University of Minnesota Athletics
Wednesday, November 5
Madison, WI
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Wisconsin
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Libero/DS
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No. 22 'U' Set for Border Battle at No. 11 UW
11/4/2025 2:52:00 PM | Volleyball
The match is set for 7 p.m. tomorrow on FS1
MADISON, Wis. --Â The No. 22Â ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (17-6, 7-5Â B1G) are heading east for their first of two Border Battle matchups with No. 11 Wisconsin (16-4, 9-3 B1G)Â this season. The match is set for 7 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Nov. 5. FS1 will televise. The two teams split last year's meetings, with each winning at home. Minnesota hasn't won in Madison since 2018.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 22 Minnesota at No. 11 Wisconsin
Wednesday, Nov. 5
7 p.m. CT
Madison, Wis. (UW Fieldhouse)
TV: FS1 - Noah Reed (Play-By-Play), Emily Ehman (Analyst)
Live Stats
NOTES TO KNOW
Minnesota leads 54-39 against Wisconsin
First Meeting: 1975
Last Meeting: 2024
HEADING INTO THE MATCH
253 -- Keegan Cook won his 250th career match as a head coach Oct. 12 vs. Ohio St. He is now up to 253 after Wednesday's win over Illinois.
100 -- Kills in the last five matches for Julia Hanson. She's averaging 4.76 kills, 1.67 digs, 0.43 aces, 0.76 blocks and 5.71 points per set in those matches, hitting .359.
53 -- Minnesota ranks 53rd nationally with 215.0 total blocks.
38 -- Minnesota ranks 38th nationally and third in the Big Ten with 1.79 aces per set.
27 -- Julia Hanson had 27 10+ kill matches in 2024 (87%). She's 18 for 22 so far this season (missed Loyola Chicago match).
24 -- The 'U' ranks 24th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten with 2.62 blocks per set.
19 -- Minnesota ranks 19th nationally (6th B1G) in hitting % (.276).
14 -- The Gophers are 14-4 with McKenna Garr as the starting libero and she has registered over 3.25 digs per set during those matches. She's had 14 10+ dig matches since starting.
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.
11 -- Sweeps in 23 matches for the Golden Gophers. They've won six matches in four sets (0-2 in five).
10 -- Minnesota is 10-2 at home this season. Only losses were to UCLA and USC.
10 -- Times this season Minnesota posted 10+ blocks as a team. They're 8-2 when going for 10-or-more blocks (losses at Oregon and Purdue).8 -- Minnesota has made eight Sweet 16's in the last 10 years.
8 -- Lourdes Myers ranks 8th in the Big Ten with 1.23 blocks per set, a team-best.
7 -- Myers is seventh in the Big Ten in total blocks with 97. That figure ranks 97th nationally.
7 -- The Gophers are No. 7 in the Big Ten with 13.06 digs per set.
6 -- Minnesota ranks sixth nationally in attendance at 4,453 (avg.).
6 -- Stella Swenson ranks sixth in the Big Ten in total assists with 748.
5 -- During Big Ten play, Julia Hanson ranks fifth in the league in kills per set with 4.09
5 -- Julia Hanson is fifth in the Big Ten with 4.10 kills per set.
5 -- Gophers head coach Keegan Cook is 5-23 against AVCA Top-25 ranked opponents in three seasons.
4 -- Julia Hanson is fourth in the B1G with 4.78 points per set.
4 -- During Big Ten play, Carly Gilk ranks fourth in the B1G in aces. Julia Hanson ranks fifth with 18.
4 -- Minnesota ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 147 service aces.
4 -- The Gophers rank fourth in the Big Ten in total blocks with 215.
4 -- Minnesota has lost four starters to season-ending injuries in outsides Alex Acevedo and Mckenna Wucherer, middle Calissa Minatee and libero Zeynep Palabiyik.
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 -- During league play, the Gophers rank first with 1.95 aces per set. They hold 78 aces (1st in B1G).Â
2 -- Julia Hanson and Stella Swenson were named to the 47-player AVCA Player of the Year Watch List.
