.98 assists per set.
27 -- Julia Hanson had 27 10+ kill matches in 2024 (87%). She's 10 for 13 so far this season.
23 -- The 'U' ranks 23rd nationally and fourth in the Big Ten with 2.72 blocks per set.
16 -- Times last season Minnesota posted 10+ blocks as a team. They've had 10+ blocks in five matches this season, including a season-best 17.5 Sept. 14 vs. SDSU.
11 -- The Gophers rank 11th nationally in hitting percentage (.296). They place fourth in the Big Ten.
10 -- Last year was Minnesota's 10th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. They've made 25 of the last 26 (missed 2014). They've made three Final Fours, four Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight since 2015.
10 -- Minnesota ranks sixth in the Big Ten in opponent hitting percentage, allowing teams to hit .197.
9 -- Sweeps in 14 matches for the Golden Gophers. They've won three matches in four sets and haven't played five yet. Minnesota's last four wins have all been sweeps.
8 -- Minnesota has made eight Sweet 16's in the last 10 years.
7 -- Minnesota ranks 7th nationally in attendance at 4,318 (avg.)
4 -- The Gophers are 9-0 with McKenna Garr as the starting libero and she has registered 4.54 digs per set during those matches. She's had eight 10+ dig matches, also averaging 1.21 assists per set.
4 -- Gophers head coach Keegan Cook is 4-21 against AVCA Top-25 ranked opponents in three seasons.
3 -- Julia Hanson took home her third career Big Ten Player of the Week award Sept. 1. She was named the Golden Gopher Invitational Tournament MVP an to the all-tournament team.
2 -- The Gophers were 2-11 against ranked opponents in 2023 and 2-9 in 2024. The 2024 wins were over No. 1 Texas and No. 7 Wisconsin. Losses came against No. 2 Nebraska, No. 3 Penn State, No. 5 Stanford, No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 10 Purdue, No. 11 Kentucky, No. 12 Oregon, No. 21 USC and No. 23 Baylor.
3 -- The Gophers have won three straight in the series against Northwestern since falling at home in 2022. Overall, Minnesota has won 16 of the last 17 in the series since 2014.
3 -- The Gophers come in at No. 3 in the Big Ten with 13.68 digs per set.
2 -- Julia Hanson and Stella Swenson were named to the 47-player AVCA Player of the Year Watch List.
2 -- Minnesota ranks second in the Big Ten with 643 digs.
1 -- Redshirt sophomore outside Alex Acevedo won her first all-tournament award Sept. 14 at the Diet Coke Classic. She smashed 3.40 kills per set in three wins for the Gophers, being named MVP.
1 -- Stella Swenson earned her first career Big Ten Weekly award when she earned Big Ten Setter of the Week on Sept. 1. She averaged over 11 assists and nearly three digs per set, helping Minnesota's offense hit over .350 for the weekend.
1 -- Minnesota has played just one ranked opponent this season, with that being No. 9 Texas A&M.
LAST TIME OUT
• The then No. 10 Minnesota volleyball team fell at Michigan in four sets on Wednesday night. The team hit just .096, a season-low and the set scores were 25-18, 12-25, 14-25, 12-25. Julia Hanson led Minnesota with seven kills while Jordan Taylor had five blocks. Kate Thibault started at libero for the injured McKenna Garr and went for 10 digs. The loss broke a 12-match win streak.
GOPHERS IN THE RANKINGS
• The Gophers entered the 2025 season with a No. 11 overall ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll.
• After week five, the 'U' moved up two spots to No. 10. It's their first time in the top 10 since 2023.
• Minnesota finished 18th in the final AVCA poll last season.
• Minnesota was ranked as high as 12 last year (Sept. 30) and as low as 19 (Sept. 9).
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
• Northwestern (11-3, 1-1 B1G) is led by second-year head coach Tim Nollan. So far in 2025, NU holds key wins over Saint Mary's and Oregon. They lost just two matches in non-conference play, to St. Thomas and No. 20 Baylor. They took down Oregon in five sets last Sunday in their Big Ten home opener.
• Northwestern was picked to finish 15th in the annual Big Ten Preseason Poll after going 5-23 (3-17 B1G) in 2024.
• They're led this season by Rylen Reid (3.30 kps) and Ayah Elnady (2.59 kps). Kayla Kauffman holds down the middle with 1.27 blocks per set, which ranks her in the top 10 of the Big Ten.
MINNESOTA'S HISTORY VS. NORTHWESTERN
• All-time against Northwestern, Minnesota is 66-20. The Gophers have won 16 of 17 in the series overall. The Wildcats last won on Sept. 28, 2022 in a five-set thriller at the Pav.
