University of Minnesota Athletics
Volleyball
Sanky Sanny
- Position:
- Technical Coordinator & Performance Analyst
- Alma Mater:
- Temple, 2017
- Instagram:
- sanky.sanny
- Email:
- sanny007@umn.edu
Sanky Sanny completed his fourth season as the technical coordinator and performance analyst for Minnesota volleyball in 2025. He was promoted to technical coordinator and performance analyst in 2023. Sanny's work behind the scenes as an analyst has done wonders for the program as they build an edge in the scouting game. He's set to return for his fifth year in 2026.
During his time at the 'U,' the Gophers have made four NCAA Tournament's and two Sweet 16's. In his four years with Minnesota volleyball, the Gophers have achieved a 84-43 (.661) record, including a 52-28 (.650) Big Ten mark.
The most recent season in 2025 was a rousing success despite dealing with extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Minnesota went 24-10 (12-8 Big Ten) despite losing four starters to season-ending injuries during the first 45 days of the season. Minnesota rode five freshmen starters and two seniors to a sixth-place finish in the Big Ten and a top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they hosted the first two rounds at Maturi Pavilion. The Gophers advanced to the Sweet 16 and finished with a No. 15 final AVCA ranking.
Individually, three Gophers were named First Team All-Big Ten, including unanimous selection Julia Hanson. A true player development story, Hanson went from playing sparingly her first two years to becoming a two-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree and an AVCA Second Team All-American in 2025.
In 2024, the team finished with a 21-11 (13-7 Big Ten) record, a four-win improvement from the year prior. Minnesota made its 10th straight NCAA Tournament and fell in the Round of 32 to Kentucky. The 'U' earned top-10 wins over then No. 1 Texas and No. 7 Wisconsin, both in five sets. It was the first time Minnesota defeated a No. 1 ranked team since 2019 and the program's second straight home win over Wisconsin. Statistically, Minnesota improved in hitting percentage (.226 to .242), kills per set (12.4 to 13.0), assists per set (11.5 to 11.8), digs per set (14.7 to 15.3) and blocks per set (2.6 to 2.7) from the year prior.
Four Gophers were named to the All-Big Ten teams, including three on the first team with Lydia Grote, Julia Hanson and Melani Shaffmaster. Phoebe Awoleye was named to the second team. All four players earned AVCA All-Region honors while Hanson and Shaffmaster were named AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, the first All-America honors of their careers.
His second year with the program in 2023 saw the Gophers post a 17-13 (12-8 Big Ten) record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. After defeating Utah State in the first round, the Gophers fell to No. 12 Creighton in the Round of 32. Four players were named All-Big Ten, including reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Taylor Landfair and Kylie Murr (first team). Opposite Lydia Grote and setter Melani Shaffmater were both named Second Team All-Big Ten.
In his first season in Minnesota, Sanny was instrumental in helping the Gophers finish 22-9 (15-5 Big Ten) in 2022. He was a part of helping the team finish tied for third in the Big Ten and with a top-10 final national ranking. Minnesota finished the season in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. He helped mentor five All-Big Ten honorees in 2022, including Big Ten Player of the Year Taylor Landfair and fellow First Team All-Big Ten selections Melani Shaffmaster and Carter Booth. Graduate libero CC McGraw earned second team honors while Booth and outside Mckenna Wucherer were Big Ten All-Freshman Team selections. All five plus junior outside Jenna Wenaas were named AVCA All-North Region.
Sanny comes to Minnesota after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Morgan State University. He helped lead the Bears to the MEAC Conference Championship match in 2019, where they fell in five sets to No. 1 seed Howard.
During his time at MSU, he helped freshman outside Madison Grace earn four MEAC Rookie of the Week awards. In addition, eight student-athletes earned all-conference academic honors. In his three seasons, he coached and developed three All-MEAC players, including 2019 MEAC Co-Player of the Year Zoe McBride.
Prior to Morgan State, he spent two years as a volunteer assistant coach at Holy Family University in Philadelphia, Pa. While with the Tigers, he worked with the team's liberos and defensive specialists and helped the team compile a combined 52-16 overall record (33-5 CACC) in two seasons.
During his time with Holy Family, Sanny mentored CACC Player of the year, AVCA East Region Player of the year and AVCA Third Team All-American Chase Wassel. Sanny worked in numerous roles with the Holy Family volleyball program. He managed the day-to-day operations of the team, provided live, in-game statistics to the bench as well as pre-match scouting packages for the coaching staff for every game played. He was also responsible for statistical input using DataVolley as well as opponent scouting.
Sanny previously served as the boys' and girls' varsity assistant coach, as well as the junior varsity head coach for both teams at Abington High School in Abington, Pa., from 2012-16.
Sanny compiled a prolific playing career as an outside hitter on the Temple University men's club team, helping the Owls earn their first-ever Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Volleyball Conference (MACVC) title in 2015. He earned all-tournament Most Valuable Player honors in 2015 and helped Temple finish ninth at the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Tournament in Reno, Nevada in 2014.