1 -- Hanson was named as one of the 30 players to the AVCA Preseason Player of the Year Watch List.
1 -- Minnesota is 1-3 against its four ranked opponents this season, with those being No. 9 Texas A&M, No. 23 Indiana, No. 11 Purdue and No. 22 USC. The Gophers will play ranked opponents in their next three matches with No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 1 Nebraska and No. 25 Penn State.
LAST TIME OUT
• The then No. 20 Minnesota volleyball team fell to No. 22 USC in a five set thriller on Saturday. The set scores were 19-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-15, 15-12. Julia Hanson paced the Gophers with a career-high 26 kills while Carly Gilk had 12 kills, 11 digs and a career-high nine service aces. Stella Swenson led the offense with 44 assists and added 14 digs. The Gophers (17-6, 7-5 Big Ten) were outhit by the Trojans (17-5, 8-4 Big Ten) .349 to .181. USC led in kills (68 to 56), digs (63 to 57) and blocks (13 to 8). The Gophers led in aces (15 to 7).
GOPHERSÂ IN THE RANKINGS
• The Gophers entered the 2025 season with a No. 11 overall ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll.Â
• After week nine, the 'U' moved down to No. 22 on Monday, their lowest ranking of the season.
• 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 WISCONSIN
• No. 11 Wisconsin (16-4, 9-3 B1G) is led by 13th-year head coach Kelly Sheffield. He's led the Badgers to five Final Fours since he's been at the helm, including a national title in 2021.
• The Badgers enter Wednesday's matchup having won three of the last four, with the only loss being a sweep against No. 1 Nebraska. UW holds four ranked wins this year, including against No. 23 UCLA, No. 15 Florida, No. 21 Ga. Tech and No. 14 Kansas. They were predicted to finish third in the Big Ten Preseason Poll.
• UW lost its starting setter, Charlie Fuerbringer, to injury. The Preseason All-B1G honoree was averaging 11.23 assists per set in her 12 matches. The Badgers are paced by Mimi Colyer (5.20 kps) and Carter Booth (1.26 bps).
HISTORY VS. WISCONSIN
• Minnesota is 54-39 all-time versus Wisconsin, including a 19-26 road record. The Gophers broke a six-game losing streak in the series in 2022 with a 3-0 sweep on Sept. 25 at the Pav. Prior to the six-game slide, the Gophers had won eight straight in the series from 2015-18.
• In 2024, the Gophers won a thriller at Maturi Pavilion on Sept. 25 to open Big Ten play in a 3-2 victory. Lydia Grote led the 'U' with 17 kills and 16 digs while Melani Shaffmaster posted 47 assists and 10 digs. Julia Hanson went for 15 kills, including the game-winner to end set five, 18-16.
• Last year in Madison, the No. 6 Badgers earned a 3-2 victory over the No. 16 Gophers. It was another one that went down to the wire, with the scores being 21-25, 25-12, 25-22, 20-25, 18-20. Julia Hanson led the Gophers with 20 kills and 18 digs while Mckenna Wucherer (15) also reached double figures.
• On the road in Madison, Minnesota hasn't won since 2018. Wisconsin has taken six straight home matches in the series. From 2015-18, Minnesota went 4-0 at UW Fieldhouse. Former Gopher Samantha Seliger-Swenson went 8-0 against the Badgers in her time at Minnesota.
HANSON HEATING UP IN FINAL SEASON
• Minnesota senior outside Julia Hanson is playing the best volleyball of her career as the team enters the home stretch of its 2025 season. The unanimous 2024 All-Big Ten First Team selection was an AVCA All-America (HM) as well. This year, she leads the team and ranks in the top five in the Big Ten in kills (4.03, 5th) and points (4.70, 5th) per set. Her 343.0 total points put her at fifth in the conference and 42nd nationally
• Hanson posted a season-best 23 kills on Wednesday vs. Illinois on a blistering .583 hitting. She has two 20+ kill matches this season and 17 with 10+ kills. She's on her way to all-conference honors once again.
