University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, September 25
Minneapolis, MN
7:30 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Michigan State
Players Mentioned
Outside
/ Volleyball
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Photo by: Claudia Staut
No. 12 'U' Opens B1G Play vs. MSU, Rutgers
9/24/2025 3:25:00 PM | Volleyball
Minnesota enters with a 10-1 record
MINNEAPOLIS-- The No. 12 Minnesota Golden Gophers enter conference play after earning 10 straight wins following a season-opening loss to then No. 9 Texas A&M. Minnesota will host Michigan State (10-0, 0-0 B1G) on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. before hosting Rutgers (9-3, 0-0 B1G) on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Thursday's match will be on BTN while Sunday's is slated to be streamed on B1G+.
GAME 1 INFORMATION
No. 12 Minnesota vs. Michigan State
Thursday, Sept. 25
7:30 p.m. CT
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: BTN - Sloane Martin (Play-By-Play) and Meredith Nelson-Uram (Analyst)
Radio: GopherSports.com
Live Stats
GAME 2 INFORMATION
No. 12 Minnesota vs. Rutgers
Sunday, Sept. 28
2 p.m. CT
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: BTN - Lucas Kirchner (Play-By-Play), Meredith Nelson-Uram (Analyst) and Kyra Schwanz (Sideline)
Radio: GopherSports.com
Live Stats
NOTES TO KNOW
Minnesota is 62-19 vs. MSU and 12-3 vs. Rutgers
First Meeting: 1976 (Michigan State) and 1983 (Rutgers)
Last Meeting: 2024 (Michigan State and Rutgers)
HEADING INTO THE MATCH
44 -- The Gophers are 44th in the country this year with 107.0 total blocks. That places them fifth in the B1G.
30 -- Minnesota is 30-13 all-time in Big Ten lidlifters.
27 -- Julia Hanson had 27 10+ kill matches in 2024 (87%). She's nine for 10 so far this season (.900).
20 -- Minnesota has won 20 of the last 21 matches at home against Michigan State.
16 -- Times last season Minnesota posted 10+ blocks as a team. They've had 10+ blocks in five of their last seven matches, including a season-best 17.5 last Sunday vs. SDSU.
13 -- Minnesota has won its last 13 Big Ten home openers. Its last loss was in 2011, a 3-2 defeat to Illinois. Last year, the Gophers defeated No. 7 Wisconsin in a five set thriller.
13 -- Stella Swenson comes in at No. 13 nationally and sixth in the Big Ten with 10.54 assists per set.
12-- The 'U' ranks 12th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten with 2.89 blocks per set.
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 -- The Gophers rank 10th nationally in hitting percentage (.302). They place sixth in the Big Ten.
9 -- Minnesota ranks 9th nationally in attendance at 4,310 (avg.)
8 -- Minnesota has made eight Sweet 16's in the last 10 years.
7 -- Sweeps in 11 matches for the Golden Gophers. They've won three matches in four sets and haven't played five yet.
6 -- Hanson is sixth in the Big Ten in both points per set (4.68) and kills per set (4.12). Her 9.62 attacks per set rank her seventh.
4 -- McKenna Garr averaged 4.91 digs per set since taking over as the starting libero. She also notches 1.18 assists and 0.14 aces per set during that run. Minnesota is 7-0 in those matches.
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.
2 -- Hanson ranks in the top five among all Big Ten pins with a .327 hitting percentage.
1 -- Redshirt sophomore outside Alex Acevedo won her first all-tournament award last weekend 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 ranks first in the Big Ten with 14.54 digs per set.
PROMOTIONS
• Thursday night will be the release of the special collectors edition t-shirts. A limited number will be sold exclusively at the Fanatics shop at the Pav.
• Sunday afternoon is Alumni Day at Maturi Pavilion. Over two dozen former Gophers will be in attendance.
LAST TIME OUT
• The No. 12 Minnesota volleyball team swept Loyola Chicago on Friday night and Marquette on Sunday. Freshman Kelly Kinney led the offense with 11 kills while fellow rookie McKenna Garr had a career-high 20 digs. On Sunday, Julia Hanson paced the Gophers with 15 kills while freshman Jordan Taylor had a big time night, contributing six kills with a career-best eight blocks.
