University of Minnesota Athletics
Tuesday, September 1
Madison, WI
8:00 PM
University of Minnesota
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Florida
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Gophers Back on the Road to 2026 Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge
8/31/2026 12:49:00 PM | Volleyball
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: BTN (Sept. 1), FS1 (Sept. 2)
Talent: Paul Sunderland (Play-By-Play), Anna Connelly (Analyst) - Friday
Chris Vosters (Play-By-Play), Anna Connelly (Analyst) - Saturday
Live Stats: GopherSports.com
SERIES INFORMATION
Minnesota leads Florida, 6-3, tied with Auburn, 2-2
First Meeting: 1984 (FL), 1990 (AUB)
Last Meeting: 2023 (FL), 2024 (AUB)
ABOUT THE BIG TEN/SEC CHALLENGE WEEK
The Big Ten and SEC have announced a partnership for a week-long competition between the two conferences in this inaugural season. The 2026 Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week will feature all 34 teams across the two conferences, 18 from the Big Ten, 16 from the SEC, competing head-to-head Sept. 1-6. Throughout the week, various campus sites will also serve as hosts to two Big Ten teams and two SEC teams. Linear coverage will be available across FOX, FS1, Big Ten Network, ESPN and SEC Network, and streamed coverage on B1G+ and SECN+.
The two matches at Wrigley Field, Kentucky vs. Penn State/Nebraska vs. Missouri, mark the first time volleyball has been played at the historic venue.
MOVIN' UP
Minnesota Golden Gophers enter the week as No. 11 in the AVCA August 31 Coaches' poll. The Gophers opened the 2026 season as the No. 14 team in the AVCA Preseason poll and with a split over two ranked teams last weekend, improved three spots to No. 11.
2026 STATE FARM WOMEN'S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL SHOWCASE RECAP
• Minnesota split the opening weekend of play against two ranked teams. The Gophers fell in three to No. 12 Arizona State (26-24, 25-17, 25-23) in the season opener. The Gophers bounced back with a three-set win over No. 13 Creighton (25-18, 25-23, 25-12).
• The win over No. 13 Creighton was the first sweep over a top-15 team since 2023 when the Gophers swept then-No. 15 Baylor, also in the second game that season.
• Minnesota had 10 aces in the Creighton win, which was the most since Oct. 12, 2025 vs. Ohio State.
• The Gophers also held Creighton to just a .068 hitting clip as a team, which was the lowest since facing Fairfield in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
GOOD TO HAVE YA BACK!
• Minnesota welcomed back to key athletes to the lineup in outside hitter Mckenna Wucherer and libero Zeynep Palabiyik. Wucherer hit .421 against Arizona State and had 18 kills. On the weekend, she had 28 kills, three aces, nine digs and five blocks. She missed all of 2025 due to injury.
• Palabiyik returned to the Gopher libero position after missing a majority of the 2025 season due to injury. In her opening weekend of play, she established 27 digs, nine assists and three aces.
ROOKIE SENSATION
• Elena Hoecke made the most of her opening weekend of collegiate play. Hoecke came into the season opener (No. 12 Arizona State) in the second set and started the third. In that span, she had two kills in five attempts as well as a block assist. Against No. 13 Creighton, Hoecke got the starting nod and established seven kills, did not commit an error in 14 swings for .500 hitting clip. She also led the team with five blocks as the team defeated its first sweep over a top-15 opponent since 2023. Against Creighton, she had 10 points.
SCOUTING FLORIDA
• Florida officially opened the season on Sunday when it swept Stony Brook, 25-16, 25-20, 25-20. Predicted to finish fourth in the SEC Preseason Coaches' poll, the Gators finished the 2025 campaign with a 16-12 overall record and 9-6 in league action.
• The Gators return a core group from last season, including Preseason All-SEC Jordyn Byrd and Alec Rothe. Byrd was a Second Team All-SEC selection last season and led Florida's offense in 23 matches and posted team-best totals of 425 kills and 457.5 points. Rothe started in all 28 matches while leading the team with 111.0 blocks, averaged 2.48 points per set and 1.91 kills per set. Also returning is Lily Hayes, who led the team in digs (391, 3.62 dps), was named to the SEC All-Freshman team and the Southeast Region Freshman of the Year. Setter Taylor Parks also returns and had 26 assists in the Stony Brook win.
• Florida welcomes eight new faces to Gainesville in 2026, consisting of seven transfers and one freshmanBrooklyn Briscoe (UCLA) Kamryn Chaney (Vanderbilt), Bri Denney (Baylor), Bri Holladay (Virginia Tech), Logan King (Long Beach State), Olivia Klimis (Houston), Selena Leban (Kansas), and Nadi'ya Shelby (freshman) look to bolster the Gators this season.
