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Photo by: Claudia Staut
No. 14 Gophers Host Bruins in Wednesday Night Showdown
10/7/2025 2:54:00 PM | Volleyball
UCLA enters at 8-6 (2-2 B1G)
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 14 ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers are back in action on Wednesday night with a home match against the UCLA Bruins (8-6, 2-2 Big Ten). First serve is set for 7 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 14 Minnesota vs. UCLA
Wednesday, Oct. 9
7 p.m. CT
Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: BTN - Sloane Martin (Play-By-Play) and Meredith Nelson Uram (Analyst)
Radio: GopherSports.com
Live Stats
NOTES TO KNOW
Minnesota is 3-4 vs. UCLA (Streak: Minnesota has won two straight)
First Meeting: 1991
Last Meeting: 2024
HEADING INTO THE MATCH
89 -- Lourdés Myers comes in at No. 89 in the nation and 9th in the Big Ten with 1.21 blocks per set.
71 -- Julia Hanson is 71st in the country and sixth in the Big Ten with 3.91 kills per set.
67 -- Minnesota ranks 67th nationally and seventh in the Big Ten with 13.31 kills per set.
57 -- Julia Hanson is 57th in the country and sixth in the Big Ten with 4.51 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.
32 -- Stella Swenson comes in at No. 32 nationally and seventh in the Big Ten with 10.00 assists per set.
27 -- Julia Hanson had 27 10+ kill matches in 2024 (87%). She's 11 for 14 so far this season.
20 -- The 'U' ranks 20th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten with 2.73 blocks per set.
16 -- Times last season Minnesota posted 10+ blocks as a team. They've had 10+ blocks in six matches this season, including a season-best 17.5 Sept. 14 vs. SDSU.
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 15 matches for the Golden Gophers. They've won four matches in four sets (0-0 in five).
8 -- The Gophers rank 8th nationally in hitting percentage (.295). They place fourth in the Big Ten.
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 10-0 with McKenna Garr as the starting libero and she has registered 4.41 digs per set during those matches. She's had nine 10+ dig matches since becoming the starter.
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 and 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. They're 0-1 in 2025.
2 -- The Gophers come in at No. 2 in the Big Ten and 77 nationally with 13.75 digs per set.
2 -- Minnesota has won its last two matches against UCLA (2024 at UCLA, 2016 Elite 8 at Minnesota).
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 -- Hanson was named as one of the 30 players to the AVCA Preseason Player of the Year Watch List.
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 defeated Northwestern in four sets on Sunday afternoon, 25-18, 25-22, 17-25, 26-24. Julia Hanson led Minnesota with 18 kills while Stella Swenson went for 41 assists and 14 digs. McKenna Garr was back in the lineup at libero and notched 14 digs while Jordan Taylor went for six kills and eight blocks. Minnesota fell in four sets to Michigan on Wednesday night on the road.
GOPHERS IN THE RANKINGS
• The Gophers entered the 2025 season with a No. 11 overall ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll.
• After week six, the 'U' moved down four spots to No. 14 after being ranked 10th last week.
• 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 UCLA
• UCLA (8-6, 2-2 B1G) is led by Alfee Reft, who is in his third year in charge in Westwood. He's hoping to lead UCLA to their first NCAA Tournament since 2021 after the Bruins have missed the postseason the last three years.
• The Bruins were ranked 24th last week before falling out of the rankings following a loss at home to Indiana. The Bruins were picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll and three players, outside Cheridyn Leverette, outside Maggie Li and middle Marianna Singletary were named to the Preseason All-B1G Team.
• UCLA is 1-4 against ranked teams this year, beating No. 15 Penn State but losing to No. 24 TCU twice, No. 4 Stanford and No. 13 Purdue. They're paced by Leverette, who averages 3.60 kills per set.
MINNESOTA'S HISTORY VS. UCLA
• Minnesota is 3-4 all-time against UCLA. Last season, the two teams played an epic five set battle in Westwood, the first meeting between the now conference foes in the Big Ten. Ranked 12th at the time, Minnesota beat RV UCLA 25-21, 25-22, 21-25, 25-27, 15-10. Lydia Grote led Minnesota with 13 kills while Melani Shaffmaster went for 41 assists, nine digs, eight kills and four blocks. It was their first match ever at Pauley Pavilion.
• The 'U' won its last meeting at the Pav against UCLA, a 3-0 sweep at Maturi Pavilion in 2016 in an Elite Eight matchup. The win helped the Gophers advance to their second straight Final Four.
AT HOME AGAINST UNRANKED OPPONENTS
• Minnesota is 139-3 in its last 16 seasons against unranked opponents at the Pav. Its last loss was Nov. 7, 2024 against Washington. Prior to that, it was Sept. 28, 2022 (3-2 loss vs. NU). Minnesota is 8-0 at home in 2025.
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 freshman setter Stella Swenson is the only non-true freshman of the group, and she leads the team with 10.00 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 2.18 and 2.15 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 3.55 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 leads the 'U' with 1.28 bps.
