University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, September 18
Sioux Falls, SD
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
5-2,0-0Big Ten
3
vs
1
South Dakota
7-3,0-0Summit League
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| South Dakota | 15 | 26 | 17 | 14 | 1 |
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Wucherer's 25 Kills Pace Gophers to Win
9/18/2026 9:32:00 PM | Volleyball
Mckenna Wucherer posted a career-high 25 kills to pace the No. 14 University of Minnesota to a four set win (25-15, 24-26, 25-17, 25-14) over South Dakota, tonight in Sioux Falls, S.D. With the win, Minnesota improves to 5-2 this season, as South Dakota drops to 7-3. The match was a part of the South Dakota Lottery Challenge at the Sanford Pentagon as Washington defeated South Dakota State in three earlier today.
Wucherer broke her previous best of 21 when she held that number three times in her career, two of which came this season. In her Gopher tenure, Wucherer has 885 kills since her freshman season in 2022. Along with her 25 kills, Wucherer also established a career-best 15 digs to complete the double double. The six rotation player also provided two blocks and three aces. On the night, she hit .417 (25-5-48). Wucherer had 29 of Minnesota's 78 points tonight.
Kelly Kinney added 12 kills, while Elena Hoecke tied a career-high 10 kills and hit .400. Stella Swenson added a season-best 53 assists, and Zeynep Palabiyik had a season-best 21 digs.
As a team, the Gophers hit .305 for the match and held South Dakota to just .119. The Gophers had 60 digs to USD's 53 and an 8-4 lead in aces. The Coyotes held an 11-8 lead in blocks.
Match Notes:
-Minnesota is now 2-0 against South Dakota all time. Prior to tonight's match, the two teams met in the First Round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, with Minnesota earning a 3-0 sweep.
-Wucherer has now had five of seven matches in which she's produced over 15 kills this season and three over 20 kills. On the season, Wucherer has 121 kills and hitting .383. Tonight's double double was the third of the season.
-Swenson had 53 assists, which was the second time of her Gopher career she has done so. She had a career-high 58 at Iowa in 2025.
-Hoecke has hit over .400 in four matches in her young Gopher career.
-Palabiyik has now had over 20 digs 10 times in her Gopher career, and first this season.
Up Next:
Minnesota plays South Dakota State to conclude weekend action. Match play begins at 2:30 p.m., also at the Sanford Pentagon. South Dakota and Washington play at noon before the Gophers to start the second day of play.
Set Breakdown
Set 1: Minnesota hit .375 and produced three aces and four blocks en route to a 25-15 set win. The Gophers jumped out to a 6-2 lead off a kill from Hoecke and later an 11-5 lead off a block from Kinney and Taylor, which forced the Yotes to call a timeout. USD responded and strung together a run and cut the lead to 12-9 as the Gophers called a timeout. Minnesota earned a side out and went up 15-9 off a USD attack error. McKenna Garr added an ace to give the Gophers a 17-10 lead, while Gilk added a kill for an 18-10 lead as the Yotes called their second timeout. Gilk earned back-to-back aces for a 23-12 lead, while a block from Swenson and Hoecke pushed it to set point as Kinney added her fifth kill of the set for a 1-0 lead.
Set 2: Despite erasing an early deficit, Minnesota fell in the second set, 24-26. USD opened with an early 12-7 lead for USD. Minnesota battled back and tied the set at 14-14 off a kill from Hoecke. Minnesota rattled off three-straight and took a 17-14 lead off another Hoecke kill as the Yotes called a timeout. Wucherer tooled the block for an 18-15 lead as Kinney added Minnesota's 20th point and a 20-18 lead. USD tied up the set at 23 as the Gophers called a timeout. The Yotes, however, closed out the set with a 26-24 set win and tied the match at 1-1.
Set 3: The Gophers responded in the third and hit .481 in the third to win the set, 25-17. Back-to-back Gilk kills put the Gophers up, 13-8. The Gophers built a 19-13 lead as USD called a timeout. A block by Gilk and Blazkova put the Gophers up, 20-14. Wucherer's 17th kill of the night put Minnesota up 21-15, while a Gilk ace forced USD to call a timeout. Wucherer added another kill for set point, while Kinney put the Gophers up 2-1.
Set 4: Minnesota took a 9-4 lead off a Wucherer ace, which forced USD to call a timeout. Wucherer set a new career high when she added a kill for an 11-5 lead. A block from Blazkova and Wucherer pushed the score to a 15-9 Gopher advantage as Wucherer added another kill for a 21-12 lead. Kinney pushed it to match point with her 12th kill of the night, while a Yote service error gave Minnesota a 3-1 win.