• Last season, Minnesota won in three sets at the Pav, 25-18, 25-19, 25-17. Julia Hanson paced the team with 19 kills while Mckenna Wucherer had eight.
• In 2023, Minnesota defeated NU in five sets at the Pav and in four sets on Nov. 5 at Northwestern.
FRESHMEN FIVE MAKING AN EARLY IMPACT
• The Golden Gophers are relying on a lot of youth this year, including five freshmen who are currently either starting or playing significant time in the rotation. Redshirt freshmen setter Stella Swenson is the only non-true freshman of the group, and she leads the team with 9.98 assists per set.
• Pin hitters Kelly Kinney (West Palm Beach, Fla.) and Carly Gilk (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) have been playing key roles at outside and opposite, ranking third and fourth on the team, respectively, with 2.22 and 2.16 kps.
• Libero McKenna Garr (Rush City, Minn.) moved into the starting lineup after the loss of Zeynep Palabiyik and has registered nine 10+ dig matches. She leads the team with 3.56 digs per set.
• Middle blocker Jordan Taylor (Houston, Texas) moved into the starting group at the end of non-conference play after the Gophers lost Calissa Minatee for the season. She ranks second on the 'U' with 1.18 bps.
B1G LIFE, B1G STAGE
• Since 2012, Minnesota is 188-63 (.749) in B1G play, including 11 seasons over .500 in league play.
• In 10 of those seasons, the 'U' went 15-5 or better in B1G play, with the best being 19-1 in 2018.
• Last year (12-8 B1G) was the first season since 2014 (9-11 Big Ten) that Minnesota won less than 15 of its conference matches. The Gophers clinched their 10th straight winning B1G season on Nov. 23 vs. Iowa.
• The Gophers won B1G titles in 2016 and 2018 and have finished either 1st, 2nd or 3rd in 10 of the last 12 seasons. Minnesota took fifth in the conference in 2023 behind Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue.
SWENSON STARTS STRONG IN 2025
• Named Big Ten Setter of the Week in just her second week as the Minnesota starter, Swenson is off to a strong start, averaging 9.98 assists (7th in B1G), 2.26 digs, 0.79 kills, 0.68 blocks and 0.28 aces per set. She's tallied three double-doubles thus far and two 40+ assist matches.
• Minnesota's offense ranks fifth in the Big Ten with a .296 hitting percentage through 14 matches.
TAYLOR TAKING STEPS AS A ROOKIE
• Jordan Taylor made her mark since entering the starting lineup Sept. 21. She totaled six kills on .364 with five blocks against Loyola Chicago in a sweep victory.
• She followed that up by hitting .667 with six kills and a career-high eight blocks in a sweep over Marquette. In her last six matches, she's tallied 31 kills and 25 blocks. Taylor went for a career-best seven kills on Sunday vs. Rutgers on .667.
MINNESOTA MILESTONES
• Julia Hanson clinched her first career 300+ kill season Nov. 7 vs. Washington. She hit 400 kills Nov. 23 and had 473 for the season. She needs 263 more this year to reach 1,000 for her career.
• Lourdes Myers reached 400 kills and 300 blocks last weekend vs. MSU and Rutgers.
INJURIES EFFECTING MINNESOTA
• Minnesota is down three starters this season after the loss of middle blocker Calissa Minatee, outside Mckenna Wucherer and libero Zeynep Palabiyik. Minatee is out with a lower body injury and Wucherer is out with a back injury while Palabiyik tore her ACL on Aug. 31. All will medically redshirt and plan on being back for Minnesota during the 2026 season.
• Combined, the three have played in over 180 matches during their careers at the 'U.' Wucherer has been in the top three on the team in kills per set the last three years while Palabiyik has led the team in digs last year and this year. Minatee was the team's most efficient hitter in 2025, hitting .421 in nine matches.
• Libero McKenna Garr, who had started the previous nine matches at libero, missed the Michigan match due to injury. She is not expected to miss extended time.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will be back home against No. 24 UCLA (8-5, 2-1 B1G) Wednesday night at 7 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 10 Minnesota at Northwestern
Sunday, Oct. 5
2 p.m. CT
Welsh-Ryan Arena
Evanston, Ill.
TV: B1G+ - TBA (Play-By-Play) and TBA (Analyst)
Radio: GopherSports.com
Live Stats
NOTES TO KNOW
Minnesota is 66-20 vs. Northwestern
First Meeting: 1976
Last Meeting: 2024
HEADING INTO THE MATCH
77 -- Lourdes Myers comes in at No. 77 in the nation and 11th in the Big Ten with 1.25 blocks per set.
