Oct. 31, 2005
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
This Week ? The University of Iowa volleyball team will hit the highway for a pair of Big Ten Conference road games this weekend. Iowa will battle Michigan State Friday at 6 p.m., then take on Michigan Saturday at 5 p.m. All times are Central.
Hawkeyes on the Small Screen ? Iowa’s game with Michigan State will be televised on a tape-delay basis by Comcast SportsNet Chicago (Channel 44 in Iowa City) Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
Hawkeyes on the Web ? If you can’t make it out to Michigan this weekend, you can still follow all of the action on www.hawkeyesports.com, where live stats will be available for every home game and select road games this season. Just click on the “gametracker” link on the schedule page.
Weekly Press Conference ? Each week, Head Coach Cindy Fredrick will host a press conference Tuesday from 11:45-12:15 p.m. at the Iowa Football Complex. The press conference precedes Iowa Head Football Coach Kirk Ferentz’s weekly press gathering.
Last Week ? The Hawkeyes split a pair of Big Ten games last week, falling to No. 18 Minnesota 3-0 (24-30, 22-30, 26-30) on Wednesday and defeating Indiana 3-2 (30-28, 30-23, 23-30, 26-30, 15-7) on Friday.
Game one against Minnesota started off close, with Iowa taking a 9-8 lead on a bad set by the Golden Gophers. Minnesota then rattled off five-straight points to take a 13-9 lead. They never looked back and finished the game on a kill from middle hitter Jessy Jones.
Minnesota led game two wire-to-wire, at one time going on a seven-point scoring run. With the Gophers leading 26-17, the Hawkeyes mounted a comeback behind the serving of Jacqueline Huguelet and cut the lead to 26-21. It was too little, too late for the Hawkeyes, as Minnesota closed out the game 30-22.
The third and final game was more of the same, with Iowa keeping things close but unable to put together a stretch that would see the Hawkeyes take the lead.
The Hawkeyes won the first two games against Indiana and looked to put things away in game three until the Hoosiers rattled off seven-consecutive points to take a commanding 23-26 lead en route to the win.
Iowa came out with a vengeance in game four, sprinting to a 10-2 lead. Indiana came right back to cut the lead to 13-10, eventually tying the game at 18-18. Things went back and forth until the Hoosiers gradually pulled away for the 30-26 win and forced game five.
Once again, Iowa came blasting out of the gates and took a 6-1 lead. This time, the Hawkeyes were able to put the Hoosiers away. At match point, Laura Kremer ripped her final kill of the night to give Iowa the win.
Scouting Michigan State ? The Michigan State Spartans come into the week with a record of 10-12. They are tied for ninth in the Big Ten with a 3-9 conference mark.
The offense is led by sophomore outside hitter Katie Johnson, who is second in the Big Ten with 437 kills and 5.27 kills per game. Megan Wallin (3.25) and Ashley Schatzle (3.07) are also averaging over three kills per game.
The offense is run by setter Mickey Davis, who is averaging 12.93 assists per game – good for third in the Big Ten.
Libero Nicole Colaluca leads the conference with 464 digs and is third with 5.33 digs per game.
Michigan State leads the all-time series 27-22. Earlier this season, they defeated the Hawkeyes 3-2 in Carver Hawkeye Arena.
The Spartans are coached by Cathy George, who is in her first year.
Scouting Michigan ? The Michigan Wolverines are currently 10-11 with a 4-8 mark in the Big Ten Conference.
Sophomore outside hitter Katie Bruzdzinski leads the attack with 4.03 kills per game – a total good for fifth in the Big Ten. Lyndsay Miller (3.13) and Danielle Pflum (3.12) are each averaging over three kills per game.
Setter Mara Martin is fifth in the Big Ten with 12.36 assists per game, while libero Stesha Selsky is second with 5.60 digs per game.
The all-time series between these two schools is tied 24-24. Earlier this season, Michigan defeated Iowa 3-1 in Carver Hawkeye Arena.
Michigan is coached by Mark Rosen, who is in his 13th year.
Meister is a Monster ? Junior middle blocker Melanie Meister had a huge game against Indiana last Friday. The West Des Moines native hit at a blistering .583 clip, recording 16 kills and five blocks. Meister hit 1.000 through the first two games – both Iowa wins.
Freshman Busts Out ? Freshman Laura Kremer had her best game as a Hawkeye Friday against Indiana, recording nine kills, seven digs, five blocks – all career highs. She also posted a .333 hitting percentage.
A Move Outside ? Sophomore middle blocker Megan Gatens slid over a spot and played outside hitter Friday night against Indiana. The move seemed to agree with her, as she tied a season-high with 10 kills.
Get Out the Brooms ? Friday’s win over Indiana completed the season sweep for the Hawkeyes. It is the first time an Iowa team has swept a Big Ten Conference opponent since 2000. That season, Iowa went 11-9 in Big Ten play and swept Purdue, Northwestern and Michigan.
Twin Killers ? Freshman Catherine Smale and sophomore Stacy Vitali are ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, in kills during conference play. Smale is averaging 3.65 kills per game, while Vitali is averaging 3.60 per game.
A Big Ten Ace ? Junior hitter Jacqueline Huguelet has 15 aces on the season – 12 of which have come during Big Ten Conference play. That total ranks her tenth in the Big Ten for aces in conference play.
Freshman Hitter ? Freshman outside hitter Catherine Smale leads the team with 317 kills and a 3.73 kills per game average, which is good for sixth in the Big Ten Conference.
In Big Ten play, Smale’s average jumps to 3.91 kills per game. That total is good for fifth in the conference.
Vitali Pounds Out Season High ? Sophomore Stacy Vitali recorded a team and season-high 23 kills last Friday against Indiana. The previous high was 22 kills, also by Vitali.
For the year, she has 315 kills and a team-best .301 attack percentage.
Already Better Than Last Year ? The Hawkeyes have 14 wins this season, already giving them more than they had all of last year. Iowa’s 3-2 win over Indiana last Friday gave them a 4-8 conference record, more wins than the last two seasons combined and the most since the 2000 season.
Ironwomen ? Four Hawkeyes have played in all 93 games this season – Stacy Vitali, Catherine Smale, Kiley Fister and Emily Hiza.
Take Me To Your Leader ? Junior middle blocker Melanie Meister and junior outside hitter Tiana Costanzo are the Hawkeye captains this season.
The Assistant Coaches ? Dr. Mashallah (Farokh) Farokhmanesh and Chad Hanson will serve as assistants to Head Coach Cindy Fredrick again this season. Farokh, the associate head coach, is the husband of Coach Fredrick.
Welcome Aboard ? The Hawkeye coaching staff has a new addition this year with DeAnn Woodin joining up as the programs first Director of Volleyball Operations.
Woodin will work closely with the Hawkeye volleyball staff, helping coordinate and carry out the day-to-day activities in the program.
She joins the staff after a successful run as the head coach at Kirkwood Community College. In her two seasons at the helm, she led Kirkwood to a 81-25 record, two undefeated conference seasons and the school’s first-ever NJCAA Division II National Championship in 2003.