University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, October 11
Columbus, OH
3:00 PM
University of Minnesota
at
Ohio State
Photo by: Ceci De Young
Gophers Wrap Weekend at Ohio State
10/10/2026 10:12:00 AM | Volleyball
• The No. 21 University of Minnesota volleyball continues their road trip as they face Ohio State in Columbus on Sunday at 3 p.m. CT. The match will be televised on Big Ten Network.
SERIES INFORMATION
Minnesota leads Ohio State, 52-37-0
First Meeting: 1975, Last Meeting 2025
NUMBERS TO KNOW
55 -- The 2026 season marks the 55th year of Gopher volleyball.
41 -- Minnesota hit .412 percent vs. Northwestern on Oct. 1. That mark was the best hitting percentage for the Gophers this season and best since hitting that mark against Indiana in 2025.
31 -- Minnesota ranks 31th nationally in assists per set this season and seventh in the conference. Stella Swenson is ranked 13th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten (10.73 aps).
21 -- Minnesota Golden Gophers enter the week as No. 21 in the AVCA Oct. 5 Coaches' poll. The Gophers opened the 2026 season as the No. 14 team in the AVCA Preseason poll.
12 -- Returners to the Gopher squad from last season, including starting setter Stella Swenson and Kate Thibault, who played in all 119 sets in the 2025 season.
10 -- Jordan Taylor had a season-best 10 blocks vs. Oregon Sept. 26. On the season, she leads the team with 1.15 blocks per set and has had 10-plus blocks twice in her career.
6 -- Minnesota ranked 6th in average attendance at 4,488 per match (avg.) in 2025. They ranked 4th overall (80,779 total fans). This season they are currently No. 11 and average 4,763 fans per match.
5 -- McKenna Garr added a career-best five aces in the win vs. Northwestern Oct. 1. She has 25 on the season and is ranked third in the Big Ten
4 -- The Gophers welcome four newcomers to this year's roster: freshmen OH Makenna Crosson, DS Madi Kraft and MB Elena Hoecke all joined the Gophers in January 2026. Lucie Blažková joins the Gophers after two seasons at Washington State.
2 -- As a team, the Gophers rank second in the Big Ten in aces per set, averaging 2.02. Mckenna Wucherer leads the league averaging 0.64 this season with her 30 aces this year. Nationally, the Gophers are 10th in aces per set.
2 -- Mckenna Wucherer has received two Big Ten Player of the Week awards in this young 2026 campaign.
2 -- Former Gophers were inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame this year in Lauren Gibbemeyer and Sarah Wilhite.
1 -- Mckenna Wucherer tops the Big Ten in points per set (5.69), kills per set (4.74), and aces per set (0.45). She ranks fifth nationally in kps.
LAST TIME OUT
• Minnesota picked up their first Big Ten road win on Friday night over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Gophers took the match in four sets (25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 25-17).
• Mckenna Wucherer led the offense with 20 kills and tallied 11 digs for a double-double. Kelly Kinney also tallied 13 kills of her own.
• Zeynep Palabiyik tied a season-high with 21 digs.
MINNESOTA'S HISTORY VS. OHIO STATE
• Minnesota is 52-37-0 all-time against the Ohio State Buckeyes, dating back to 1975. Minnesota has won the last five matches dating back to 2022. The Gophers won the 2025 match via a sweep.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
• Ohio State is 9-6 overall and 2-3 in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes were predicted to finish 17th in the Big Ten Preseason Poll. Like Minnesota, Ohio State played a Friday match against No. 20 Washington. The Buckeyes fell in three sets (11-25, 14-25, 16-25).
• As a team, Ohio State is hitting .216 on the season, led by Naomy Govou who averages 3.63 kps.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota returns to Maturi Pavilion to face the Michigan Wolverines and Maryland Terrapins next weekend. The Gophers and Wolverines will face-off Friday night at 7 p.m. at Maturi Pavilion. Minnesota will then turn around and play Maryland at 6 p.m. for a home weekend finale.