SCHEDULE SET TO HEAT UP IN OCTOBER
• Minnesota opened the 2025 season against No. 9 Texas A&M, falling in four sets in Sioux Falls, S.D. Since then, the Gophers have won 13 of their 14 matches, albeit against no ranked opponents in that time.
• After playing RV UCLA and Ohio State this week and Oregon and Washington next week, Minnesota will play ranked opponents in six of their next seven matches from Oct. 24 through Nov. 14.
• They'll play No. 20 Indiana, No. 12 Purdue, No. 22 USC, No. 7 Wisconsin, No. 1 Nebraska and No. 19 Penn St during that stretch. Minnesota finishes the season with two matches at home vs. Purdue and Wisconsin as well. Of their 16 remaining matches, eight are against top-25 opponents.
LEE LACING IT UP FROM SERVICE LINE
• Junior Georgia Lee, a setter transfer from Rutgers, has been Minnesota's best from the service line in 2025. She's totaled 18 aces (0.37 ps) in 2025, a team-best.
• Lee has tallied aces in nine of 15 matches this year, including going for multiple aces five times.
• She went for a career-best four aces against Rutgers on Sept. 28, including three in the second set alone. She also had three in matches against Vanderbilt and South Florida this season.
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.
• Since becoming a starter, Taylor is averaging 1.61 kills and 1.52 blocks per set, hitting .377.
• 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 last Sunday vs. Rutgers on .667.
• Taylor tied her career-best with eight blocks Sunday at Northwestern, helping the team to a four-set win. She's got five-or-more blocks in five of the last seven matches, including two with eight blocks.
STREAKS TO WATCH
• Julia Hanson tallied 10+ kills in 15 consecutive matches to end last year. She's 11-for-14 this year.
• McKenna Garr has totaled 10+ digs in 10 of 14 matches, including nine of 10 as starting libero.
• Lourdes Myers has multiple blocks in 13 of 15 matches, including eight matches with four-or-more.
• Alex Acevedo has hit 10+ kills six times this season. She had a career-high 16 kills Sept. 14 vs. South Dakota State.
• Stella Swenson has hit 30+ assists in 10 of 15 matches on the year. She also has four double-doubles after tallying 41 assists with a 14 digs Sunday at Northwestern.
• Jordan Taylor has hit five-or-more blocks in five of seven matches since becoming a starter. She tied her career-best with eight on Sunday at Northwestern.
INJURIES AFFECTING 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 stays home to host Ohio State (3-9, 0-4 B1G) on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. CT on B1G+.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 14 Minnesota vs. UCLA
Wednesday, Oct. 9
7 p.m. CT
Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: BTN - Sloane Martin (Play-By-Play) and Meredith Nelson Uram (Analyst)
Radio: GopherSports.com
Live Stats
NOTES TO KNOW
Minnesota is 3-4 vs. UCLA (Streak: Minnesota has won two straight)
First Meeting: 1991
Last Meeting: 2024
HEADING INTO THE MATCH
89 -- Lourdés Myers comes in at No. 89 in the nation and 9th in the Big Ten with 1.21 blocks per set.
71 -- Julia Hanson is 71st in the country and sixth in the Big Ten with 3.91 kills per set.
67 -- Minnesota ranks 67th nationally and seventh in the Big Ten with 13.31 kills per set.
57 -- Julia Hanson is 57th in the country and sixth in the Big Ten with 4.51 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.
32 -- Stella Swenson comes in at No. 32 nationally and seventh in the Big Ten with 10.00 assists per set.
27 -- Julia Hanson had 27 10+ kill matches in 2024 (87%). She's 11 for 14 so far this season.
20 -- The 'U' ranks 20th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten with 2.73 blocks per set.
16 -- Times last season Minnesota posted 10+ blocks as a team. They've had 10+ blocks in six matches this season, including a season-best 17.5 Sept. 14 vs. SDSU.
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 15 matches for the Golden Gophers. They've won four matches in four sets (0-0 in five).
8 -- The Gophers rank 8th nationally in hitting percentage (.295). They place fourth in the Big Ten.
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 10-0 with McKenna Garr as the starting libero and she has registered 4.41 digs per set during those matches. She's had nine 10+ dig matches since becoming the starter.
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 and 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. They're 0-1 in 2025.
2 -- The Gophers come in at No. 2 in the Big Ten and 77 nationally with 13.75 digs per set.
2 -- Minnesota has won its last two matches against UCLA (2024 at UCLA, 2016 Elite 8 at Minnesota).
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 -- Hanson was named as one of the 30 players to the AVCA Preseason Player of the Year Watch List.
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 defeated Northwestern in four sets on Sunday afternoon, 25-18, 25-22, 17-25, 26-24. Julia Hanson led Minnesota with 18 kills while Stella Swenson went for 41 assists and 14 digs. McKenna Garr was back in the lineup at libero and notched 14 digs while Jordan Taylor went for six kills and eight blocks. Minnesota fell in four sets to Michigan on Wednesday night on the road.