SCOUTING AUBURN
• The Tigers were picked to finish seventh in the SEC Preseason Coaches poll. Auburn went 3-0 this past weekend when it competed at the Buccaneer Classic hosted by ETSU. Auburn finished the 2025 season with a 17-11 overall and 7-8 in SEC play. As a team, the Tigers set a program record for hitting percentage in 2025, finishing the season at .248.
• Three starters from last year's team return, including All-SEC performer Lauren Dreves, who is also a 2026 Presason All-SEC. Dreves had 376 kills, averaged 3.80 kps and 421 points. Tigers' top blocker Kate Mansfield also returns who averaged 1.24 kps and 1.44 blocks per set. The Tigers' third returning starter is sophomore middle blocker Grace Havlicek with 99 kills last season.
• The Tigers welcome three transfers for 2026: junior outside Anastasija Ivkovic (UCLA), senior libero/DS Symone Sims (Kansas State), sophomore setter Carson Eickenloff (Ole Miss). In addition, five true freshmen also join the Tigers: middle blocker Chierika Okororie, outside hitter Reese Shugart, middle blocker Emma Gutke; libero/DS Emily Keiran and libero/DS Macy McAmis.
MINNESOTA'S HISTORY VS. FLORIDA/AUBURN
• Minnesota is 6-3 all time against Florida with the first competition dating back to 1984. Minnesota last played the Gators in 2023 when Florida defeated the Gophers, 3-0 (22-25, 18-25, 22-25) in Gainesville. It marks the first time these two teams will meet on a neutral court since 2019 as the Gophers advanced to the Elite Eight with a 3-2 win in the Austin, Texas region. It's only the second time these teams have faced each other on a neutral court in school history.
• Minnesota is 2-2 all time against Auburn most recently facing each other in 2024. The Gophers won the last battle in three sets during the Diet Coke Classic. Minnesota won the match, 25-21, 25-22, 25-16. The Gophers hold a two-match win streak, also defeating the Tigers in 2009 by a score of 3-0. The Tigers have won the first two matchups, in 1990 and 1998 in five-set decisions. The last time these two teams met on a neutral court was also the first matchup in 1990 at the Hofstra Tournament in Hempstead, N.Y.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts the Diet Coke Classic, Sept. 11 & 13 at Maturi Pavilion. The Golden Gophers host the Miami Hurricanes on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m., and will be streamed on B1G +. The Gophers will host St. Thomas on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m., also at Maturi Pavlion at 1 p.m. Miami and St. Thomas will play a match at St. Thomas on Saturday, Sept. 12.
TV: BTN (Sept. 1), FS1 (Sept. 2)
Talent: Paul Sunderland (Play-By-Play), Anna Connelly (Analyst) - Friday
Chris Vosters (Play-By-Play), Anna Connelly (Analyst) - Saturday
Live Stats: GopherSports.com
SERIES INFORMATION
Minnesota leads Florida, 6-3, tied with Auburn, 2-2
First Meeting: 1984 (FL), 1990 (AUB)
Last Meeting: 2023 (FL), 2024 (AUB)
ABOUT THE BIG TEN/SEC CHALLENGE WEEK
The Big Ten and SEC have announced a partnership for a week-long competition between the two conferences in this inaugural season. The 2026 Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Week will feature all 34 teams across the two conferences, 18 from the Big Ten, 16 from the SEC, competing head-to-head Sept. 1-6. Throughout the week, various campus sites will also serve as hosts to two Big Ten teams and two SEC teams. Linear coverage will be available across FOX, FS1, Big Ten Network, ESPN and SEC Network, and streamed coverage on B1G+ and SECN+.
The two matches at Wrigley Field, Kentucky vs. Penn State/Nebraska vs. Missouri, mark the first time volleyball has been played at the historic venue.
MOVIN' UP
Minnesota Golden Gophers enter the week as No. 11 in the AVCA August 31 Coaches' poll. The Gophers opened the 2026 season as the No. 14 team in the AVCA Preseason poll and with a split over two ranked teams last weekend, improved three spots to No. 11.
2026 STATE FARM WOMEN'S COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL SHOWCASE RECAP
• Minnesota split the opening weekend of play against two ranked teams. The Gophers fell in three to No. 12 Arizona State (26-24, 25-17, 25-23) in the season opener. The Gophers bounced back with a three-set win over No. 13 Creighton (25-18, 25-23, 25-12).
• The win over No. 13 Creighton was the first sweep over a top-15 team since 2023 when the Gophers swept then-No. 15 Baylor, also in the second game that season.
• Minnesota had 10 aces in the Creighton win, which was the most since Oct. 12, 2025 vs. Ohio State.
• The Gophers also held Creighton to just a .068 hitting clip as a team, which was the lowest since facing Fairfield in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
GOOD TO HAVE YA BACK!
