University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, September 24
Urbana-Champaign, IL
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
6-3,0-1Big Ten
1
at
3
Illinois
9-3,1-0Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 22 | 25 | 18 | 22 | 1 |
| Illinois | 25 | 14 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Photo by: Claudia Staut
Gophers Drop Big Ten Opener
9/24/2026 9:24:00 PM | Volleyball
The No. 14 University of Minnesota fell to Illinois in four sets, 22-25, 25-14, 18-25, 22-25. With the loss, the Golden Gopher drop to 6-3 on the season and 0-1 in the Big Ten.
Mckenna Wucherer led all attackers with 18 kills, while Kelly Kinney followed with 15 and Carly Gilk had 11. McKenna Garr was one dig shy of a career high when she had 19 digs and three aces. Stella Swenson had 44 assists.
As a team, Minnesota had 57 kills to 48 for Illinois. Both teams had seven blocks, while Minnesota held a 68-54 lead in digs. Illinois hit .237 bettering Minnesota's .215.
Match Notes
-Minnesota is now 47-41-1 against Illinois, dating back to 1976.
-The Gophers dropped their first Big Ten opener since 2022 after winning three straight.
-Wucherer had 18 kills in the match, marking the eighth time this year with double-digit kills.
-Garr has now had three straight matches with double-digit digs as well as multiple aces.
-Kinney has had six matches this season with double-digit kills and a season-best 15.
-Stella Swenson earned her 1,500 career assists in just 43 matches played tonight. She ranks 13th in school history.
-Tonight marks the first time this season the Gophers have had three in double-digit kills: Wucherer (18), Kinney (15) and Carly Gilk (11).
Up Next
Minnesota starts a three-match home stand this weekend when it hosts No. 20 Oregon Saturday night. The Gophers and Ducks tangle at 6 p.m., with the match streamed on B1G+. Following the Oregon match, Minnesota will play in front of two sold out crowds: Oct. 1 vs. Northwestern and Oct. 4 vs. No. 6 Wisconsin.
Set Breakdown:
Set 1: Illinois took the first set, 25-22. Illinois opened the Big Ten season with a 5-2 lead in the first as Minnesota called a timeout. The Gophers responded and went on a 5-0 run to take a 7-5 lead. Illinois tied up the set at 10-10 and the two teams traded points before Illinois took a 16-13 lead. Illinois was up, 18-15, but Minnesota tied the set at 20-20 and took a narrow 21-20 lead as the Illini called a timeout. Illinois, however, went on a 4-0 run and set point as the Gophers called a timeout. Illinois, however, finished the set off a kill and took a 1-0 match lead.
Set 2: Minnesota produced four blocks, four aces and hit .355 to win the second, 25-14. McKenna Garr provided back-to-back aces to give the Gophers an early 11-6 lead as the Illini called a timeout. The Gophers would go on a 9-0 run, which set the tone for the set win. Wucherer provided an ace to give the Gophers a 15-10 lead at the media break. The Gophers, however, continued to add to the lead and took an 18-10 lead off a Hoecke kill as Illinois used its second timeout of the set. The Gophers didn't slow up and provided a Hoecke/Swenson block, a Kinney kill and a Wucherer kill for a 21-10 lead. Hoecke and Swenson capped off the run with another block to take a 22-10 lead. The Gophers closed out the set on back-to-back kills from Kinney and a service error by Illinois to tie the match, 1-1.
Set 3: Illinois hit .364 in the third to take a 25-18 set win. Up 7-4, Illinois went on a 4-0 run to take an 8-7 lead as the Gophers called a timeout. A Gilk kill pulled the Gophers within one at 11-12, but Illinois took a 15-12 lead heading into the media timeout. The Illini built an 18-13 lead off an ace as the Gophers called their second timeout. A Gilk kill cut the Illini lead to three at 21-17, but Illinois closed out the set on a 5-1 run to take a 2-1 lead.
Set 4: Illinois jumped out to a 10-7 lead in the fourth as the Gophers called a timeout. Illinois built a 13-9 lead, only to have the Gophers cut it to 13-12 off a Hoecke tip as the Illini called a timeout. Minnesota tied the set at 14-14 off a Wucherer kill, her 17th of the night. However, Illinois took a 17-14 lead and maintained that for the set. Minnesota called a timeout as Illinois took a 21-16 lead. The Gophers came back to tie the set at 21 and took a 22-21 lead, however, Illinois finished off the match on a 4-0 run to win the match in four.