GOPHERS IN THE RANKINGS
• The Gophers entered the 2025 season with a No. 11 overall ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll.
• After week six, the 'U' moved down four spots to No. 14 after being ranked 10th last week.
• 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 UCLA
• UCLA (8-6, 2-2 B1G) is led by Alfee Reft, who is in his third year in charge in Westwood. He's hoping to lead UCLA to their first NCAA Tournament since 2021 after the Bruins have missed the postseason the last three years.
• The Bruins were ranked 24th last week before falling out of the rankings following a loss at home to Indiana. The Bruins were picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll and three players, outside Cheridyn Leverette, outside Maggie Li and middle Marianna Singletary were named to the Preseason All-B1G Team.
• UCLA is 1-4 against ranked teams this year, beating No. 15 Penn State but losing to No. 24 TCU twice, No. 4 Stanford and No. 13 Purdue. They're paced by Leverette, who averages 3.60 kills per set.
MINNESOTA'S HISTORY VS. UCLA
• Minnesota is 3-4 all-time against UCLA. Last season, the two teams played an epic five set battle in Westwood, the first meeting between the now conference foes in the Big Ten. Ranked 12th at the time, Minnesota beat RV UCLA 25-21, 25-22, 21-25, 25-27, 15-10. Lydia Grote led Minnesota with 13 kills while Melani Shaffmaster went for 41 assists, nine digs, eight kills and four blocks. It was their first match ever at Pauley Pavilion.
• The 'U' won its last meeting at the Pav against UCLA, a 3-0 sweep at Maturi Pavilion in 2016 in an Elite Eight matchup. The win helped the Gophers advance to their second straight Final Four.
AT HOME AGAINST UNRANKED OPPONENTS
• Minnesota is 139-3 in its last 16 seasons against unranked opponents at the Pav. Its last loss was Nov. 7, 2024 against Washington. Prior to that, it was Sept. 28, 2022 (3-2 loss vs. NU). Minnesota is 8-0 at home in 2025.
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 freshman setter Stella Swenson is the only non-true freshman of the group, and she leads the team with 10.00 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 2.18 and 2.15 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 3.55 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 leads the 'U' with 1.28 bps.
SCHEDULE SET TO HEAT UP IN OCTOBER
• Minnesota opened the 2025 season against No. 9 Texas A&M, falling in four sets in Sioux Falls, S.D. Since then, the Gophers have won 13 of their 14 matches, albeit against no ranked opponents in that time.
• After playing RV UCLA and Ohio State this week and Oregon and Washington next week, Minnesota will play ranked opponents in six of their next seven matches from Oct. 24 through Nov. 14.
• They'll play No. 20 Indiana, No. 12 Purdue, No. 22 USC, No. 7 Wisconsin, No. 1 Nebraska and No. 19 Penn St during that stretch. Minnesota finishes the season with two matches at home vs. Purdue and Wisconsin as well. Of their 16 remaining matches, eight are against top-25 opponents.
LEE LACING IT UP FROM SERVICE LINE
• Junior Georgia Lee, a setter transfer from Rutgers, has been Minnesota's best from the service line in 2025. She's totaled 18 aces (0.37 ps) in 2025, a team-best.
• Lee has tallied aces in nine of 15 matches this year, including going for multiple aces five times.
• She went for a career-best four aces against Rutgers on Sept. 28, including three in the second set alone. She also had three in matches against Vanderbilt and South Florida this season.
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.
• Since becoming a starter, Taylor is averaging 1.61 kills and 1.52 blocks per set, hitting .377.
• 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 last Sunday vs. Rutgers on .667.
• Taylor tied her career-best with eight blocks Sunday at Northwestern, helping the team to a four-set win. She's got five-or-more blocks in five of the last seven matches, including two with eight blocks.
STREAKS TO WATCH
• Julia Hanson tallied 10+ kills in 15 consecutive matches to end last year. She's 11-for-14 this year.
• McKenna Garr has totaled 10+ digs in 10 of 14 matches, including nine of 10 as starting libero.
• Lourdes Myers has multiple blocks in 13 of 15 matches, including eight matches with four-or-more.
• Alex Acevedo has hit 10+ kills six times this season. She had a career-high 16 kills Sept. 14 vs. South Dakota State.
• Stella Swenson has hit 30+ assists in 10 of 15 matches on the year. She also has four double-doubles after tallying 41 assists with a 14 digs Sunday at Northwestern.
• Jordan Taylor has hit five-or-more blocks in five of seven matches since becoming a starter. She tied her career-best with eight on Sunday at Northwestern.
INJURIES AFFECTING 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 stays home to host Ohio State (3-9, 0-4 B1G) on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. CT on B1G+.
Highlights: Gophers 0, UCLA 3
Wednesday, October 08
Highlights: Gophers 3, Northwestern 1
Sunday, October 05
Highlights: Gophers 1, Michigan 3
Wednesday, October 01
Swensons Join B1G Tailgate
Tuesday, September 30