Tacklin' the Big Volleyball Dog

May 6, 2004

Editor’s Note: The following was written by Ryan Suchomel of the Iowa City Press-Citizen and was first published on May 6, 2004.

New Iowa coach Cindy Fredrick isn’t shy about taking on the current queens of volleyball in Iowa.

Northern Iowa has dominated the Hawkeyes the past four years and has earned three straight NCAA tournament berths. The Panthers made it to the Sweet 16 in 2001 and 2002.

In 2002, UNI faced Washington State for a shot at the Elite 8.

“You can’t believe the static I got,” Fredrick said. “My mom would send me every article about UNI and tell me, ‘Honey, they’re so wonderful, they’re so good.’ And then when she heard we were playing them, she was like, ‘Oh Cindy, I don’t think you can beat them.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, Mom, no?’

“We beat them 3-0.”

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