• In her last five matches, Julia has 100 kills, averaging 4.76 kills, 1.67 digs, 0.43 aces, 0.76 blocks and 5.71 points per set in those matches, hitting .359.
ACES GALORE IN CONFERENCE PLAY
• In 12 conference matches thus far, the Gophers have totaled 93 aces for a league-best 2.07 aces per set. The next closest serving team to Minnesota is Oregon, with 78 aces and 1.81 aces per set.
• Overall, Minnesota ranks third in the Big Ten with 1.79 aces per set. Their 147 aces rank fourth.
STREAKS TO WATCH
• Julia Hanson has tallied 10+ kills in 18 of her 22 matches this year, including five straight with 10+. She's totaled 100 kills in her last five matches, including two straight with 20+ (career-high 26 vs. USC).
• McKenna Garr has totaled 10+ digs in 15 of her 22 matches, including 14 of 18 as starting libero.
• Lourdes Myers has multiple blocks in 20 of her 23 matches, including 12 matches with four-or-more.
• Stella Swenson has hit 30+ assists in 16 of 23 matches on the year. She also has six double-doubles after tallying 44 assists and 14 digs on Saturday vs. USC.
• Carly Gilk has registered 10+ digs in three straight matches. She's done so five times this season.
• Jordan Taylor has tallied 29 kills in her last four matches, hitting .462 with 1.71 kills per set during that time.
GILK GOING B1G
• Freshman Carly Gilk has started the last seven games, seeing her role increase after the injury to Alex Acevedo. In her last three matches before Wednesday, she had 11+ kills in each match, hitting .550, .364 and .364. Gilk had a career-high of 15 kills with 10 digs last Sunday at PU, earning her first double-double.
• Gilk had the best match of her career Nov. 1 vs. USC, going for 12 kills with career-highs in both digs (11) and aces (9). Her prior high in aces was two. She has five 10+ dig matches, including three straight.
MINNESOTA MILESTONES
• Julia Hanson clinched her first career 300+ kill season Nov. 7, 2024 vs. Washington. She hit 400 kills Nov. 23 and had 473 for the season. She needs 109 more this year to reach 1,000 for her career.
• Lourdes Myers reached 400 kills and 300 blocks during matches vs. MSU and Rutgers in September. She's just 30 kills away from 500 in her career.
SWENSON STARTING STRONG IN 2025
• Named Big Ten Setter of the Week in just her second week as the Minnesota starter, Swenson is off to a strong start, averaging 9.66 assists (9th in B1G), 2.15 digs, 0.62 kills, 0.62 blocks and 0.28 aces per set. She's tallied six double-doubles thus far and five 40+ assist matches.
• Minnesota's offense ranks sixth in the Big Ten with a .276 hitting percentage through 23 matches.
STARTING LINEUP COMBOS
• Minnesota has used 14 different starting lineup combinations this season as it navigates injuries and youth. Four starters are out for the season due to injuries and two more regulars have missed at least one match due to injury. 13 of the 16 players on the roster have started at least one match.
INJURIES AFFECTING MINNESOTA
• Minnesota is down four starters this season after the losses of outside Alex Acevedo, middle blocker Calissa Minatee, outside Mckenna Wucherer and libero Zeynep Palabiyik. Acevedo and Minatee are out with lower body injuries and Wucherer is out with a back injury while Palabiyik tore her ACL on Aug. 31. All plan on being back for Minnesota during the 2026 season.
• Combined, the four have played in 225 matches during their careers at the 'U.' Wucherer has been in the top three on the team in kills per set the last three years while Palabiyik has led the team in digs last year and this year. Minatee was the team's most efficient hitter in 2025, hitting .421 in nine matches. Acevedo ranked second on the team with 2.64 kills per set and was the team's most efficient server at 0.35 aces per set.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will host No. 1 Nebraska (22-0, 12-0 B1G) on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2:30 p.m. Peacock will stream the match.
