University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, December 6
Minneapolis, MN
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
24-9,12-8Big Ten
3
vs
0
Iowa State
23-8,12-6Big 12
1
2
3
F
Iowa St.
22
21
14
0
Minnesota
25
25
25
3
'U' Takes Down Cyclones, Dances into Sweet 16
12/6/2025 9:34:00 PM | Volleyball
Minnesota will take on Pittsburgh in the Sweet 16
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 4 seeded Minnesota volleyball team took down the No. 5 seeded Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday night at Maturi Pavilion in three sets. With the win, the Gophers will head to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 next week in Pittsburgh, Pa. The set scores of the match were 25-22, 25-21, 25-14.
"Anything can happen," said head coach Keegan Cook. "This didn't feel like this wasn't an accomplishment that we couldn't reach despite all the adversity we've dealt with this season. This tournament is a place where you can change your life and I think we're seeing that from our young athletes. I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do next weekend."
In their 30th NCAA Tournament appearance and 11th straight, Minnesota moved to 21-8 in second round matches. Minnesota is now headed to its first Sweet 16 since the 2022 season and first under head coach Keegan Cook.
Julia Hanson had 23 kills to lead Minnesota while Stella Swenson went for 35 assists and eight digs. Kelly Kinney had eight kills and three aces while Jordan Taylor paced the defense with five blocks.
Hanson had 11 kills in the first set alone on her way to a career night. It was her fifth 20+ kill match of the season. She reflected on what her last game at the Pav meant to her.
"It's been an amazing four years here at Minnesota," Hanson said. "With the crowd and every team I've been a part of, I knew I was going to go out strong. I played hard and my teammates had my back the entire time."
The Gophers (24-9, 12-8 Big Ten) outhit the Cyclones (23-8, 12-6 Big 12) .384 to .170, leading in kills (47 to 33), digs (41 to 39), aces (5 to 3) and blocks (7 to 4).
For Iowa State, Ti'a Nayeli had 12 kills while Alea Goolsby went for eight kills.
Coach Cook was asked about the team making the Sweet 16 and if he thought that was possible after losing four starters to season-ending injuries early in the year.
"We recruited everyone to play for us and they each kind of found their place and found their role. It took a lot of work on their part, we had to build relationships very quickly and it wasn't easy. They really allowed themselves to be coached," he said.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Gophers came out strong, scoring four of the first five points. ISU would cut the deficit to just one at 6-5 before Minnesota extended the lead to 10-6 after a plethora of kills from Hanson and one from Taylor. The Cyclones would get back to within two at 10-8 following a couple kills and a block. The 'U' reeled off four of the next five after that to go up 14-9, forcing an ISU timeout. Hanson had two more kills and Kinney tallied a service ace in the spurt. The Cyclones would get it back to within four at 18-14 before Minnesota scored three of four to go up 21-15, forcing another timeout from the visitors. Kinney had a kill and Hanson a solo block in the run. ISU got a trip of kills to cut the lead to four again at 22-18 before Minnesota called its first timeout of the frame. The Gophers went up 24-19 following kills from Hanson and Myers, but ISU scored three straight after that to make it 24-22, forcing Minnesota's final timeout. A block from Myers and Swenson ended the set with a 25-22 Minnesota victory. Hanson had 11 kills and the Gophers hit .405 for the set.
SET 2 | The two teams went back-and-forth, splitting the first 16 points of the set. Minnesota accelerated in the middle of the set, scoring five straight to take a 13-8 lead. Kinney had an ace and ISU contributed four errors. The visitors called a timeout after the 5-0 spurt. The Cyclones responded after the break, totaling five of the next six to cut Minnesota's lead to just one at 14-13. Coach Cook called a timeout at that point to talk it over. ISU finally retook the lead at 15-14 and the two teams exchanged points after that, with no one leading by more than a point. A 3-0 run finally came from Minnesota to put the Gophers up 22-20 following two kills from Kinney and one from Hanson. Kills from Hanson and Gilk after that put the 'U' up 24-20. The Cyclones would get one more kill before Hanson put set two away with her 20th kill, 25-21.