SERIES INFORMATION
Minnesota leads Ohio State, 52-37-0
First Meeting: 1975, Last Meeting 2025
NUMBERS TO KNOW
55 -- The 2026 season marks the 55th year of Gopher volleyball.
41 -- Minnesota hit .412 percent vs. Northwestern on Oct. 1. That mark was the best hitting percentage for the Gophers this season and best since hitting that mark against Indiana in 2025.
31 -- Minnesota ranks 31th nationally in assists per set this season and seventh in the conference. Stella Swenson is ranked 13th nationally and fourth in the Big Ten (10.73 aps).
21 -- Minnesota Golden Gophers enter the week as No. 21 in the AVCA Oct. 5 Coaches' poll. The Gophers opened the 2026 season as the No. 14 team in the AVCA Preseason poll.
12 -- Returners to the Gopher squad from last season, including starting setter Stella Swenson and Kate Thibault, who played in all 119 sets in the 2025 season.
10 -- Jordan Taylor had a season-best 10 blocks vs. Oregon Sept. 26. On the season, she leads the team with 1.15 blocks per set and has had 10-plus blocks twice in her career.
6 -- Minnesota ranked 6th in average attendance at 4,488 per match (avg.) in 2025. They ranked 4th overall (80,779 total fans). This season they are currently No. 11 and average 4,763 fans per match.
5 -- McKenna Garr added a career-best five aces in the win vs. Northwestern Oct. 1. She has 25 on the season and is ranked third in the Big Ten
4 -- The Gophers welcome four newcomers to this year's roster: freshmen OH Makenna Crosson, DS Madi Kraft and MB Elena Hoecke all joined the Gophers in January 2026. Lucie Blažková joins the Gophers after two seasons at Washington State.
2 -- As a team, the Gophers rank second in the Big Ten in aces per set, averaging 2.02. Mckenna Wucherer leads the league averaging 0.64 this season with her 30 aces this year. Nationally, the Gophers are 10th in aces per set.
2 -- Mckenna Wucherer has received two Big Ten Player of the Week awards in this young 2026 campaign.
2 -- Former Gophers were inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame this year in Lauren Gibbemeyer and Sarah Wilhite.
1 -- Mckenna Wucherer tops the Big Ten in points per set (5.69), kills per set (4.74), and aces per set (0.45). She ranks fifth nationally in kps.
LAST TIME OUT
• Minnesota picked up their first Big Ten road win on Friday night over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Gophers took the match in four sets (25-20, 23-25, 25-22, 25-17).
• Mckenna Wucherer led the offense with 20 kills and tallied 11 digs for a double-double. Kelly Kinney also tallied 13 kills of her own.
• Zeynep Palabiyik tied a season-high with 21 digs.
MINNESOTA'S HISTORY VS. OHIO STATE
• Minnesota is 52-37-0 all-time against the Ohio State Buckeyes, dating back to 1975. Minnesota has won the last five matches dating back to 2022. The Gophers won the 2025 match via a sweep.
SCOUTING OHIO STATE
• Ohio State is 9-6 overall and 2-3 in Big Ten play. The Buckeyes were predicted to finish 17th in the Big Ten Preseason Poll. Like Minnesota, Ohio State played a Friday match against No. 20 Washington. The Buckeyes fell in three sets (11-25, 14-25, 16-25).
• As a team, Ohio State is hitting .216 on the season, led by Naomy Govou who averages 3.63 kps.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota returns to Maturi Pavilion to face the Michigan Wolverines and Maryland Terrapins next weekend. The Gophers and Wolverines will face-off Friday night at 7 p.m. at Maturi Pavilion. Minnesota will then turn around and play Maryland at 6 p.m. for a home weekend finale.
Players Mentioned
Outside
/ Volleyball
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ VolleyballFriday, October 09
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Thursday, October 01
Saturday, September 26