University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, October 16
Minneapolis, MN
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
10-5,4-3Big Ten
3
vs
1
Michigan
11-7,2-5Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 19 | 25 | 15 | 21 | 1 |
| Minnesota | 25 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
No. 21 Minnesota Picks up Third Consecutive Win, Defeating Michigan in Four
10/16/2026 9:31:00 PM | Volleyball
The No. 21 University of Minnesota volleyball team earns its third straight victory as they defeated the Michigan Wolverines in four sets (25-19, 20-25, 25-15, 25-21).
With the win, Minnesota improves to 10-5 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten play.
MATCH NOTES
Minnesota tallied four aces in the first set alone, 10 total, matching a season best as a team.
Stella Swenson tallied a career high 8 kills in the match to go along with her 27 assists.
Kelly Kinney led the offense with 10 kills.
Makenna Crosson was just behind Kinney with 9 kills, hitting .333.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota returns to Maturi Pavilion tomorrow night to face the Maryland Terrapins for another game of the Big Ten Discover Challenge. First serve is set for 6 p.m. CT.
SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: The Gophers took an early 2-0 lead in the set but then exchanged the next few points in a back and forth battle as the set was tied at both seven, nine, eleven, and twelve. The Wolverines took a 12-15 lead into the first media break. Minnesota then went on a 3-0 to get back within one, Mckenna Crosson led them from the service line with a crucial ace. Kelly Kinney came up with a big kill, tying the set at 17. The Gophers then went on a 5-0 run with Elena Hoecke at the line. Michigan was forced to call a timeout as the Gophers led 23-18. Minnesota then took the set 25-19 off a Mckenna Garr service ace.
Set 2:Michigan went on a 7-2 run to begin set two and forced an early Gopher timeout. Lucie Blazkova entered the match and tallied a quick kill to get the Gophers back within two (6-8). Makenna Crosson then brought the Gophers within one with a kill and her monster block tied the set at 12. Crosson then tallied her second ace of the night to tie the match at 14. Michigan was once again the first to 15 and led by one at the media break. Minnesota came out hot after the break and went 4-0 run to take a 18-15 lead and force a Michigan timeout. The Wolverines went on a run of their own after the timeout to take a 19-18 lead and force a Gopher timeout. A Michigan service error then tied the match again at 19 and then again at 20. Michigan went on a 5-0 run to take the set 25-20 to tie the match at one.
Set 3: The Gophers and Wolverines exchanged the first few points before taking a 12-6 lead, forcing an early Michigan timeout. Minnesota was the first to 15 in this set taking a 15-7 lead into the media break. The Gophers forced a Wolverine time as they led 18-10. Minnesota never looked back and took the set 25-15.
Set 4: Minnesota took a 5-1 lead to begin set four. Michigan then went on a 3-0 run of their own to make the score 5-4. The Gophers then went on another 3-0 run of their own to take a 9-5 lead with Lucie Blazkova at the service line. The Gophers were once again the first to 15, taking a 15-12 lead into the break. Minnesota and Michigan then exchanged points and the Wolverines got within one at 18-17. With two monster blocks, the Gophers took a 23-19 lead and forced another Wolverine timeout. Michigan then rallied for two straight points of their own, forcing a Minnesota timeout at 23-21. Mckenna Wucherer then made a statement kill to end the set 25-21.
With the win, Minnesota improves to 10-5 overall and 4-3 in Big Ten play.
MATCH NOTES
Minnesota tallied four aces in the first set alone, 10 total, matching a season best as a team.
Stella Swenson tallied a career high 8 kills in the match to go along with her 27 assists.
Kelly Kinney led the offense with 10 kills.
Makenna Crosson was just behind Kinney with 9 kills, hitting .333.
UP NEXT
• Minnesota returns to Maturi Pavilion tomorrow night to face the Maryland Terrapins for another game of the Big Ten Discover Challenge. First serve is set for 6 p.m. CT.
SET BREAKDOWN
Set 1: The Gophers took an early 2-0 lead in the set but then exchanged the next few points in a back and forth battle as the set was tied at both seven, nine, eleven, and twelve. The Wolverines took a 12-15 lead into the first media break. Minnesota then went on a 3-0 to get back within one, Mckenna Crosson led them from the service line with a crucial ace. Kelly Kinney came up with a big kill, tying the set at 17. The Gophers then went on a 5-0 run with Elena Hoecke at the line. Michigan was forced to call a timeout as the Gophers led 23-18. Minnesota then took the set 25-19 off a Mckenna Garr service ace.
Set 2:Michigan went on a 7-2 run to begin set two and forced an early Gopher timeout. Lucie Blazkova entered the match and tallied a quick kill to get the Gophers back within two (6-8). Makenna Crosson then brought the Gophers within one with a kill and her monster block tied the set at 12. Crosson then tallied her second ace of the night to tie the match at 14. Michigan was once again the first to 15 and led by one at the media break. Minnesota came out hot after the break and went 4-0 run to take a 18-15 lead and force a Michigan timeout. The Wolverines went on a run of their own after the timeout to take a 19-18 lead and force a Gopher timeout. A Michigan service error then tied the match again at 19 and then again at 20. Michigan went on a 5-0 run to take the set 25-20 to tie the match at one.
Set 3: The Gophers and Wolverines exchanged the first few points before taking a 12-6 lead, forcing an early Michigan timeout. Minnesota was the first to 15 in this set taking a 15-7 lead into the media break. The Gophers forced a Wolverine time as they led 18-10. Minnesota never looked back and took the set 25-15.
Set 4: Minnesota took a 5-1 lead to begin set four. Michigan then went on a 3-0 run of their own to make the score 5-4. The Gophers then went on another 3-0 run of their own to take a 9-5 lead with Lucie Blazkova at the service line. The Gophers were once again the first to 15, taking a 15-12 lead into the break. Minnesota and Michigan then exchanged points and the Wolverines got within one at 18-17. With two monster blocks, the Gophers took a 23-19 lead and forced another Wolverine timeout. Michigan then rallied for two straight points of their own, forcing a Minnesota timeout at 23-21. Mckenna Wucherer then made a statement kill to end the set 25-21.
Players Mentioned
Outside
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
Mich
MINN
Kills
46
39
Errors
32
17
Attempts
153
129
Hitting %
.092
.171
Points
58.0
63.0
Assists
45
36
Aces
6
10
Blocks
6
14
Game Leaders
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
9
Aces
2
Blocks
2
Kills
7
Aces
1
Blocks
2
Kills
4
Aces
1
Blocks
7
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