SET 3 | Minnesota came out strong again in set three, scoring five of the first seven. Gilk had a kill, Kinney had an ace and Hanson had three kills. ISU would get it back within two at 8-6 before Minnesota scored the next three after that to go up 11-6 and force a timeout. Kinney and Gilk each had kills in the spurt. ISU got back within four at 12-8 before a Gilk kill and ISU error made it 14-8. ISU got back within five at 14-9 before a Gilk kill and Olivia Swenson ace made it 16-9. The Gophers would keep their lead between six and seven before ISU called a timeout at 19-12, following a Jordan Taylor solo block. ISU scored the next two points before Minnesota exploded on a 6-0 run to finish it out, 25-14. Kinney and Gilk had kills while Taylor and Gilk combined for a pair of blocks to seal the sweep.
Game Notes
» Minnesota is now 26-7 all-time against Iowa State, including 1-2 in the NCAA Tournament.
» The Gophers are now 21-8 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
» The 'U' hit .384 for the match, their 15th time this season hitting over .300.
» The 'U' will advance to their ninth Sweet 16 in the last 11 seasons and first under head coach Keegan Cook.
» Minnesota is now 4-6 against ranked opponents this season (ISU was No. 23).
» McKenna Garr (11) posted 10+ digs for the 23rd time in 2025.
» Julia Hanson (23 kills) posted 10+ kills for the 25th time this season. It was her fifth 20+ kill match.
» Kelly Kinney led the team with three aces, her ninth match this season with multiple aces.
» Jordan Taylor went for five blocks, her ninth match with 5+ blocks this year.
» The Gophers improved to 14-4 at home this year.
» Minnesota is now 42-4 in NCAA Tournament matches at Maturi Pavilion. They've won their last eight.
Up Next
Minnesota will travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., to take on the No. 1 seeded Pittsburgh Panthers next Thursday or Friday for a Sweet 16 matchup.
"Anything can happen," said head coach Keegan Cook. "This didn't feel like this wasn't an accomplishment that we couldn't reach despite all the adversity we've dealt with this season. This tournament is a place where you can change your life and I think we're seeing that from our young athletes. I'm looking forward to seeing what they can do next weekend."
In their 30th NCAA Tournament appearance and 11th straight, Minnesota moved to 21-8 in second round matches. Minnesota is now headed to its first Sweet 16 since the 2022 season and first under head coach Keegan Cook.
Julia Hanson had 23 kills to lead Minnesota while Stella Swenson went for 35 assists and eight digs. Kelly Kinney had eight kills and three aces while Jordan Taylor paced the defense with five blocks.
Hanson had 11 kills in the first set alone on her way to a career night. It was her fifth 20+ kill match of the season. She reflected on what her last game at the Pav meant to her.
"It's been an amazing four years here at Minnesota," Hanson said. "With the crowd and every team I've been a part of, I knew I was going to go out strong. I played hard and my teammates had my back the entire time."
The Gophers (24-9, 12-8 Big Ten) outhit the Cyclones (23-8, 12-6 Big 12) .384 to .170, leading in kills (47 to 33), digs (41 to 39), aces (5 to 3) and blocks (7 to 4).
For Iowa State, Ti'a Nayeli had 12 kills while Alea Goolsby went for eight kills.
Coach Cook was asked about the team making the Sweet 16 and if he thought that was possible after losing four starters to season-ending injuries early in the year.
"We recruited everyone to play for us and they each kind of found their place and found their role. It took a lot of work on their part, we had to build relationships very quickly and it wasn't easy. They really allowed themselves to be coached," he said.