Wucherer broke her previous best of 21 when she held that number three times in her career, two of which came this season. In her Gopher tenure, Wucherer has 885 kills since her freshman season in 2022. Along with her 25 kills, Wucherer also established a career-best 15 digs to complete the double double. The six rotation player also provided two blocks and three aces. On the night, she hit .417 (25-5-48). Wucherer had 29 of Minnesota's 78 points tonight.
Kelly Kinney added 12 kills, while Elena Hoecke tied a career-high 10 kills and hit .400. Stella Swenson added a season-best 53 assists, and Zeynep Palabiyik had a season-best 21 digs.
As a team, the Gophers hit .305 for the match and held South Dakota to just .119. The Gophers had 60 digs to USD's 53 and an 8-4 lead in aces. The Coyotes held an 11-8 lead in blocks.
Match Notes:
-Minnesota is now 2-0 against South Dakota all time. Prior to tonight's match, the two teams met in the First Round of the 2021 NCAA Tournament, with Minnesota earning a 3-0 sweep.
-Wucherer has now had five of seven matches in which she's produced over 15 kills this season and three over 20 kills. On the season, Wucherer has 121 kills and hitting .383. Tonight's double double was the third of the season.
-Swenson had 53 assists, which was the second time of her Gopher career she has done so. She had a career-high 58 at Iowa in 2025.
-Hoecke has hit over .400 in four matches in her young Gopher career.
-Palabiyik has now had over 20 digs 10 times in her Gopher career, and first this season.
Up Next:
Minnesota plays South Dakota State to conclude weekend action. Match play begins at 2:30 p.m., also at the Sanford Pentagon. South Dakota and Washington play at noon before the Gophers to start the second day of play.
Set Breakdown
Set 1: Minnesota hit .375 and produced three aces and four blocks en route to a 25-15 set win. The Gophers jumped out to a 6-2 lead off a kill from Hoecke and later an 11-5 lead off a block from Kinney and Taylor, which forced the Yotes to call a timeout. USD responded and strung together a run and cut the lead to 12-9 as the Gophers called a timeout. Minnesota earned a side out and went up 15-9 off a USD attack error. McKenna Garr added an ace to give the Gophers a 17-10 lead, while Gilk added a kill for an 18-10 lead as the Yotes called their second timeout. Gilk earned back-to-back aces for a 23-12 lead, while a block from Swenson and Hoecke pushed it to set point as Kinney added her fifth kill of the set for a 1-0 lead.
Set 2: Despite erasing an early deficit, Minnesota fell in the second set, 24-26. USD opened with an early 12-7 lead for USD. Minnesota battled back and tied the set at 14-14 off a kill from Hoecke. Minnesota rattled off three-straight and took a 17-14 lead off another Hoecke kill as the Yotes called a timeout. Wucherer tooled the block for an 18-15 lead as Kinney added Minnesota's 20th point and a 20-18 lead. USD tied up the set at 23 as the Gophers called a timeout. The Yotes, however, closed out the set with a 26-24 set win and tied the match at 1-1.
Set 3: The Gophers responded in the third and hit .481 in the third to win the set, 25-17. Back-to-back Gilk kills put the Gophers up, 13-8. The Gophers built a 19-13 lead as USD called a timeout. A block by Gilk and Blazkova put the Gophers up, 20-14. Wucherer's 17th kill of the night put Minnesota up 21-15, while a Gilk ace forced USD to call a timeout. Wucherer added another kill for set point, while Kinney put the Gophers up 2-1.
Set 4: Minnesota took a 9-4 lead off a Wucherer ace, which forced USD to call a timeout. Wucherer set a new career high when she added a kill for an 11-5 lead. A block from Blazkova and Wucherer pushed the score to a 15-9 Gopher advantage as Wucherer added another kill for a 21-12 lead. Kinney pushed it to match point with her 12th kill of the night, while a Yote service error gave Minnesota a 3-1 win.
Players Mentioned
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Middle Blocker
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
MINN
SD
Kills
62
36
Errors
19
20
Attempts
141
134
Hitting %
.305
.119
Points
78.0
51.0
Assists
59
34
Aces
8
4
Blocks
8
11
Game Leaders
Kills
25
Aces
3
Blocks
2
Kills
12
Aces
0
Blocks
4
Kills
10
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
8
Aces
3
Blocks
1
Wednesday, September 16
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Friday, September 11
Friday, September 11