GOPHERS IN THE RANKINGS
• The Gophers entered the 2025 season with a No. 11 overall ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll.
• After week four, the 'U' stayed put at No. 12.
• 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 MICHIGAN STATE
• Led by first year head coach Kristen Kelsay, who has the Spartans at 10-0 (0-0 B1G) heading into Thursday night's matchup. A Michigan State alum' (2014), Kelsay coached at Minnesota from 2023-24 as an assistant, helping the Gophers to a pair of Round of 32 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• MSU has played primarily mid and low major teams thus far. Minnesota will be the first high major opponent it plays. Notable results include a 3-1 win over Bowling Green, a 3-2 win over App. St. and a sweep of Chicago St.
• Picked to finish 14th in the Big Ten Preseason Poll, the Spartans are led by outside Taylah Holdem, who registers 4.33 kills per set (4th in B1G). Setter Malayah Long paces the offense with 10.54 assists per set (5th in B1G).
SCOUTING RUTGERS
• Rutgers is led by sixth-year head coach Caitlin Schweihofer, who has Rutgers at 9-3 (0-0 B1G) heading into conference play. The Scarlet Knights were picked to finish 18th in the Big Ten Preseason Poll.
• RU defeated only mid and low major opponents during non-conference play. Notable wins included sweeps of Dartmouth, Sacred Heart, Rider and New Hampshire. Their losses came to Libery, Buffalo and George Mason.
• Aspen Maxwell leads the Scarlet Knights with 4.26 kills per set while Lily Bolen contributers 10.43 assists per set. Defensively, Zora Hardison holds down the front line with 1.30 blocks per set.
MINNESOTA'S HISTORY VS. MICHIGAN STATE AND RUTGERS
• The 'U' is 63-19 against Michigan State, winning 10 in-a-row in the series. The Gophers last loss to the Spartans was at the Pav on Sept. 24, 2017. In Minneapolis, the Gophers hold a 32-7 record in the series. The 'U' has won 20 of the last 21 matchups at home against the Spartans.
• Minnesota is 12-3 all-time against Rutgers. 11 of their 12 wins in the series against RU have come in three sets. In 2023, the Scarlet Knights took down the Gophers in four sets for their first win in the series since 1983.
GOPHERS IN BIG TEN OPENERS
• Minnesota is 30-13 in B1G openers and has won its last 13 conference home openers.
• The Gophers last loss in a Big Ten home opener was a 3-2 defeat to Illinois in 2011.
• Minnesota beat then No. 7 Wisconsin in five sets to open last year's Big Ten slate.
B1G LIFE, B1G STAGE
• Since 2012, Minnesota is 186-62 (.747) 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.
ACEVEDO ADDING TO HER GAME
• After playing primarily as a defensive specialist last year, Alex Acevedo has taken the next step as a redshirt sophomore. She added three inches to her vertical in the off-season and added power on her swing.
• So far in 2025, she is second on the team among pins in hitting percentage (.263) and kills per set (2.58). She's hit 10+ kills five times, including a career-high of 16 last Sunday afternoon.
• Acevedo is also one of the Gophers' best from the service line, totaling 0.32 aces per set and 10 aces, which are both second on the team.
THIBAULT TAKES NEXT STEP
• Defensive specialist Kate Thibault has added to her game as a junior and is one of the top defensive specialists in the league. She ranks third on the team with a career-best 2.84 digs per set, already tallying 10+ digs five times this season. She hit that mark seven times in 32 matches as a sophomore in 2024.
GARR EMERGING AS A ROOKIE
• Minnesota freshman libero McKenna Garr is having a strong start to her college career. Since taking over for Zeynep Palabiyik at libero, the Gophers are 7-0 and Garr has registered 4.91 digs per set. She's had 10+ digs in eight of her 11 matches, including seven straight with double digits. Garr went for a career-high 20 digs Friday at Loyola Chicago.
HANSON ON FIRE TO START SENIOR SEASON
• Minnesota senior outside Julia Hanson is off to a red-hot start in 2025. The unanimous 2024 All-Big Ten First Team selection was an AVCA All-America (HM) as well. Before last Saturday, she totaled 22 straight 10+ kill matches, including seven straight to begin this year. She's hitting .327 for the year with nine 10+ kill matches.
• She had a season-high 21 kills on Aug. 29 vs. Cal Poly. She's got four 15+ kill matches thus far in 2025.
