Nicole Branagh led Minnesota with 15 kills and moved into fourth place on Minnesota's all-time kill list with 1,533 career kills. Stephanie Hagen added 12 kills at a .667 hitting percentage. The Gophers had a .532 hitting percentage for the match, a season-best.

The Phoenix held leads of 1-0 and 2-1 in the first game before Minnesota took control. The Gophers scored the final nine points in the 15-5 victory. Branagh and Hagen each had five kills in the opening game. Charnette Fair and Lindsey Berg combined on two blocks, and Berg served two aces in the game.

Berg and Heather Swenson each served four points early in the second game to give Minnesota an 8-1 lead. The Gophers slowly moved the lead upward to win the second game, 15-6. Hagen pounded five kills in the second game, while Branagh and Fair added four each.

Minnesota broke a 2-2 in the third game with an 11-1 run, with Ali Berres serving six consecutive points at one stretch. Branagh had six kills in the final game.

The Gophers head back into Big Ten play with a match at Purdue on Friday at 6 p.m. (CST).

BIG TEN STANDINGS Penn State 14-0 24-1 Minnesota 12-2 22-5 Wisconsin 9-5 16-8 Michigan St. 8-6 18-8 Illinois 8-6 12-8 Indiana 6-8 15-8 Purdue 6-8 15-9 Ohio State 6-8 12-9 Michigan 4-10 12-11 Iowa 3-11 4-17 Northwestern 1-13 3-21 Friday's Matches Minnesota d. Northwestern, 3-0 (15-12, 15-5, 15-10) Penn State d. Indiana, 3-0 (15-6, 15-2, 15-2) Michigan State d. Wisconsin, 3-0 (16-14, 15-9, 15-12) Purdue d. Michigan, 3-2 (15-7, 15-11, 3-15, 17-19, 15-12) Ohio State d. Illinois, 3-0 (15-8, 15-13, 15-9) Saturday's Matches Indiana d. Ohio State, 3-0 (15-5, 15-10, 15-10) Michigan State d. Purdue, 3-2 (2-15, 15-13, 12-15, 15-13, 15-8) Wisconsin d. Michigan, 3-2 (15-4, 15-11, 10-15, 8-15, 15-9) Penn State d. Illinois, 3-1 (15-6, 15-13, 6-15, 15-8) Northwestern d. Iowa, 3-0 (15-2, 15-4, 15-8) Sunday's Match Minnesota d. Wisconsin-Green Bay, 3-0 (15-5, 15-6, 15-6)