Sanny earned his Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training from Temple University in 2017.
During his time at the 'U,' the Gophers have made four NCAA Tournament's and two Sweet 16's. In his four years with Minnesota volleyball, the Gophers have achieved a 84-43 (.661) record, including a 52-28 (.650) Big Ten mark.
The most recent season in 2025 was a rousing success despite dealing with extraordinarily difficult circumstances. Minnesota went 24-10 (12-8 Big Ten) despite losing four starters to season-ending injuries during the first 45 days of the season. Minnesota rode five freshmen starters and two seniors to a sixth-place finish in the Big Ten and a top-16 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they hosted the first two rounds at Maturi Pavilion. The Gophers advanced to the Sweet 16 and finished with a No. 15 final AVCA ranking.
Individually, three Gophers were named First Team All-Big Ten, including unanimous selection Julia Hanson. A true player development story, Hanson went from playing sparingly her first two years to becoming a two-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree and an AVCA Second Team All-American in 2025.
In 2024, the team finished with a 21-11 (13-7 Big Ten) record, a four-win improvement from the year prior. Minnesota made its 10th straight NCAA Tournament and fell in the Round of 32 to Kentucky. The 'U' earned top-10 wins over then No. 1 Texas and No. 7 Wisconsin, both in five sets. It was the first time Minnesota defeated a No. 1 ranked team since 2019 and the program's second straight home win over Wisconsin. Statistically, Minnesota improved in hitting percentage (.226 to .242), kills per set (12.4 to 13.0), assists per set (11.5 to 11.8), digs per set (14.7 to 15.3) and blocks per set (2.6 to 2.7) from the year prior.
Four Gophers were named to the All-Big Ten teams, including three on the first team with Lydia Grote, Julia Hanson and Melani Shaffmaster. Phoebe Awoleye was named to the second team. All four players earned AVCA All-Region honors while Hanson and Shaffmaster were named AVCA All-America Honorable Mention, the first All-America honors of their careers.
His second year with the program in 2023 saw the Gophers post a 17-13 (12-8 Big Ten) record and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. After defeating Utah State in the first round, the Gophers fell to No. 12 Creighton in the Round of 32. Four players were named All-Big Ten, including reigning Big Ten Player of the Year Taylor Landfair and Kylie Murr (first team). Opposite Lydia Grote and setter Melani Shaffmater were both named Second Team All-Big Ten.
In his first season in Minnesota, Sanny was instrumental in helping the Gophers finish 22-9 (15-5 Big Ten) in 2022. He was a part of helping the team finish tied for third in the Big Ten and with a top-10 final national ranking. Minnesota finished the season in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16. He helped mentor five All-Big Ten honorees in 2022, including Big Ten Player of the Year Taylor Landfair and fellow First Team All-Big Ten selections Melani Shaffmaster and Carter Booth. Graduate libero CC McGraw earned second team honors while Booth and outside Mckenna Wucherer were Big Ten All-Freshman Team selections. All five plus junior outside Jenna Wenaas were named AVCA All-North Region.
Sanny comes to Minnesota after spending the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Morgan State University. He helped lead the Bears to the MEAC Conference Championship match in 2019, where they fell in five sets to No. 1 seed Howard.
During his time at MSU, he helped freshman outside Madison Grace earn four MEAC Rookie of the Week awards. In addition, eight student-athletes earned all-conference academic honors. In his three seasons, he coached and developed three All-MEAC players, including 2019 MEAC Co-Player of the Year Zoe McBride.
Prior to Morgan State, he spent two years as a volunteer assistant coach at Holy Family University in Philadelphia, Pa. While with the Tigers, he worked with the team's liberos and defensive specialists and helped the team compile a combined 52-16 overall record (33-5 CACC) in two seasons.
During his time with Holy Family, Sanny mentored CACC Player of the year, AVCA East Region Player of the year and AVCA Third Team All-American Chase Wassel. Sanny worked in numerous roles with the Holy Family volleyball program. He managed the day-to-day operations of the team, provided live, in-game statistics to the bench as well as pre-match scouting packages for the coaching staff for every game played. He was also responsible for statistical input using DataVolley as well as opponent scouting.
Sanny previously served as the boys' and girls' varsity assistant coach, as well as the junior varsity head coach for both teams at Abington High School in Abington, Pa., from 2012-16.
Sanny compiled a prolific playing career as an outside hitter on the Temple University men's club team, helping the Owls earn their first-ever Mid-Atlantic Collegiate Volleyball Conference (MACVC) title in 2015. He earned all-tournament Most Valuable Player honors in 2015 and helped Temple finish ninth at the National Collegiate Volleyball Federation Tournament in Reno, Nevada in 2014.
Sanny earned his Bachelor of Science degree in athletic training from Temple University in 2017.
Highlights: Spring Exhibition
Monday, April 27
2025 Season Recap
Tuesday, January 27
Best of Julia Hanson
Monday, December 22
Gophers Preview NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Tuesday, December 09