GAME INFORMATION
No. 22 Minnesota at No. 11 Wisconsin
Wednesday, Nov. 5
7 p.m. CT
Madison, Wis. (UW Fieldhouse)
TV: FS1 - Noah Reed (Play-By-Play), Emily Ehman (Analyst)
Live Stats
NOTES TO KNOW
Minnesota leads 54-39 against Wisconsin
First Meeting: 1975
Last Meeting: 2024
HEADING INTO THE MATCH
253 -- Keegan Cook won his 250th career match as a head coach Oct. 12 vs. Ohio St. He is now up to 253 after Wednesday's win over Illinois.
100 -- Kills in the last five matches for Julia Hanson. She's averaging 4.76 kills, 1.67 digs, 0.43 aces, 0.76 blocks and 5.71 points per set in those matches, hitting .359.
53 -- Minnesota ranks 53rd nationally with 215.0 total blocks.
38 -- Minnesota ranks 38th nationally and third in the Big Ten with 1.79 aces per set.
27 -- Julia Hanson had 27 10+ kill matches in 2024 (87%). She's 18 for 22 so far this season (missed Loyola Chicago match).
24 -- The 'U' ranks 24th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten with 2.62 blocks per set.
19 -- Minnesota ranks 19th nationally (6th B1G) in hitting % (.276).
14 -- The Gophers are 14-4 with McKenna Garr as the starting libero and she has registered over 3.25 digs per set during those matches. She's had 14 10+ dig matches since starting.
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.
11 -- Sweeps in 23 matches for the Golden Gophers. They've won six matches in four sets (0-2 in five).
10 -- Minnesota is 10-2 at home this season. Only losses were to UCLA and USC.
10 -- Times this season Minnesota posted 10+ blocks as a team. They're 8-2 when going for 10-or-more blocks (losses at Oregon and Purdue).8 -- Minnesota has made eight Sweet 16's in the last 10 years.
8 -- Lourdes Myers ranks 8th in the Big Ten with 1.23 blocks per set, a team-best.
7 -- Myers is seventh in the Big Ten in total blocks with 97. That figure ranks 97th nationally.
7 -- The Gophers are No. 7 in the Big Ten with 13.06 digs per set.
6 -- Minnesota ranks sixth nationally in attendance at 4,453 (avg.).
6 -- Stella Swenson ranks sixth in the Big Ten in total assists with 748.
5 -- During Big Ten play, Julia Hanson ranks fifth in the league in kills per set with 4.09
5 -- Julia Hanson is fifth in the Big Ten with 4.10 kills per set.
5 -- Gophers head coach Keegan Cook is 5-23 against AVCA Top-25 ranked opponents in three seasons.
4 -- Julia Hanson is fourth in the B1G with 4.78 points per set.
4 -- During Big Ten play, Carly Gilk ranks fourth in the B1G in aces. Julia Hanson ranks fifth with 18.
4 -- Minnesota ranks fourth in the Big Ten with 147 service aces.
4 -- The Gophers rank fourth in the Big Ten in total blocks with 215.
4 -- Minnesota has lost four starters to season-ending injuries in outsides Alex Acevedo and Mckenna Wucherer, middle Calissa Minatee and libero Zeynep Palabiyik.
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 -- During league play, the Gophers rank first with 1.95 aces per set. They hold 78 aces (1st in B1G).Â
2 -- Julia Hanson and Stella Swenson were named to the 47-player AVCA Player of the Year Watch List.
1 -- Hanson was named as one of the 30 players to the AVCA Preseason Player of the Year Watch List.
1 -- Minnesota is 1-3 against its four ranked opponents this season, with those being No. 9 Texas A&M, No. 23 Indiana, No. 11 Purdue and No. 22 USC. The Gophers will play ranked opponents in their next three matches with No. 11 Wisconsin, No. 1 Nebraska and No. 25 Penn State.