62 -- Julia Hanson is 62nd in the country and sixth in the Big Ten with 4.47 points per set
46 -- The Gophers are 46th in the country this year with 128.0 total blocks. That places them fourth in the B1G.
30 -- Stella Swenson comes in at No. 30 nationally and seventh in the Big Ten with 9.98 assists per set.
27 -- Julia Hanson had 27 10+ kill matches in 2024 (87%). She's 10 for 13 so far this season.
23 -- The 'U' ranks 23rd nationally and fourth in the Big Ten with 2.72 blocks per set.
16 -- Times last season Minnesota posted 10+ blocks as a team. They've had 10+ blocks in five matches this season, including a season-best 17.5 Sept. 14 vs. SDSU.
11 -- The Gophers rank 11th nationally in hitting percentage (.296). They place fourth in the Big Ten.
10 -- Last year was Minnesota's 10th consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. They've made 25 of the last 26 (missed 2014). They've made three Final Fours, four Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight since 2015.
10 -- Minnesota ranks sixth in the Big Ten in opponent hitting percentage, allowing teams to hit .197.
9 -- Sweeps in 14 matches for the Golden Gophers. They've won three matches in four sets and haven't played five yet. Minnesota's last four wins have all been sweeps.
8 -- Minnesota has made eight Sweet 16's in the last 10 years.
7 -- Minnesota ranks 7th nationally in attendance at 4,318 (avg.)
4 -- The Gophers are 9-0 with McKenna Garr as the starting libero and she has registered 4.54 digs per set during those matches. She's had eight 10+ dig matches, also averaging 1.21 assists per set.
4 -- Gophers head coach Keegan Cook is 4-21 against AVCA Top-25 ranked opponents in three seasons.
3 -- Julia Hanson took home her third career Big Ten Player of the Week award Sept. 1. She was named the Golden Gopher Invitational Tournament MVP an to the all-tournament team.
2 -- The Gophers were 2-11 against ranked opponents in 2023 and 2-9 in 2024. The 2024 wins were over No. 1 Texas and No. 7 Wisconsin. Losses came against No. 2 Nebraska, No. 3 Penn State, No. 5 Stanford, No. 6 Wisconsin, No. 10 Purdue, No. 11 Kentucky, No. 12 Oregon, No. 21 USC and No. 23 Baylor.
3 -- The Gophers have won three straight in the series against Northwestern since falling at home in 2022. Overall, Minnesota has won 16 of the last 17 in the series since 2014.
3 -- The Gophers come in at No. 3 in the Big Ten with 13.68 digs per set.
2 -- Julia Hanson and Stella Swenson were named to the 47-player AVCA Player of the Year Watch List.
2 -- Minnesota ranks second in the Big Ten with 643 digs.
1 -- Redshirt sophomore outside Alex Acevedo won her first all-tournament award Sept. 14 at the Diet Coke Classic. She smashed 3.40 kills per set in three wins for the Gophers, being named MVP.
1 -- Stella Swenson earned her first career Big Ten Weekly award when she earned Big Ten Setter of the Week on Sept. 1. She averaged over 11 assists and nearly three digs per set, helping Minnesota's offense hit over .350 for the weekend.
1 -- Minnesota has played just one ranked opponent this season, with that being No. 9 Texas A&M.
LAST TIME OUT
• The then No. 10 Minnesota volleyball team fell at Michigan in four sets on Wednesday night. The team hit just .096, a season-low and the set scores were 25-18, 12-25, 14-25, 12-25. Julia Hanson led Minnesota with seven kills while Jordan Taylor had five blocks. Kate Thibault started at libero for the injured McKenna Garr and went for 10 digs. The loss broke a 12-match win streak.
GOPHERS IN THE RANKINGS
• The Gophers entered the 2025 season with a No. 11 overall ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll.
• After week five, the 'U' moved up two spots to No. 10. It's their first time in the top 10 since 2023.
• Minnesota finished 18th in the final AVCA poll last season.
• Minnesota was ranked as high as 12 last year (Sept. 30) and as low as 19 (Sept. 9).
SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN
• Northwestern (11-3, 1-1 B1G) is led by second-year head coach Tim Nollan. So far in 2025, NU holds key wins over Saint Mary's and Oregon. They lost just two matches in non-conference play, to St. Thomas and No. 20 Baylor. They took down Oregon in five sets last Sunday in their Big Ten home opener.
• Northwestern was picked to finish 15th in the annual Big Ten Preseason Poll after going 5-23 (3-17 B1G) in 2024.
• They're led this season by Rylen Reid (3.30 kps) and Ayah Elnady (2.59 kps). Kayla Kauffman holds down the middle with 1.27 blocks per set, which ranks her in the top 10 of the Big Ten.
