Gophers volleyball junior libero Zeynep Palabiyik will miss the remainder of the 2025 season because of a knee injury, the team announced Friday.
A magnetic resonance imaging exam this week diagnosed her with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. She is set to undergo surgery next week and will medically redshirt this season. She will have two years of eligibility remaining.
“We’re obviously heartbroken for Zeynep at this moment,” Gophers 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, she started all 32 matches last year and all four this season at the libero spot. Palabiyik ranked seventh in the Big Ten last year with 3.86 digs per set in 2024 and third this year with 3.73.
She has played in 56 career matches, including four in the NCAA tournament.