UP NEXT
Minnesota takes on Michigan (10-1, 0-0 B1G) on the road on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The match is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on BTN.
GAME 1 INFORMATION
No. 12 Minnesota vs. Michigan State
Thursday, Sept. 25
7:30 p.m. CT
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: BTN - Sloane Martin (Play-By-Play) and Meredith Nelson-Uram (Analyst)
Radio: GopherSports.com
Live Stats
GAME 2 INFORMATION
No. 12 Minnesota vs. Rutgers
Sunday, Sept. 28
2 p.m. CT
Maturi Pavilion
Minneapolis, Minn.
TV: BTN - Lucas Kirchner (Play-By-Play), Meredith Nelson-Uram (Analyst) and Kyra Schwanz (Sideline)
Radio: GopherSports.com
Live Stats
NOTES TO KNOW
Minnesota is 62-19 vs. MSU and 12-3 vs. Rutgers
First Meeting: 1976 (Michigan State) and 1983 (Rutgers)
Last Meeting: 2024 (Michigan State and Rutgers)
HEADING INTO THE MATCH
44 -- The Gophers are 44th in the country this year with 107.0 total blocks. That places them fifth in the B1G.
30 -- Minnesota is 30-13 all-time in Big Ten lidlifters.
27 -- Julia Hanson had 27 10+ kill matches in 2024 (87%). She's nine for 10 so far this season (.900).
20 -- Minnesota has won 20 of the last 21 matches at home against Michigan State.
16 -- Times last season Minnesota posted 10+ blocks as a team. They've had 10+ blocks in five of their last seven matches, including a season-best 17.5 last Sunday vs. SDSU.
13 -- Minnesota has won its last 13 Big Ten home openers. Its last loss was in 2011, a 3-2 defeat to Illinois. Last year, the Gophers defeated No. 7 Wisconsin in a five set thriller.
13 -- Stella Swenson comes in at No. 13 nationally and sixth in the Big Ten with 10.54 assists per set.
12-- The 'U' ranks 12th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten with 2.89 blocks per set.
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 -- The Gophers rank 10th nationally in hitting percentage (.302). They place sixth in the Big Ten.
9 -- Minnesota ranks 9th nationally in attendance at 4,310 (avg.)
8 -- Minnesota has made eight Sweet 16's in the last 10 years.
7 -- Sweeps in 11 matches for the Golden Gophers. They've won three matches in four sets and haven't played five yet.
6 -- Hanson is sixth in the Big Ten in both points per set (4.68) and kills per set (4.12). Her 9.62 attacks per set rank her seventh.
4 -- McKenna Garr averaged 4.91 digs per set since taking over as the starting libero. She also notches 1.18 assists and 0.14 aces per set during that run. Minnesota is 7-0 in those matches.
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.
2 -- Hanson ranks in the top five among all Big Ten pins with a .327 hitting percentage.
1 -- Redshirt sophomore outside Alex Acevedo won her first all-tournament award last weekend 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 ranks first in the Big Ten with 14.54 digs per set.
PROMOTIONS
• Thursday night will be the release of the special collectors edition t-shirts. A limited number will be sold exclusively at the Fanatics shop at the Pav.
• Sunday afternoon is Alumni Day at Maturi Pavilion. Over two dozen former Gophers will be in attendance.
LAST TIME OUT
• The No. 12 Minnesota volleyball team swept Loyola Chicago on Friday night and Marquette on Sunday. Freshman Kelly Kinney led the offense with 11 kills while fellow rookie McKenna Garr had a career-high 20 digs. On Sunday, Julia Hanson paced the Gophers with 15 kills while freshman Jordan Taylor had a big time night, contributing six kills with a career-best eight blocks.
GOPHERS IN THE RANKINGS
• The Gophers entered the 2025 season with a No. 11 overall ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll.
• After week four, the 'U' stayed put at No. 12.
• 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 MICHIGAN STATE
• Led by first year head coach Kristen Kelsay, who has the Spartans at 10-0 (0-0 B1G) heading into Thursday night's matchup. A Michigan State alum' (2014), Kelsay coached at Minnesota from 2023-24 as an assistant, helping the Gophers to a pair of Round of 32 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
• MSU has played primarily mid and low major teams thus far. Minnesota will be the first high major opponent it plays. Notable results include a 3-1 win over Bowling Green, a 3-2 win over App. St. and a sweep of Chicago St.
