Nov. 20, 2007
This Week ? The University of Iowa volleyball team travels to No. 9 Wisconsin and Illinois this weekend for its final two matches of the 2007 season. The Hawkeyes will play Wisconsin Friday and Illinois Saturday. Both matches are scheduled for 7 p.m.
Hawkeyes on the Web ? Fans can follow the action this weekend on hawkeyesports.com, where a live audio broadcast along with Gametracker will be available.
Live audio complete 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 schedule page of hawkeyesports.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 No. 9 Wisconsin ? The ninth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers are 23-4 overall and 15-3 in Big Ten play.
Brittney Dolgner leads the team and ranks second in the Big Ten with 4.7 kills per game (442 total). Taylor Reineke is fourth in the conference with 1.54 blocks per game (154 total) and ninth in hitting percentage (.328).
Joceyln Wack ranks sixth in the Big Ten in service aces (0.35 per game, 35 total) and seventh in digs (4.61 per game, 461 total). Jackie Simpson has the third-best assist average in the Big Ten at 13.05 per game (1,188 total).
The Badgers are coached by Pete Waite. Iowa trails in the all-time series, 37-18-1.
Last Meeting ? Wisconsin defeated Iowa, 3-1 (28-30, 30-26, 27-30, 21-30) Oct. 13.
Four Hawkeyes finished with double-digit kills. Junior Laura Kremer led the Iowa attack with 18 kills and 10 total blocks. Junior Catherine Smale added 14 kills and 13 digs while sophomore Megan Schipper chipped in 12 kills and five block assists. Freshman Aimee Huffman swatted 10 kills.
Scouting Illinois ? The Illinois Fighting Illini are 15-13 overall and 7-11 in the Big Ten.
Laura DeBruler leads the Big Ten in kills with 4.9 per game (539 total) while Johannah Bangert is fourth in hitting percentage (.346).
Ashley Edinger ranks third in digs with 4.83 per game (531 total). Lizzie Bazzetta is averaging 11.46 assists per game (1,043 total), which ranks ninth in the conference and Vicki Brown ranks 10th in blocks with 1.21 per game (130 total).
The Fighting Illini are coached by Don Hardin. Iowa trails in the all-time series, 41-14.
Last Meeting ? Illinois swept Iowa (26-30, 28-30, 24-30) Oct. 12.
The Hawkeyes were led by junior Laura Kremer, who recorded 10 kills and four total blocks. Junior Catherine Smale added nine kills while senior Stacy Vitali chipped in seven kills and five block assists.
Schipper Leads the Way ? Sophomore Megan Schipper has been a steady performer for the Hawkeyes this season.
Schipper has led the Hawkeyes in kills in 16 of the 29 matches this season. The Aplington, IA, native also has 10 or more kills in 19 matches.
Iron Women ? Juniors Laura Kremer and Emily Hiza have each started and played in all 29 matches and 103 games this season.
Freshman Aimee Huffman has started 27 matches while playing in 101 of the 103 games. Freshman Megan Eskew has also played in all 29 matches and 102 of the 103 games this season. Junior Kiley Fister and sophomore Christina Meister have also played in all 29 matches.
Hawkeyes on the Block ? Iowa has out-blocked 1 of its 29 opponents this season. Five of the 14 opponents were also ranked (BYU, LSU, Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin).
Junior Laura Kremer leads the blocking attack with 136 total blocks (25 solo, 111 assists, 1.32 blocks per game). Freshman Aimee Huffman has 87 total blocks while sophomore Megan Schipper has 68.
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 sixth in the Big Ten in digs with 4.63 per game (477 total). Kremer is averaging 1.32 blocks per game (136 total), which is eighth-best in the conference. Fister ranks 10th in the Big Ten with 8.3 assists per game (855 total).
In Big Ten games only, Hiza ranks fifth in digs with 4.92 per game (300 total). Fister is ninth in assists with 9.8 per game (598 total) while Kremer is 10th in blocks with 1.3 per game (79 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 (3,341). Fister needs 787 more assists to move past Kathy Griesheim, who is currently third (4,128).
Hiza started the season ranked 12th in career digs, but has tallied 477 so far in 2007 to move her into fourth place (1,459). She needs 42 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 Oct 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 1,130 fans is the 33rd-highest average attendance in the nation. In addition, Iowa’s record crowd of 2,191 fans against Wisconsin is the 139th-largest crowd in the country so far in 2007.
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 Oct 21, 2000. Iowa came back from a two-game deficit to defeat Michigan State, 3-2 as well.
Hiza Named Academic All-District ? Junior Emily Hiza was named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic all-District second team Nov. 8.
The Swink, CO, native leads the team with 477 digs (4.63 digs per game) and has started all 25 matches this season.
Hiza, who is majoring in marketing, was named academic all-Big Ten in 2006.
Walters Undergoes Surgery ? Redshirt freshman Becky Walters underwent successful surgery to repair her injured knee, Oct 4.
Walters will miss the rest of the 2007 season after suffering a serious knee injury in Iowa’s match against Indiana, Sept. 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).
Hawkeyes Fall Last Weekend ? Iowa was defeated by Northwestern (3-1) and Michigan State (3-0) last weekend.
Sophomore Megan Schipper led Iowa with 13 kills and four block assists against the Wildcats. Junior Laura Kremer added 11 kills with a .296 hitting percentage and four block assists. Freshman Katie Kennedy recorded a match-high seven blocks while junior Emily Hiza tallied a match-high 24 digs.
Senior Stacy Vitali recorded 10 kills in her final match at Carver-Hawkeye Arena Staturday against Michign State. Kremer led the team with 11 kills and seven total blocks.
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