Friday, October 17
Seattle, Wash.
7:00 PM
University of Washington
vs
Penn State
UW Hosts Marquee Matches Vs. Penn State, Minnesota
October 15, 2025 | Volleyball
THIS WEEK IN HUSKY VOLLEYBALL
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17
Washington hosts #17 Penn State, 7:00 pm
Alaska Airlines Arena
Live broadcast on Big Ten Network | Live Stats
Washington hosts #18 Minnesota, 7:00 pm
Alaska Airlines Arena
Live stream on Big Ten Plus | Live Stats
SEATTLE -- A much anticipated home weekend has arrived for the Husky volleyball team, as it hosts a pair of top-20 opponents on back-to-back nights this Friday and Saturday. Coincidentally, the dates line up perfectly with the opponent's rankings, as No. 17 Penn State visits Alaska Airlines Arena on Friday, Oct. 17, and one night later, on Oct. 18, 18th-ranked Minnesota visits. Both matches will have 7 p.m. first serves. Friday's match will be televised live on Big Ten Network, while Saturday's will be live stream only on Big Ten Plus.
This will be Penn State's first visit to Alaska Airlines Arena since 2006, when UW beat the Nittany Lions in the NCAA quarterfinals to go to a third-straight Final Four. Washington and Minnesota have never faced off in Seattle, although the Gophers did face Cal in the NCAA round of 16 inside Hec Ed in 2010.
The weekend also features a Purple Out on Friday, Alumni Night on Friday, and then the 2005 NCAA Championship 20-year anniversary celebration on Saturday. The Huskies will be wearing 2005 throwback jerseys on Saturday night, and the championship team will be welcomed back onto the court pre-match, with many more in-game festivities planned.
This week also starts a stretch where the Huskies play eight of their next twelve matches at home. UW has won three of its past four with the one loss at No. 1 Nebraska, to sit 8-8 and 3-3 in conference play. The Huskies currently have an RPI of 37. The Dawgs are coming off a hard-fought rivalry win at Oregon last Sunday, winning 3-0 but with two sets going extra points.
In the Big Ten statistical pecking order, senior libero Zoria Heard has risen to No. 2 overall in digs per set with 3.76, and Katy Wessels now ranks fourth in blocks per set with 1.32. Alexis Haury ranks seventh in assists per set with 9.98. Kierstyn Barton is now sitting eighth with 3.86 kills per set, and Alex Markley is 19th with 3.24. Washington ranks 13th with a .246 attack percentage for the full season, but in conference play, UW is a much more robust fourth overall at .259.
Penn State, the defending national champions, are 10-6 this season and 4-2 in Big Ten play, coming off a big sweep over then-No. 7 Wisconsin and a 3-1 win at Northwestern. For the year, Penn State is hitting .243 and allowing a .223 mark from opponents. Kennedy Martin has been producing kills in droves in B1G play, averaging 5.92 kills per set in the six conference matches to lead the league. Martin was an AVCA First Team All-American last year for Florida. Maggie Mendelson is posting 2.07 kills per set out of the middle, hitting .382. Gillian Grimes is leading the defense with 3.31 digs per set, and adding 0.29 aces per set.
Minnesota, led by former Husky head coach Keegan Cook, is 14-3 overall and 4-2 in league play, having lost at home to UCLA last week but bounced back with a sweep of Ohio State. The Gophers will visit Oregon first on Friday. Minnesota is hitting .281 for the year and holding opponents to a .200 mark. The Gophers ranks fifth with 1.67 aces per set, sixth with 2.61 blocks per set, and fourth with 13.70 digs per set. OH Julia Hanson ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 4.02 kills per set, hitting .293. Lourdes Myers is hitting .338 with 1.78 kills per set and 1.11 blocks per set. Setter Stella Swenson is at 9.95 assists per set and 2.28 digs per set. McKenna Garr is averaging 3.55 digs per set.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17
Washington hosts #17 Penn State, 7:00 pm
Alaska Airlines Arena
Live broadcast on Big Ten Network | Live Stats
Purple Reign Match
- Join the Huskies as we celebrate all things Washington during our Purple Reign Match! Fans are encouraged to match the team by wearing purple to the match!
- Giveaway - 7,000 Husky Purple pom-poms in seats. Made possible by Angel of the Winds
- Party on the Plaza - Arrive to Alaska Airlines Arena early to join festivities on the southwest plaza featuring giveaways, partner tables, Husky Spirit, and more! The party starts at 5:00 p.m.!
