University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, August 30
Minneapolis, MN
5:00 PM
University of Minnesota
2-1,0-0Big Ten
3
vs
0
Ball State
1-1,0-0MAC
1
2
3
F
Ball St.
16
18
15
0
Minnesota
25
25
25
3
Team Stats
BSU
MINN
Kills
39
50
Errors
12
5
Attempts
92
86
Hitting %
.293
.523
Points
42.0
60.0
Assists
37
45
Aces
1
4
Blocks
2
6
Game Leaders
Kills-Aces-Blocks
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
11
Aces
2
Blocks
0
Kills
9
Aces
0
Blocks
3
Kills
7
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Players Mentioned
Outside
/ VolleyballOpposite
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Ceci De Young
No. 11 'U' Bests Ball State in Three
8/30/2025 6:41:00 PM | Volleyball
Minnesota hit over .500 for the first time since 2017
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 11 Minnesota volleyball team swept the Ball State Cardinals on Saturday evening in their second home match of the year. The Gophers took the win 25-16, 25-18, 25-15 to advance to 2-1 (0-0 Big Ten) on the season.
"Things that we tried to go big on early in this season are serve receive and siding out at a high level," said head coach Keegan Cook. "We wanted to play clean and not hit the ball out of bounds. We're starting to form a really good identity."
Julia Hanson led Minnesota with 12 kills while Alex Acevedo had 11. Zeynep Palabiyik had 15 digs while Stella Swenson paced the offense with 39 assists.
The Gophers (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) outhit the Cardinals (1-1, 0-0 MAC) .523 to .293, outdug them 38 to 28 and led the battle in kills 50 to 39. Minnesota also led the ace (4 to 2) and blocks (6 to 2) battle.
It was the first time Minnesota has hit over .500 in a match since 2017.
Carson Tyler paced the Cardinals (1-1, 0-0 MAC) with 13 kills while Noelle VanOort had 10.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Minnesota came out firing, scoring seven of the first eight points before Ball State called timeout. BSU would fight back, cutting the lead to just three at 10-7. The Gophers bounced back with five straight points to take a commanding 15-7 advantage. The Gophers' lead would grow to as many as 10 at 21-11 before BSU called its final timeout of the set. Minnesota would close out the frame with a 25-16 victory. The 'U' hit a scorching .538 and had 17 kills. Acevedo led the way with five kills while Swenson had 14 assists and four digs.
SET 2 | The Gophers took an early second set lead, scoring four of the first five points. Minnesota would extend the lead to as many as six at 9-3 before a couple points by the Cardinals. The 'U' would tally six of the next eight points, capped by a solo block from Hanson, to go up 15-7 into the media break. A 4-1 BSU run cut the deficit to just five at 16-11, forcing a timeout from coach Cook. A 4-2 spurt by Minnesota spiked the lead to 20-13, leading to BSU's final timeout of the frame. The Cardinals would get no closer the rest of the way as the 'U' closed it out, 25-18.
SET 3 | The Gophers started slow, trailing 5-3. However, a 6-0 run from the 'U' put them up a set-high four points at 9-5 and led to a BSU timeout. Minnesota's lead grew to seven at 14-7, paced by a couple kills each from Gilk and Hanson. BSU would cut the lead to five at 18-13 but would get no closer. The Gophers closed it out on a 7-2 run to win, 25-15. Jordan Taylor tallied the final kill of the match.
Game Notes
» The 'U' is now 3-1 all-time against Ball State.
» Minnesota hit a season-best .523. It was the first time since Nov. 11, 2017 the Gophers hit over .500 in a match.
» Georgia Lee tallied her second ace in three matches for Minnesota.
» Stella Swenson posted 39 assists, seven digs and two kills.
» Julia Hanson had 12 kills to lead Minnesota. She's had 10-or-more kills in 18 consecutive matches dating back to last season.
» Zeynep Palabiyik posted 15 digs for her 13th consecutive match (dating back to last season), with 10+ digs.
