No. 14 Minnesota has lost junior libero Zeynep Palabiyik for the remainder of 2025 with a knee injury, the program announced Friday.
A magnetic image resonance exam this week diagnosed Palabiyik with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and she has been scheduled for surgery next week. She will take a medical redshirt and has two years of eligibility remaining.
“We’re obviously heartbroken for Zeynep at this moment,” head coach Keegan Cook said in a statement. “But we’re also extremely confident in how she will heal, recover and ultimately grow from this. She has met every adversity of college volleyball with enthusiasm and determination. She will remain an emotional leader for the team this season and we will all look forward to having her back on the court with us.”
An Istanbul, Turkey native, Palabiyik started all 32 matches last year and four this season for the Gophers (3-1, 0-0 Big Ten). She ranked seventh in the Big Ten last year with 3.86 digs per set and third this year with 3.73. She has played in 56 career matches, including four NCAA Tournament games.
Women’s hoops schedule
Dawn Plitzuweit’s women’s basketball team released a nonconference schedule featuring 11 games, seven at home, on Friday.
The Gophers open the season Nov. 4 at home against North Dakota and start a home-and-home series against Big East program Marquette on Nov. 11. They will start a home-and-home series with Big 12 school Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., on Nov. 19.
On Nov. 24, Minnesota will play defending ACC champion South Florida in the Baha Mar Hoops Pink Flamingo Championship in Nassau, Bahamas. Two days later, the Gophers will play either Alabama or Harvard. All were NCAA tournament teams last season.
2025-26 nonconference schedule
Television, streaming coverage and tipoff times will be announced at a later date.
Nov. 4 — vs. North Dakota (Williams Arena)
Nov. 7 — vs. Manhattan (Williams Arena)
Nov. 11 — vs. Marquette (Williams Arena)
Nov. 14 — vs. NJIT (Williams Arena)
Nov. 19 — at Kansas (Lawrence, Kan.)
Nov. 24 — vs. South Florida (Nassau, Bahamas)
Nov. 26 — vs. Harvard or Alabama (Nassau, Bahamas)
Dec. 1 — vs. Samford (Williams Arena)
Dec. 10 — vs. Alabama A&M (Williams Arena)
Dec. 14 — vs. Wyoming (Williams Arena)
Dec. 21 — at Drake (Des Moines, Iowa)
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