• Minnesota welcomed back to key athletes to the lineup in outside hitter Mckenna Wucherer and libero Zeynep Palabiyik. Wucherer hit .421 against Arizona State and had 18 kills. On the weekend, she had 28 kills, three aces, nine digs and five blocks. She missed all of 2025 due to injury.
• Palabiyik returned to the Gopher libero position after missing a majority of the 2025 season due to injury. In her opening weekend of play, she established 27 digs, nine assists and three aces.
ROOKIE SENSATION
• Elena Hoecke made the most of her opening weekend of collegiate play. Hoecke came into the season opener (No. 12 Arizona State) in the second set and started the third. In that span, she had two kills in five attempts as well as a block assist. Against No. 13 Creighton, Hoecke got the starting nod and established seven kills, did not commit an error in 14 swings for .500 hitting clip. She also led the team with five blocks as the team defeated its first sweep over a top-15 opponent since 2023. Against Creighton, she had 10 points.
SCOUTING FLORIDA
• Florida officially opened the season on Sunday when it swept Stony Brook, 25-16, 25-20, 25-20. Predicted to finish fourth in the SEC Preseason Coaches' poll, the Gators finished the 2025 campaign with a 16-12 overall record and 9-6 in league action.
• The Gators return a core group from last season, including Preseason All-SEC Jordyn Byrd and Alec Rothe. Byrd was a Second Team All-SEC selection last season and led Florida's offense in 23 matches and posted team-best totals of 425 kills and 457.5 points. Rothe started in all 28 matches while leading the team with 111.0 blocks, averaged 2.48 points per set and 1.91 kills per set. Also returning is Lily Hayes, who led the team in digs (391, 3.62 dps), was named to the SEC All-Freshman team and the Southeast Region Freshman of the Year. Setter Taylor Parks also returns and had 26 assists in the Stony Brook win.
• Florida welcomes eight new faces to Gainesville in 2026, consisting of seven transfers and one freshmanBrooklyn Briscoe (UCLA) Kamryn Chaney (Vanderbilt), Bri Denney (Baylor), Bri Holladay (Virginia Tech), Logan King (Long Beach State), Olivia Klimis (Houston), Selena Leban (Kansas), and Nadi'ya Shelby (freshman) look to bolster the Gators this season.
SCOUTING AUBURN
• The Tigers were picked to finish seventh in the SEC Preseason Coaches poll. Auburn went 3-0 this past weekend when it competed at the Buccaneer Classic hosted by ETSU. Auburn finished the 2025 season with a 17-11 overall and 7-8 in SEC play. As a team, the Tigers set a program record for hitting percentage in 2025, finishing the season at .248.
• Three starters from last year's team return, including All-SEC performer Lauren Dreves, who is also a 2026 Presason All-SEC. Dreves had 376 kills, averaged 3.80 kps and 421 points. Tigers' top blocker Kate Mansfield also returns who averaged 1.24 kps and 1.44 blocks per set. The Tigers' third returning starter is sophomore middle blocker Grace Havlicek with 99 kills last season.
• The Tigers welcome three transfers for 2026: junior outside Anastasija Ivkovic (UCLA), senior libero/DS Symone Sims (Kansas State), sophomore setter Carson Eickenloff (Ole Miss). In addition, five true freshmen also join the Tigers: middle blocker Chierika Okororie, outside hitter Reese Shugart, middle blocker Emma Gutke; libero/DS Emily Keiran and libero/DS Macy McAmis.
MINNESOTA'S HISTORY VS. FLORIDA/AUBURN
• Minnesota is 6-3 all time against Florida with the first competition dating back to 1984. Minnesota last played the Gators in 2023 when Florida defeated the Gophers, 3-0 (22-25, 18-25, 22-25) in Gainesville. It marks the first time these two teams will meet on a neutral court since 2019 as the Gophers advanced to the Elite Eight with a 3-2 win in the Austin, Texas region. It's only the second time these teams have faced each other on a neutral court in school history.
• Minnesota is 2-2 all time against Auburn most recently facing each other in 2024. The Gophers won the last battle in three sets during the Diet Coke Classic. Minnesota won the match, 25-21, 25-22, 25-16. The Gophers hold a two-match win streak, also defeating the Tigers in 2009 by a score of 3-0. The Tigers have won the first two matchups, in 1990 and 1998 in five-set decisions. The last time these two teams met on a neutral court was also the first matchup in 1990 at the Hofstra Tournament in Hempstead, N.Y.
UP NEXT
Minnesota hosts the Diet Coke Classic, Sept. 11 & 13 at Maturi Pavilion. The Golden Gophers host the Miami Hurricanes on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m., and will be streamed on B1G +. The Gophers will host St. Thomas on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m., also at Maturi Pavlion at 1 p.m. Miami and St. Thomas will play a match at St. Thomas on Saturday, Sept. 12.
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