Washington hosts #18 Minnesota, 7:00 pm
Alaska Airlines Arena
Live stream on Big Ten Plus | Live Stats
National Championship 20th Anniversary Match
- Join the Huskies as they celebrate the program's first national title claimed in 2005!
- Giveaway - 5,000 commemorative Rally Towels in seats. Made possible by Pepsi
- Fan Photo Station - Take a photo with the 2005 National Championship trophy in the Alaska Airlines Arena concourse!
SEATTLE -- A much anticipated home weekend has arrived for the Husky volleyball team, as it hosts a pair of top-20 opponents on back-to-back nights this Friday and Saturday. Coincidentally, the dates line up perfectly with the opponent's rankings, as No. 17 Penn State visits Alaska Airlines Arena on Friday, Oct. 17, and one night later, on Oct. 18, 18th-ranked Minnesota visits. Both matches will have 7 p.m. first serves. Friday's match will be televised live on Big Ten Network, while Saturday's will be live stream only on Big Ten Plus.
This will be Penn State's first visit to Alaska Airlines Arena since 2006, when UW beat the Nittany Lions in the NCAA quarterfinals to go to a third-straight Final Four. Washington and Minnesota have never faced off in Seattle, although the Gophers did face Cal in the NCAA round of 16 inside Hec Ed in 2010.
The weekend also features a Purple Out on Friday, Alumni Night on Friday, and then the 2005 NCAA Championship 20-year anniversary celebration on Saturday. The Huskies will be wearing 2005 throwback jerseys on Saturday night, and the championship team will be welcomed back onto the court pre-match, with many more in-game festivities planned.
Look what we found! ???
— Washington Volleyball (@UWVolleyball) October 14, 2025
2005 ?? 10.18.25
??? https://t.co/4F6BM1Mxvv#PointHuskies // @adidas pic.twitter.com/fe13nBbiOp
This week also starts a stretch where the Huskies play eight of their next twelve matches at home. UW has won three of its past four with the one loss at No. 1 Nebraska, to sit 8-8 and 3-3 in conference play. The Huskies currently have an RPI of 37. The Dawgs are coming off a hard-fought rivalry win at Oregon last Sunday, winning 3-0 but with two sets going extra points.
In the Big Ten statistical pecking order, senior libero Zoria Heard has risen to No. 2 overall in digs per set with 3.76, and Katy Wessels now ranks fourth in blocks per set with 1.32. Alexis Haury ranks seventh in assists per set with 9.98. Kierstyn Barton is now sitting eighth with 3.86 kills per set, and Alex Markley is 19th with 3.24. Washington ranks 13th with a .246 attack percentage for the full season, but in conference play, UW is a much more robust fourth overall at .259.
Penn State, the defending national champions, are 10-6 this season and 4-2 in Big Ten play, coming off a big sweep over then-No. 7 Wisconsin and a 3-1 win at Northwestern. For the year, Penn State is hitting .243 and allowing a .223 mark from opponents. Kennedy Martin has been producing kills in droves in B1G play, averaging 5.92 kills per set in the six conference matches to lead the league. Martin was an AVCA First Team All-American last year for Florida. Maggie Mendelson is posting 2.07 kills per set out of the middle, hitting .382. Gillian Grimes is leading the defense with 3.31 digs per set, and adding 0.29 aces per set.
Minnesota, led by former Husky head coach Keegan Cook, is 14-3 overall and 4-2 in league play, having lost at home to UCLA last week but bounced back with a sweep of Ohio State. The Gophers will visit Oregon first on Friday. Minnesota is hitting .281 for the year and holding opponents to a .200 mark. The Gophers ranks fifth with 1.67 aces per set, sixth with 2.61 blocks per set, and fourth with 13.70 digs per set. OH Julia Hanson ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 4.02 kills per set, hitting .293. Lourdes Myers is hitting .338 with 1.78 kills per set and 1.11 blocks per set. Setter Stella Swenson is at 9.95 assists per set and 2.28 digs per set. McKenna Garr is averaging 3.55 digs per set.
Players Mentioned
OH
/ Volleyball
S
/ Volleyball
L
/ Volleyball
MB
/ VolleyballWashington Volleyball 2005 National Championship Reflection
Sunday, October 19
Washington 3, No. 17 Penn State 2 | Huskies Highlights
Saturday, October 18
Washington Volleyball 2005 National Champions 20th Anniversary Jersey Reveal
Tuesday, October 14
2025 Husky Hall of Fame | Makare Desilets
Monday, October 13