LAST TIME OUT
• The then No. 20 Minnesota volleyball team fell to No. 22 USC in a five set thriller on Saturday. The set scores were 19-25, 25-22, 23-25, 25-15, 15-12. Julia Hanson paced the Gophers with a career-high 26 kills while Carly Gilk had 12 kills, 11 digs and a career-high nine service aces. Stella Swenson led the offense with 44 assists and added 14 digs. The Gophers (17-6, 7-5 Big Ten) were outhit by the Trojans (17-5, 8-4 Big Ten) .349 to .181. USC led in kills (68 to 56), digs (63 to 57) and blocks (13 to 8). The Gophers led in aces (15 to 7).
GOPHERSÂ IN THE RANKINGS
• The Gophers entered the 2025 season with a No. 11 overall ranking in the Preseason AVCA poll.Â
• After week nine, the 'U' moved down to No. 22 on Monday, their lowest ranking of the season.
• 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 WISCONSIN
• No. 11 Wisconsin (16-4, 9-3 B1G) is led by 13th-year head coach Kelly Sheffield. He's led the Badgers to five Final Fours since he's been at the helm, including a national title in 2021.
• The Badgers enter Wednesday's matchup having won three of the last four, with the only loss being a sweep against No. 1 Nebraska. UW holds four ranked wins this year, including against No. 23 UCLA, No. 15 Florida, No. 21 Ga. Tech and No. 14 Kansas. They were predicted to finish third in the Big Ten Preseason Poll.
• UW lost its starting setter, Charlie Fuerbringer, to injury. The Preseason All-B1G honoree was averaging 11.23 assists per set in her 12 matches. The Badgers are paced by Mimi Colyer (5.20 kps) and Carter Booth (1.26 bps).
HISTORY VS. WISCONSIN
• Minnesota is 54-39 all-time versus Wisconsin, including a 19-26 road record. The Gophers broke a six-game losing streak in the series in 2022 with a 3-0 sweep on Sept. 25 at the Pav. Prior to the six-game slide, the Gophers had won eight straight in the series from 2015-18.
• In 2024, the Gophers won a thriller at Maturi Pavilion on Sept. 25 to open Big Ten play in a 3-2 victory. Lydia Grote led the 'U' with 17 kills and 16 digs while Melani Shaffmaster posted 47 assists and 10 digs. Julia Hanson went for 15 kills, including the game-winner to end set five, 18-16.
• Last year in Madison, the No. 6 Badgers earned a 3-2 victory over the No. 16 Gophers. It was another one that went down to the wire, with the scores being 21-25, 25-12, 25-22, 20-25, 18-20. Julia Hanson led the Gophers with 20 kills and 18 digs while Mckenna Wucherer (15) also reached double figures.
• On the road in Madison, Minnesota hasn't won since 2018. Wisconsin has taken six straight home matches in the series. From 2015-18, Minnesota went 4-0 at UW Fieldhouse. Former Gopher Samantha Seliger-Swenson went 8-0 against the Badgers in her time at Minnesota.
HANSON HEATING UP IN FINAL SEASON
• Minnesota senior outside Julia Hanson is playing the best volleyball of her career as the team enters the home stretch of its 2025 season. The unanimous 2024 All-Big Ten First Team selection was an AVCA All-America (HM) as well. This year, she leads the team and ranks in the top five in the Big Ten in kills (4.03, 5th) and points (4.70, 5th) per set. Her 343.0 total points put her at fifth in the conference and 42nd nationally
• Hanson posted a season-best 23 kills on Wednesday vs. Illinois on a blistering .583 hitting. She has two 20+ kill matches this season and 17 with 10+ kills. She's on her way to all-conference honors once again.
• In her last five matches, Julia has 100 kills, averaging 4.76 kills, 1.67 digs, 0.43 aces, 0.76 blocks and 5.71 points per set in those matches, hitting .359.