MINNESOTA'S HISTORY VS. NORTHWESTERN
• All-time against Northwestern, Minnesota is 66-20. The Gophers have won 16 of 17 in the series overall. The Wildcats last won on Sept. 28, 2022 in a five-set thriller at the Pav.
• Last season, Minnesota won in three sets at the Pav, 25-18, 25-19, 25-17. Julia Hanson paced the team with 19 kills while Mckenna Wucherer had eight.
• In 2023, Minnesota defeated NU in five sets at the Pav and in four sets on Nov. 5 at Northwestern.
FRESHMEN FIVE MAKING AN EARLY IMPACT
• The Golden Gophers are relying on a lot of youth this year, including five freshmen who are currently either starting or playing significant time in the rotation. Redshirt freshmen setter Stella Swenson is the only non-true freshman of the group, and she leads the team with 9.98 assists per set.
• Pin hitters Kelly Kinney (West Palm Beach, Fla.) and Carly Gilk (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) have been playing key roles at outside and opposite, ranking third and fourth on the team, respectively, with 2.22 and 2.16 kps.
• Libero McKenna Garr (Rush City, Minn.) moved into the starting lineup after the loss of Zeynep Palabiyik and has registered nine 10+ dig matches. She leads the team with 3.56 digs per set.
• Middle blocker Jordan Taylor (Houston, Texas) moved into the starting group at the end of non-conference play after the Gophers lost Calissa Minatee for the season. She ranks second on the 'U' with 1.18 bps.
B1G LIFE, B1G STAGE
• Since 2012, Minnesota is 188-63 (.749) in B1G play, including 11 seasons over .500 in league play.
• In 10 of those seasons, the 'U' went 15-5 or better in B1G play, with the best being 19-1 in 2018.
• Last year (12-8 B1G) was the first season since 2014 (9-11 Big Ten) that Minnesota won less than 15 of its conference matches. The Gophers clinched their 10th straight winning B1G season on Nov. 23 vs. Iowa.
• The Gophers won B1G titles in 2016 and 2018 and have finished either 1st, 2nd or 3rd in 10 of the last 12 seasons. Minnesota took fifth in the conference in 2023 behind Nebraska, Wisconsin, Penn State and Purdue.
SWENSON STARTS STRONG IN 2025
• Named Big Ten Setter of the Week in just her second week as the Minnesota starter, Swenson is off to a strong start, averaging 9.98 assists (7th in B1G), 2.26 digs, 0.79 kills, 0.68 blocks and 0.28 aces per set. She's tallied three double-doubles thus far and two 40+ assist matches.
• Minnesota's offense ranks fifth in the Big Ten with a .296 hitting percentage through 14 matches.
TAYLOR TAKING STEPS AS A ROOKIE
• Jordan Taylor made her mark since entering the starting lineup Sept. 21. She totaled six kills on .364 with five blocks against Loyola Chicago in a sweep victory.
• She followed that up by hitting .667 with six kills and a career-high eight blocks in a sweep over Marquette. In her last six matches, she's tallied 31 kills and 25 blocks. Taylor went for a career-best seven kills on Sunday vs. Rutgers on .667.
MINNESOTA MILESTONES
• Julia Hanson clinched her first career 300+ kill season Nov. 7 vs. Washington. She hit 400 kills Nov. 23 and had 473 for the season. She needs 263 more this year to reach 1,000 for her career.
• Lourdes Myers reached 400 kills and 300 blocks last weekend vs. MSU and Rutgers.
INJURIES EFFECTING MINNESOTA
• Minnesota is down three starters this season after the loss of middle blocker Calissa Minatee, outside Mckenna Wucherer and libero Zeynep Palabiyik. Minatee is out with a lower body injury and Wucherer is out with a back injury while Palabiyik tore her ACL on Aug. 31. All will medically redshirt and plan on being back for Minnesota during the 2026 season.
• Combined, the three have played in over 180 matches during their careers at the 'U.' Wucherer has been in the top three on the team in kills per set the last three years while Palabiyik has led the team in digs last year and this year. Minatee was the team's most efficient hitter in 2025, hitting .421 in nine matches.
• Libero McKenna Garr, who had started the previous nine matches at libero, missed the Michigan match due to injury. She is not expected to miss extended time.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will be back home against No. 24 UCLA (8-5, 2-1 B1G) Wednesday night at 7 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network.
Highlights: Gophers 2, Purdue 3
Sunday, October 26
Highlights: Gophers 3, Indiana 1
Friday, October 24
Highlights: Gophers 3, Washington 1
Saturday, October 18
Highlights: Gophers 1, Oregon 3
Friday, October 17