Hawkeyes Travel To Michigan

Nov. 4, 2007

IOWA CITY – Next Match ? The University of Iowa volleyball team travels to Ann Arbor, MI, Monday to face the Michigan Wolverines. Match time is scheduled for 6 p.m. central time.

Hawkeyes on the Air ? Monday’s match at Michigan will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.

Hawkeyes on the Web ? Fans can follow the action on hawkeyesports.com, where live audio and Gametracker will be available.

Live audio with play-by-play from the voice of Iowa volleyball, Brian Wilson, can be found on the volleyball schedule page of hawkeyesports.com. Gametracker can also be found on the volleyball page of mgoblue.com.

Live audio will be available for all 31 matches this fall while live video will be available for all of Iowa’s home matches. All Big Ten matches require fans to pay a $9.95 per month subscription fee.

Scouting Michigan ? The Michigan Wolverines are 18-7 overall and 6-7 in Big Ten play. The Wolverines defeated Minnesota in five games Friday night.

Katie Bruzdzinski leads the Wolverines with 410 kills (4.41 kills per game). Beth Karpiak has 294 kills, followed by Lyndsay Miller with 279 kills and Veronica Rood with 272 kills.

Lexi Zimmerman has a team-high 1,255 assits (13.49 assists per game) while Stesha Selsky has 576 digs (6.19 digs per game).

The Wolverines are coached by Mark Rosen. Iowa trails in the all-time series, 26-22.

Last Meeting ? Iowa upset then-No. 11 Michigan, 3-2 Sept. 28. The Hawkeyes erased a 2-0 deficit in the match for a thrilling, comeback victory.

Junior Laura Kremer had a career night against the Wolverines with 21 kills and five solo blocks. Kremer finished with 11 total blocks. Junior Kiley Fister was just one kill and one dig away from a triple-double, finishing with 54 assists, nine kills and nine digs.

It’s Been a While ? Iowa’s win over No. 11 Michigan was the program’s first win over a ranked opponent since 2000. The Hawkeyes defeated No. 20 Michigan State, 3-2 on October 21, 2000. Iowa came back from a two-game deficit to defeat Michigan State, 3-2 as well.

Kremer Impressive Against Penn State ? Junior Laura Kremer had a team-high seven kills along with a solid .400 hitting percentage against then-ranked No. 2 Penn State Oct. 27.

The match marked the third time this season Kremer has hit .400 or better (.722 vs. Saint Francis, .417 vs. Northern Colorado).

Schipper on the Road ? Sophomore Megan Schipper doesn’t mind being away from Carver-Hawkeye Arena. In seven road matches, Schipper leads the team with 84 kills (3.50 kills per game) along with a .289 hitting percentage.

The Aplington, IA, native also has recorded 21 of her 54 blocks on the road.

Attacking Story ? The Hawkeyes are 4-0 this season when they record more kills than their opponent. In contrast, Iowa is 0-14 when their opponents tally a higher hitting percentage and 5-15 if the opposition has more kills.

Iron Women ? Juniors Laura Kremer and Emily Hiza have each started and played in all 24 matches and 87 games this season.

Freshman Aimee Huffman has 23 matches while playing in 85 of the 87 games. Freshman Megan Eskew has also played in all 24 matches and 86 of the 87 games this season. Junior Kiley Fister and sophomore Christina Meister have also played in all 24 matches.

Hawkeyes on the Block ? Iowa has out-blocked 14 of its 24 opponents this season, including five of the last 10 teams. Five of the 14 opponents were also ranked (BYU, LSU, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin).

Junior Laura Kremer leads the blocking attack with 117 total blocks (23 solo, 94 assists, 1.33 blocks per game). Freshman Aimee Huffman has 79 total blocks while sophomore Megan Schipper has 54.

Hawkeyes In Big Ten Stats ? Juniors Emily Hiza, Laura Kremer and Kiley Fister each rank in the top 10 of different Big Ten statistical categories.

Hiza is fifth in the Big Ten in digs with 4.66 per game (405 total). Kremer is averaging 1.34 blocks per game (117 total), which is sixth-best in the conference.

In Big Ten games only, Hiza ranks fourth in digs with 5.07 per game (228 total). Kremer is eighth in blocks with 1.33 per game (60 total), while Fister is ninth in assists with 9.62 per game (433 total).

Climbing the Records Ladder ? Juniors Emily Hiza and Kiley Fister are making their mark on the Iowa volleyball records books.

Fister ranks fourth in career assists (3,176). Fister moved past Barb Zvonek in Iowa’s last match against Minneosta and needs 953 more assists to move past Kathy Griesheim, who is currently third (3,153).

Hiza started the season ranked 12th in career digs, but has tallied 405 so far in 2007 to move her into fourth place (1,422). She needs 114 more digs to pass Pam Kavadas, who is in third place (1,536).

Record Setting Night ? Iowa shattered the single-game attendance record with 2,191 fans against Wisconsin October 13. The previous record of 1,690 fans was set last season against Iowa State.

Iowa Ranks High in Attendance ? Iowa’s average home attendance of 1,099 fans is the 34th-highest average attendance in the nation. In addition, Iowa’s record crowd of 2,191 fans against Wisconsin is the 105th-largest crowd in the country so far in 2007.

Walters Undergoes Surgery ? Redshirt freshman Becky Walters underwent successful surgery to repair her injured knee, October 4.

Walters will miss the rest of the 2007 season after suffering a serious knee injury in Iowa’s match against Indiana, September 21.

Walters was leading the team with a .265 hitting percentage and also had 113 kills along with 52 total blocks (10 solo, 42 assists).

VolleyBlog ? Hawkeye juniors Catherine Smale and Emily Hiza will be blogging throughout the season for hawkeyesports.com. Both student-athletes will be discussing everything from road trips to what it’s like being an athlete at the University of Iowa.

Minnesota Sweeps Iowa ? The Golden Gophers swept Iowa, 3-0 (20-30, 27-30, 25-30) Wednesday night.

Sophomore Megan Schipper led the Hawkeyes with 11 kills while junior Laura Kremer tallied seven kills and four total blocks. Junior Catherine Smale and freshman Aimee Huffman each had seven kills.

Minnesota used an 8-0 run early in game one to take a commanding 12-2 lead. The Golden Gophers maintained their advantage until they eventually brought up game point at 29-17. Iowa responded with two Kremer blocks along with a kill and service ace by Smale, but couldn’t overcome the previous deficit as Minnesota took the first game, 30-20.

Four kills from both Kremer and Schipper in game two wasn’t enough, as Minnesota recorded a .302 hitting percentage for a 30-27 win.

Iowa stormed out to an early 7-2 lead in game three, powered by four kill Schipper kills in the first nine rallies. The Hawkeyes continued to lead at 14-9 before Minnesota put together a 9-0 surge for an 18-14 lead. Iowa was within one point at 21-20, thanks to a 6-3 run, but couldn’t get any closer as Minnesota closed the match with a 30-25 win.