ACES GALORE IN CONFERENCE PLAY
• In 12 conference matches thus far, the Gophers have totaled 93 aces for a league-best 2.07 aces per set. The next closest serving team to Minnesota is Oregon, with 78 aces and 1.81 aces per set.
• Overall, Minnesota ranks third in the Big Ten with 1.79 aces per set. Their 147 aces rank fourth.
STREAKS TO WATCH
• Julia Hanson has tallied 10+ kills in 18 of her 22 matches this year, including five straight with 10+. She's totaled 100 kills in her last five matches, including two straight with 20+ (career-high 26 vs. USC).
• McKenna Garr has totaled 10+ digs in 15 of her 22 matches, including 14 of 18 as starting libero.
• Lourdes Myers has multiple blocks in 20 of her 23 matches, including 12 matches with four-or-more.
• Stella Swenson has hit 30+ assists in 16 of 23 matches on the year. She also has six double-doubles after tallying 44 assists and 14 digs on Saturday vs. USC.
• Carly Gilk has registered 10+ digs in three straight matches. She's done so five times this season.
• Jordan Taylor has tallied 29 kills in her last four matches, hitting .462 with 1.71 kills per set during that time.
GILK GOING B1G
• Freshman Carly Gilk has started the last seven games, seeing her role increase after the injury to Alex Acevedo. In her last three matches before Wednesday, she had 11+ kills in each match, hitting .550, .364 and .364. Gilk had a career-high of 15 kills with 10 digs last Sunday at PU, earning her first double-double.
• Gilk had the best match of her career Nov. 1 vs. USC, going for 12 kills with career-highs in both digs (11) and aces (9). Her prior high in aces was two. She has five 10+ dig matches, including three straight.
MINNESOTA MILESTONES
• Julia Hanson clinched her first career 300+ kill season Nov. 7, 2024 vs. Washington. She hit 400 kills Nov. 23 and had 473 for the season. She needs 109 more this year to reach 1,000 for her career.
• Lourdes Myers reached 400 kills and 300 blocks during matches vs. MSU and Rutgers in September. She's just 30 kills away from 500 in her career.
SWENSON STARTING STRONG IN 2025
• Named Big Ten Setter of the Week in just her second week as the Minnesota starter, Swenson is off to a strong start, averaging 9.66 assists (9th in B1G), 2.15 digs, 0.62 kills, 0.62 blocks and 0.28 aces per set. She's tallied six double-doubles thus far and five 40+ assist matches.
• Minnesota's offense ranks sixth in the Big Ten with a .276 hitting percentage through 23 matches.
STARTING LINEUP COMBOS
• Minnesota has used 14 different starting lineup combinations this season as it navigates injuries and youth. Four starters are out for the season due to injuries and two more regulars have missed at least one match due to injury. 13 of the 16 players on the roster have started at least one match.
INJURIES AFFECTING MINNESOTA
• Minnesota is down four starters this season after the losses of outside Alex Acevedo, middle blocker Calissa Minatee, outside Mckenna Wucherer and libero Zeynep Palabiyik. Acevedo and Minatee are out with lower body injuries and Wucherer is out with a back injury while Palabiyik tore her ACL on Aug. 31. All plan on being back for Minnesota during the 2026 season.
• Combined, the four have played in 225 matches during their careers at the 'U.' Wucherer has been in the top three on the team in kills per set the last three years while Palabiyik has led the team in digs last year and this year. Minatee was the team's most efficient hitter in 2025, hitting .421 in nine matches. Acevedo ranked second on the team with 2.64 kills per set and was the team's most efficient server at 0.35 aces per set.
UP NEXT
Minnesota will host No. 1 Nebraska (22-0, 12-0 B1G) on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2:30 p.m. Peacock will stream the match.
Highlights: Gophers 2, USC 3
Saturday, November 01
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Sweep Illini
Thursday, October 30
Highlights: Gophers 3, Illinois 0
Wednesday, October 29
Highlights: Gophers 2, Purdue 3
Sunday, October 26