University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, April 24
Minneapolis, MN
6:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
St. Thomas
Players Mentioned
Outside
/ Volleyball
Opposite
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Minnesota to Host St. Thomas for Spring Match
4/24/2026 11:38:00 AM | Volleyball
The match will be streamed on B1G+ at 6 p.m. CT
MINNEAPOLIS -- The University of Minnesota women's volleyball team is set to host St. Thomas tonight at Maturi Pavilion. The match will be Minnesota's final home tilt of the spring season and admission will be free for all fans. The match starts at 6 p.m. and doors open at 5 p.m. For those unable to attend, it will be streamed on B1G+.
MATCH INFORMATION
Minnesota vs. St. Thomas
Friday, April 24 at 6 p.m.
Maturi Pavilion
FORMAT
The match will be four sets, up to 25 points each.
ENTRANCE AND PARKING
Guests should enter from the main entrance on 19th Ave SE, which is the typical entrance for Gophers volleyball matches. Campus parking suggestions: University Ave Ramp, Fourth St. Ramp, Lot 37, Lot C58 and Maroon Lot.
SPRING 2026 SEASON
• Minnesota has been practicing since January for their spring 2026 season. The Gophers scheduled spring matches against Iowa State and Wisconsin were both canceled due to lack of healthy and available players.
• Last weekend, the Gophers competed at the Northern Iowa Tournament against USD, South Dakota State and Northern Iowa in two-set scrimmages.
• All of Minnesota's players who suffered season-ending injuries in the fall are on track to be back by the fall. That includes libero Zeynep Palabiyik, middle Calissa Minatee and outside Alex Acevedo.
• Minesota added two new coaches to the staff, with assistants Arica Davis and Spencer Wickens coming in. Davis coached at Kansas last year and Oregon before that while Wickens was an assistant for the Stanford men's team.
MINNESOTA VOLLEYBALL IN 2025
• Minnesota heads into the 2026 season after making the Sweet 16 for the first time since the 2022 season. The Gophers finished the year with a 24-10 (12-8 Big Ten) record, tied for sixth place in the Big Ten Conference.
• The 'U' earned a final ranking of 15 from the AVCA. Led by Second Team All-American Julia Hanson, the 'U' withstood four season-ending injuries to starters and rallied for its first second weekend of the NCAA Tournament appearance under third-year head coach Keegan Cook.
• Freshman opposite Carly Gilk, senior outside Julia Hanson and redshirt freshman Stella Swenson all earned All-Big Ten honors. Hanson was named a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection while Swenson made the second team and the all-freshman team. Gilk joined Swenson as a Big Ten All-Freshman Team honoree.
• Minnesota returns 11 players who started matches last season and lost no one to the transfer portal. Three early enrollees joined this spring in outside MaKenna Crosson (San Jose, Calif.), libero Madi Kraft (Eagan, Minn.) and middle blocker Elena Hoecke (Lino Lakes, Minn.).
SCOUTING ST. THOMAS
• The Tommies are led by 24th-year head coach Thanh Pham. He holds a 509-213 (.705) record with the Tommies, including the 20212 NCAA Division III National Title.
• It's been a steady climb in Division I for UST. After winning single digit matches in their first three years of the transition, they broke through last year to win 21 matches and make the NCAA Tournament in their first year eligible at DI. They lost a five set thriller to ISU at Maturi Pavilion.
• Key starters returning for UST include setter Morgan Kealy, the two-time Summit League Setter of the Year, and Anya Schmidt, the 2025 Summit League Freshman of the Year. Senior outside Ellie Gustafson is another key piece.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will wrap up spring practice next week and begin preparations for the 2026 regular season.
MATCH INFORMATION
Minnesota vs. St. Thomas
Friday, April 24 at 6 p.m.
Maturi Pavilion
FORMAT
The match will be four sets, up to 25 points each.
ENTRANCE AND PARKING
Guests should enter from the main entrance on 19th Ave SE, which is the typical entrance for Gophers volleyball matches. Campus parking suggestions: University Ave Ramp, Fourth St. Ramp, Lot 37, Lot C58 and Maroon Lot.
SPRING 2026 SEASON
• Minnesota has been practicing since January for their spring 2026 season. The Gophers scheduled spring matches against Iowa State and Wisconsin were both canceled due to lack of healthy and available players.
• Last weekend, the Gophers competed at the Northern Iowa Tournament against USD, South Dakota State and Northern Iowa in two-set scrimmages.
• All of Minnesota's players who suffered season-ending injuries in the fall are on track to be back by the fall. That includes libero Zeynep Palabiyik, middle Calissa Minatee and outside Alex Acevedo.
• Minesota added two new coaches to the staff, with assistants Arica Davis and Spencer Wickens coming in. Davis coached at Kansas last year and Oregon before that while Wickens was an assistant for the Stanford men's team.
MINNESOTA VOLLEYBALL IN 2025
• Minnesota heads into the 2026 season after making the Sweet 16 for the first time since the 2022 season. The Gophers finished the year with a 24-10 (12-8 Big Ten) record, tied for sixth place in the Big Ten Conference.
• The 'U' earned a final ranking of 15 from the AVCA. Led by Second Team All-American Julia Hanson, the 'U' withstood four season-ending injuries to starters and rallied for its first second weekend of the NCAA Tournament appearance under third-year head coach Keegan Cook.
• Freshman opposite Carly Gilk, senior outside Julia Hanson and redshirt freshman Stella Swenson all earned All-Big Ten honors. Hanson was named a unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection while Swenson made the second team and the all-freshman team. Gilk joined Swenson as a Big Ten All-Freshman Team honoree.
• Minnesota returns 11 players who started matches last season and lost no one to the transfer portal. Three early enrollees joined this spring in outside MaKenna Crosson (San Jose, Calif.), libero Madi Kraft (Eagan, Minn.) and middle blocker Elena Hoecke (Lino Lakes, Minn.).
SCOUTING ST. THOMAS
• The Tommies are led by 24th-year head coach Thanh Pham. He holds a 509-213 (.705) record with the Tommies, including the 20212 NCAA Division III National Title.
• It's been a steady climb in Division I for UST. After winning single digit matches in their first three years of the transition, they broke through last year to win 21 matches and make the NCAA Tournament in their first year eligible at DI. They lost a five set thriller to ISU at Maturi Pavilion.
• Key starters returning for UST include setter Morgan Kealy, the two-time Summit League Setter of the Year, and Anya Schmidt, the 2025 Summit League Freshman of the Year. Senior outside Ellie Gustafson is another key piece.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will wrap up spring practice next week and begin preparations for the 2026 regular season.
2025 Season Recap
Tuesday, January 27
Best of Julia Hanson
Monday, December 22
Gophers Preview NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Tuesday, December 09
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Reach Sweet Sixteen
Tuesday, December 09