Michigan
11-7,2-5Big Ten
Minnesota
10-5,4-3Big Ten
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 19 | 25 | 15 | 21 | 1 |
| Minnesota | 25 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
Michigan Falls in Four Sets at No. 21 Minnesota
10/16/2026 10:46:00 PM | Volleyball
» Michigan rallied to win the second set, closing on a 5-0 run to even the match at one set apiece.
» Cymarah Gordon and Ella Demetrician each recorded double-digit kills, with Demetrician adding 16 digs for a double-double.
» Meredith Martin led all players with 20 digs, while Morgan Burke tallied 23 assists and three service aces.
» In her return to Minnesota, Sydney Schnichels recorded eight kills, two aces and five digs.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The University of Michigan volleyball team fell to No. 21-ranked Minnesota 3-1 (19-25, 25-20, 15-25, 21-25) on Friday night (Oct. 16) at Maturi Pavilion.
Michigan (11-7, 2-5 Big Ten) was led offensively by Cymarah Gordon and Ella Demetrician, who each tallied double-digit kills, with Demetrician adding 16 digs for a double-double. Sydney Schnichels, in her return to Minnesota, recorded eight kills, two aces and five digs, while Lydia Johnson added eight kills on a team-best .312 hitting percentage. Meredith Martin led all players with 20 digs, while Morgan Burke dished out 23 assists and recorded three aces.
Minnesota (10-5, 4-3 Big Ten) opened the first set with a 3-1 run, but kills from Demetrician and Schnichels pulled Michigan even at three. The teams traded small runs before the Wolverines took their first lead at 8-7 on a block from Ece Senyapici and Johnson. Trailing 12-11 later in the set, U-M used a 4-0 run, highlighted by an ace from Martin, to take a 15-12 advantage. The Golden Gophers responded with three straight points to tie the set and later used a 5-0 run to move ahead 18-17. Johnson ended the run with a kill, but Minnesota took four of the final five points to claim the opening set 25-19.
The Wolverines started fast in the second set, opening with a 7-2 run behind three kills from Gordon to force an early Minnesota timeout. The Golden Gophers battled back to tie the set at 12 before a Gordon kill and a solo block from Jenna Hanes put Michigan ahead 14-12. Minnesota later used a 4-0 run to move in front, but Schnichels helped U-M answer with a kill and two aces as the Wolverines regained the lead at 19-18. After Minnesota tied the set at 20, Michigan scored the final five points, with Demetrician's kill closing out a 25-20 set victory.
Minnesota led from start to finish in the third set, opening with a 5-1 run before using a 6-1 stretch to build a 15-7 advantage. Demetrician and Gordon answered with kills, but another 5-1 Minnesota run extended the Gophers' lead to 21-11. Michigan scored four of the next seven points before Minnesota closed out the third set 25-15.
The Golden Gophers opened the fourth set with four straight points, but Michigan responded with a 4-1 run behind kills from Demetrician, Gordon and Schnichels to pull within one. Minnesota pushed its lead to 11-6 before the Wolverines battled back, using consecutive aces to cut the deficit to 11-10. After the Gophers moved ahead 15-12, a service error and a Schnichels block again pulled U-M within one. Michigan eventually tied the set at 16 on a Schnichels kill and a Minnesota attack error, but the Gophers regained the lead and held off the Wolverines down the stretch for a 25-21 set victory.
Michigan returns to action on Sunday (Oct. 18), traveling to face Illinois at Huff Hall. The match is scheduled for 1 p.m. CDT and will stream live on B1G+.
