The Rutgers volleyball team is entering the final phase of its 2025 season with three consecutive home games, starting with a matchup against No. 19 Minnesota on Sunday at Jersey Mike’s Arena. The game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. and will be broadcast on BTN, featuring commentary from Jason Knapp and Anna Connelly.
Prior to the match, players Lily Bolen, Zora Hardison, and Lexi Visintine will be recognized for recent achievements. Bolen has reached 1,000 career assists, Hardison has become the rally-era leader in both career and season solo blocks, and Visintine holds the rally-era record for season aces.
The event will also include a Black Excellence t-shirt giveaway while supplies last, with words selected by team members to represent the impact of Black culture. The Scarlet Divas, Rutgers’ first all-Black majorette dance team, are set to perform between sets two and three. There will also be an opportunity for fans to receive autographs from players after the match.
Rutgers concludes its season at home against Oregon and Washington following the Minnesota game. The Scarlet Knights previously lost to Minnesota in September in Minneapolis (25-22, 25-13, 29-27). Oregon and Washington are making their first visits to New Jersey since joining the league.
Recently, Rutgers completed a road trip facing teams such as Indiana (#17), USC (#17), and UCLA (receiving votes). Before that stretch, they played five-set matches at home against Michigan (receiving votes) and Ohio State.
Statistically, Rutgers leads the Big Ten Conference in aces per set with an average of 1.81—ranking them 30th nationally—and has recorded a total of 183 aces this season. Lexi Visintine is fourth in the Big Ten with 43 aces so far this year; she is two short of reaching her 100th career ace.
Aspen Maxwell stands out with two all-tournament honors this nonconference season—including MVP at the Sacred Heart Invite—and ranks eighth in total points (412.0) within the conference.
Lily Bolen averages 9.70 assists per set (seventh among Big Ten setters) and has tallied ten double-doubles this season. She recently surpassed both her 1,000-career assist milestone and is nearing her single-season mark as well.
Zora Hardison leads Rutgers in blocks at the net with a total of 102 (including 27 solo stops), holding program records for solo blocks in both a career and a single season during the rally era.
Minnesota enters Sunday’s game ranked #19 nationally with a record of 19-8 overall (9-7 Big Ten). Key contributors include Julia Hanson (4.12 kills/set), Stella Swenson (9.76 assists/set), Lourdes Myers (207 total blocks), Georgia Lee (27 aces), and McKenna Garr (3.31 digs/set).
Several individual milestones are within reach for Rutgers athletes:
– Zora Hardison needs seven more solo blocks to move into ninth place on Rutgers’ all-time list.
– Lexi Visintine requires two more aces to become only the second Scarlet Knight of the rally era with over 100 career aces.
– Lily Bolen is close to moving up on multiple assist leaderboards.
– Natalie Robinson can advance up block rankings with additional solo efforts.
In recent years under coach Caitlin Schweihofer’s leadership since spring 2021—a season delayed due to COVID-19—Rutgers volleyball has achieved several program firsts including its first All-Big Ten honoree and series sweeps over conference opponents. The program continued improvement through subsequent seasons: posting strong nonconference records; competing against top-ranked teams; setting attendance records; achieving best statistical performances since joining the Big Ten; developing standout players like Alissa Kinkela who now plays professionally; and establishing new marks for both individuals and team categories during regular play.
Following Sunday’s contest against Minnesota, Rutgers will host Oregon on November 26 at Jersey Mike’s Arena before concluding its schedule versus Washington on November 28 at College Avenue Gym where admission is free.