• Picked to finish 14th in the Big Ten Preseason Poll, the Spartans are led by outside Taylah Holdem, who registers 4.33 kills per set (4th in B1G). Setter Malayah Long paces the offense with 10.54 assists per set (5th in B1G).
SCOUTING RUTGERS
• Rutgers is led by sixth-year head coach Caitlin Schweihofer, who has Rutgers at 9-3 (0-0 B1G) heading into conference play. The Scarlet Knights were picked to finish 18th in the Big Ten Preseason Poll.
• RU defeated only mid and low major opponents during non-conference play. Notable wins included sweeps of Dartmouth, Sacred Heart, Rider and New Hampshire. Their losses came to Libery, Buffalo and George Mason.
• Aspen Maxwell leads the Scarlet Knights with 4.26 kills per set while Lily Bolen contributers 10.43 assists per set. Defensively, Zora Hardison holds down the front line with 1.30 blocks per set.
MINNESOTA'S HISTORY VS. MICHIGAN STATE AND RUTGERS
• The 'U' is 63-19 against Michigan State, winning 10 in-a-row in the series. The Gophers last loss to the Spartans was at the Pav on Sept. 24, 2017. In Minneapolis, the Gophers hold a 32-7 record in the series. The 'U' has won 20 of the last 21 matchups at home against the Spartans.
• Minnesota is 12-3 all-time against Rutgers. 11 of their 12 wins in the series against RU have come in three sets. In 2023, the Scarlet Knights took down the Gophers in four sets for their first win in the series since 1983.
GOPHERS IN BIG TEN OPENERS
• Minnesota is 30-13 in B1G openers and has won its last 13 conference home openers.
• The Gophers last loss in a Big Ten home opener was a 3-2 defeat to Illinois in 2011.
• Minnesota beat then No. 7 Wisconsin in five sets to open last year's Big Ten slate.
B1G LIFE, B1G STAGE
• Since 2012, Minnesota is 186-62 (.747) 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.
ACEVEDO ADDING TO HER GAME
• After playing primarily as a defensive specialist last year, Alex Acevedo has taken the next step as a redshirt sophomore. She added three inches to her vertical in the off-season and added power on her swing.
• So far in 2025, she is second on the team among pins in hitting percentage (.263) and kills per set (2.58). She's hit 10+ kills five times, including a career-high of 16 last Sunday afternoon.
• Acevedo is also one of the Gophers' best from the service line, totaling 0.32 aces per set and 10 aces, which are both second on the team.
THIBAULT TAKES NEXT STEP
• Defensive specialist Kate Thibault has added to her game as a junior and is one of the top defensive specialists in the league. She ranks third on the team with a career-best 2.84 digs per set, already tallying 10+ digs five times this season. She hit that mark seven times in 32 matches as a sophomore in 2024.
GARR EMERGING AS A ROOKIE
• Minnesota freshman libero McKenna Garr is having a strong start to her college career. Since taking over for Zeynep Palabiyik at libero, the Gophers are 7-0 and Garr has registered 4.91 digs per set. She's had 10+ digs in eight of her 11 matches, including seven straight with double digits. Garr went for a career-high 20 digs Friday at Loyola Chicago.
HANSON ON FIRE TO START SENIOR SEASON
• Minnesota senior outside Julia Hanson is off to a red-hot start in 2025. The unanimous 2024 All-Big Ten First Team selection was an AVCA All-America (HM) as well. Before last Saturday, she totaled 22 straight 10+ kill matches, including seven straight to begin this year. She's hitting .327 for the year with nine 10+ kill matches.
• She had a season-high 21 kills on Aug. 29 vs. Cal Poly. She's got four 15+ kill matches thus far in 2025.
UP NEXT
Minnesota takes on Michigan (10-1, 0-0 B1G) on the road on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The match is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on BTN.
Highlights: Gophers 3, Marquette 0
Sunday, September 21
Highlights: Gophers 3, Loyola Chicago 0
Friday, September 19
Cinematic Recap: Diet Coke Classic
Wednesday, September 17
Highlights: Gophers 3, SDSU 1
Sunday, September 14