Mckenna Wucherer led all attackers with 18 kills, while Kelly Kinney followed with 15 and Carly Gilk had 11. McKenna Garr was one dig shy of a career high when she had 19 digs and three aces. Stella Swenson had 44 assists.
As a team, Minnesota had 57 kills to 48 for Illinois. Both teams had seven blocks, while Minnesota held a 68-54 lead in digs. Illinois hit .237 bettering Minnesota's .215.
Match Notes
-Minnesota is now 47-41-1 against Illinois, dating back to 1976.
-The Gophers dropped their first Big Ten opener since 2022 after winning three straight.
-Wucherer had 18 kills in the match, marking the eighth time this year with double-digit kills.
-Garr has now had three straight matches with double-digit digs as well as multiple aces.
-Kinney has had six matches this season with double-digit kills and a season-best 15.
-Stella Swenson earned her 1,500 career assists in just 43 matches played tonight. She ranks 13th in school history.
-Tonight marks the first time this season the Gophers have had three in double-digit kills: Wucherer (18), Kinney (15) and Carly Gilk (11).
Up Next
Minnesota starts a three-match home stand this weekend when it hosts No. 20 Oregon Saturday night. The Gophers and Ducks tangle at 6 p.m., with the match streamed on B1G+. Following the Oregon match, Minnesota will play in front of two sold out crowds: Oct. 1 vs. Northwestern and Oct. 4 vs. No. 6 Wisconsin.
Set Breakdown:
Set 1: Illinois took the first set, 25-22. Illinois opened the Big Ten season with a 5-2 lead in the first as Minnesota called a timeout. The Gophers responded and went on a 5-0 run to take a 7-5 lead. Illinois tied up the set at 10-10 and the two teams traded points before Illinois took a 16-13 lead. Illinois was up, 18-15, but Minnesota tied the set at 20-20 and took a narrow 21-20 lead as the Illini called a timeout. Illinois, however, went on a 4-0 run and set point as the Gophers called a timeout. Illinois, however, finished the set off a kill and took a 1-0 match lead.
Set 2: Minnesota produced four blocks, four aces and hit .355 to win the second, 25-14. McKenna Garr provided back-to-back aces to give the Gophers an early 11-6 lead as the Illini called a timeout. The Gophers would go on a 9-0 run, which set the tone for the set win. Wucherer provided an ace to give the Gophers a 15-10 lead at the media break. The Gophers, however, continued to add to the lead and took an 18-10 lead off a Hoecke kill as Illinois used its second timeout of the set. The Gophers didn't slow up and provided a Hoecke/Swenson block, a Kinney kill and a Wucherer kill for a 21-10 lead. Hoecke and Swenson capped off the run with another block to take a 22-10 lead. The Gophers closed out the set on back-to-back kills from Kinney and a service error by Illinois to tie the match, 1-1.
Set 3: Illinois hit .364 in the third to take a 25-18 set win. Up 7-4, Illinois went on a 4-0 run to take an 8-7 lead as the Gophers called a timeout. A Gilk kill pulled the Gophers within one at 11-12, but Illinois took a 15-12 lead heading into the media timeout. The Illini built an 18-13 lead off an ace as the Gophers called their second timeout. A Gilk kill cut the Illini lead to three at 21-17, but Illinois closed out the set on a 5-1 run to take a 2-1 lead.
Set 4: Illinois jumped out to a 10-7 lead in the fourth as the Gophers called a timeout. Illinois built a 13-9 lead, only to have the Gophers cut it to 13-12 off a Hoecke tip as the Illini called a timeout. Minnesota tied the set at 14-14 off a Wucherer kill, her 17th of the night. However, Illinois took a 17-14 lead and maintained that for the set. Minnesota called a timeout as Illinois took a 21-16 lead. The Gophers came back to tie the set at 21 and took a 22-21 lead, however, Illinois finished off the match on a 4-0 run to win the match in four.
Players Mentioned
Libero/DS
/ Volleyball
Opposite
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ Volleyball
Setter
/ Volleyball
Outside
/ VolleyballTeam Stats
MINN
Illini
Kills
57
48
Errors
25
15
Attempts
149
139
Hitting %
.215
.237
Points
69.0
59.0
Assists
54
41
Aces
5
4
Blocks
7
7
Game Leaders
Kills
18
Aces
2
Blocks
0
Kills
15
Aces
0
Blocks
1
Kills
11
Aces
0
Blocks
2
Kills
8
Aces
0
Blocks
1
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