How It Happened
SET 1 | The Gophers came out strong, scoring four of the first five points. ISU would cut the deficit to just one at 6-5 before Minnesota extended the lead to 10-6 after a plethora of kills from Hanson and one from Taylor. The Cyclones would get back to within two at 10-8 following a couple kills and a block. The 'U' reeled off four of the next five after that to go up 14-9, forcing an ISU timeout. Hanson had two more kills and Kinney tallied a service ace in the spurt. The Cyclones would get it back to within four at 18-14 before Minnesota scored three of four to go up 21-15, forcing another timeout from the visitors. Kinney had a kill and Hanson a solo block in the run. ISU got a trip of kills to cut the lead to four again at 22-18 before Minnesota called its first timeout of the frame. The Gophers went up 24-19 following kills from Hanson and Myers, but ISU scored three straight after that to make it 24-22, forcing Minnesota's final timeout. A block from Myers and Swenson ended the set with a 25-22 Minnesota victory. Hanson had 11 kills and the Gophers hit .405 for the set.
SET 2 | The two teams went back-and-forth, splitting the first 16 points of the set. Minnesota accelerated in the middle of the set, scoring five straight to take a 13-8 lead. Kinney had an ace and ISU contributed four errors. The visitors called a timeout after the 5-0 spurt. The Cyclones responded after the break, totaling five of the next six to cut Minnesota's lead to just one at 14-13. Coach Cook called a timeout at that point to talk it over. ISU finally retook the lead at 15-14 and the two teams exchanged points after that, with no one leading by more than a point. A 3-0 run finally came from Minnesota to put the Gophers up 22-20 following two kills from Kinney and one from Hanson. Kills from Hanson and Gilk after that put the 'U' up 24-20. The Cyclones would get one more kill before Hanson put set two away with her 20th kill, 25-21.
SET 3 | Minnesota came out strong again in set three, scoring five of the first seven. Gilk had a kill, Kinney had an ace and Hanson had three kills. ISU would get it back within two at 8-6 before Minnesota scored the next three after that to go up 11-6 and force a timeout. Kinney and Gilk each had kills in the spurt. ISU got back within four at 12-8 before a Gilk kill and ISU error made it 14-8. ISU got back within five at 14-9 before a Gilk kill and Olivia Swenson ace made it 16-9. The Gophers would keep their lead between six and seven before ISU called a timeout at 19-12, following a Jordan Taylor solo block. ISU scored the next two points before Minnesota exploded on a 6-0 run to finish it out, 25-14. Kinney and Gilk had kills while Taylor and Gilk combined for a pair of blocks to seal the sweep.
Game Notes
» Minnesota is now 26-7 all-time against Iowa State, including 1-2 in the NCAA Tournament.
» The Gophers are now 21-8 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
» The 'U' hit .384 for the match, their 15th time this season hitting over .300.
» The 'U' will advance to their ninth Sweet 16 in the last 11 seasons and first under head coach Keegan Cook.
» Minnesota is now 4-6 against ranked opponents this season (ISU was No. 23).
» McKenna Garr (11) posted 10+ digs for the 23rd time in 2025.
» Julia Hanson (23 kills) posted 10+ kills for the 25th time this season. It was her fifth 20+ kill match.
» Kelly Kinney led the team with three aces, her ninth match this season with multiple aces.
» Jordan Taylor went for five blocks, her ninth match with 5+ blocks this year.
» The Gophers improved to 14-4 at home this year.
» Minnesota is now 42-4 in NCAA Tournament matches at Maturi Pavilion. They've won their last eight.
Up Next
Minnesota will travel to Pittsburgh, Pa., to take on the No. 1 seeded Pittsburgh Panthers next Thursday or Friday for a Sweet 16 matchup.
Team Stats
IowaSt
MINN
Kills
33
47
Errors
16
9
Attempts
100
99
Hitting %
.170
.384
Points
40.0
59.0
Assists
30
46
Aces
3
5
Blocks
4
7
Game Leaders
Kills
23
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
3
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
4
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
Libero/DS
/ VolleyballOutside
/ VolleyballOutside
/ Volleyball
Defensive Specialist
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ VolleyballHighlights: Gophers 3, Fairfield 0
Friday, December 05
NCAA Postgame Reaction
Friday, December 05
Gopher Volley Squad
Friday, December 05
NCAA Tournament Hype
Friday, December 05