» Calissa Minatee had six kills, her third straight match with five-or-more.
» Jordan Taylor made her Gophers debut and posted four kills with two blocks.
» Alex Acevedo posted 11 kills, her second 10+ kill match of 2025.
» Carly Gilk has totaled 20 kills (9 tonight) in two matches this weekend.
Up Next
Minnesota (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) hosts St. Thomas (0-2, 0-0 Summit) tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT.
"Things that we tried to go big on early in this season are serve receive and siding out at a high level," said head coach Keegan Cook. "We wanted to play clean and not hit the ball out of bounds. We're starting to form a really good identity."
Julia Hanson led Minnesota with 12 kills while Alex Acevedo had 11. Zeynep Palabiyik had 15 digs while Stella Swenson paced the offense with 39 assists.
The Gophers (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) outhit the Cardinals (1-1, 0-0 MAC) .523 to .293, outdug them 38 to 28 and led the battle in kills 50 to 39. Minnesota also led the ace (4 to 2) and blocks (6 to 2) battle.
It was the first time Minnesota has hit over .500 in a match since 2017.
Carson Tyler paced the Cardinals (1-1, 0-0 MAC) with 13 kills while Noelle VanOort had 10.
How It Happened
SET 1 | Minnesota came out firing, scoring seven of the first eight points before Ball State called timeout. BSU would fight back, cutting the lead to just three at 10-7. The Gophers bounced back with five straight points to take a commanding 15-7 advantage. The Gophers' lead would grow to as many as 10 at 21-11 before BSU called its final timeout of the set. Minnesota would close out the frame with a 25-16 victory. The 'U' hit a scorching .538 and had 17 kills. Acevedo led the way with five kills while Swenson had 14 assists and four digs.
SET 2 | The Gophers took an early second set lead, scoring four of the first five points. Minnesota would extend the lead to as many as six at 9-3 before a couple points by the Cardinals. The 'U' would tally six of the next eight points, capped by a solo block from Hanson, to go up 15-7 into the media break. A 4-1 BSU run cut the deficit to just five at 16-11, forcing a timeout from coach Cook. A 4-2 spurt by Minnesota spiked the lead to 20-13, leading to BSU's final timeout of the frame. The Cardinals would get no closer the rest of the way as the 'U' closed it out, 25-18.
SET 3 | The Gophers started slow, trailing 5-3. However, a 6-0 run from the 'U' put them up a set-high four points at 9-5 and led to a BSU timeout. Minnesota's lead grew to seven at 14-7, paced by a couple kills each from Gilk and Hanson. BSU would cut the lead to five at 18-13 but would get no closer. The Gophers closed it out on a 7-2 run to win, 25-15. Jordan Taylor tallied the final kill of the match.
Game Notes
» The 'U' is now 3-1 all-time against Ball State.
» Minnesota hit a season-best .523. It was the first time since Nov. 11, 2017 the Gophers hit over .500 in a match.
» Georgia Lee tallied her second ace in three matches for Minnesota.
» Stella Swenson posted 39 assists, seven digs and two kills.
» Julia Hanson had 12 kills to lead Minnesota. She's had 10-or-more kills in 18 consecutive matches dating back to last season.
» Zeynep Palabiyik posted 15 digs for her 13th consecutive match (dating back to last season), with 10+ digs.
» Calissa Minatee had six kills, her third straight match with five-or-more.
» Jordan Taylor made her Gophers debut and posted four kills with two blocks.
» Alex Acevedo posted 11 kills, her second 10+ kill match of 2025.
» Carly Gilk has totaled 20 kills (9 tonight) in two matches this weekend.
Up Next
Minnesota (2-1, 0-0 Big Ten) hosts St. Thomas (0-2, 0-0 Summit) tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT.
Highlights: Gophers 3, Michigan State 0
Thursday, September 25
Highlights: Gophers 3, Marquette 0
Sunday, September 21
Highlights: Gophers 3, Loyola Chicago 0
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Cinematic Recap: Diet Coke Classic
Wednesday, September 17