Sept. 17, 2013
- Read the September issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPad/iPhone app!
- =”” li=”” br=”” a=”” app=”” android=”” hawkeye=”” iowa=”” your=”” download=””>Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
MIDWEEK MATCHUP
The University of Iowa volleyball team will take on Milwaukee in its first non-tournament match of the season on Tuesday, Sept. 16. First serve is slated for 6 p.m. CT.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Hawkeye volleyball fans can keep up with the match at Milwaukee through Gametracker on hawkeyesports.com or watch a live video broadcast of the match at http://www.horizonleague.org/live/9087.
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
Horizon League member Milwaukee owns a 4-5 mark heading into the midweek contest. The Panthers are led by sixth year head coach Susie Johnson and she is assisted by Lindsey Vanden Berg and Nikki Klingsporn. Milwaukee’s roster consists of three freshmen, six sophomores, five juniors and one senior. Rachael Neuberger paces the team in kills with 99 (2.91 per set) followed by Julie Kolinske who has 95 (2.79 per set) on the season. Kayla Price has a team-most 229 assists (9.96 per set), while Taylor Golabowski leads the squad with 154 digs (4.53 per set). Neuberger also leads the team with 33 blocks (0.97 per set), while Nicole Latzig adds 29 (0.94 per set). ALL-TIME Iowa volleyball is a perfect 5-0 in all-time meetings with Milwaukee. The last time the teams met on Sept. 14, 2012, the Hawkeyes defeated the Panthers 3-2 at the Marquette Invitational. Iowa won the first two sets, dropped the third and fourth and recorded the set three win 15-12 to claim the match victory.
B1G RUNDOWN
Iowa ranks fifth in Big Ten Standings with an 8-2 record as of Sept. 15, 2013. The Hawkeyes pace the conference in digs with a 17.59 per set average and are fourth with a 1.56 service ace per set average. The team is seventh in assists averaging 12.54 per set and ranks eighth in kills with a 13.34 per set average. Alex Lovell is seventh in the Big Ten in kills with 155 (3.78 per set) and points with 169.5 (4.13 per set), while Alessandra Dietz is 10th with a .360 hitting percentage. Libero Bethany Yeager leads the conference in digs with 193 (4.71 per set), and Alyssa Klostermann is fourth with 15 service aces (0.37 per set).
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
The Hawkeyes rank within the top 100 nationally in several categories, according to the most recent release from the NCAA on Sept. 16. Iowa is 11th in digs per set (17.59), 61st in service aces per set (1.56), 74th in assists per set (12.59) and 83rd in kills per set (13.34). Bethany Yeager ranks 61st in digs per set (4.71), while Alex Lovell is 67th in kills per set (3.78) and 91st in points per set (4.13). BIG TEN, B1G DEAL The latest release of the AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll on Sept. 14, 2013 included eight Big Ten Conference affiliates. Penn State obtained the No. 1 ranking, while No. 9 Minnesota and No. 10 Michigan were included in the top 10. Rounding out the poll were No. 12 Nebraska, No. 13 Ohio State, No. 14 Michigan State, No. 16 Illinois and No. 21 Purdue. Wisconsin dropped out of the poll, but still received votes in week three.
ALL-TOURNAMENT
Rachael Bedell and Alyssa Klostermann were named to the Hawkeye Challenge All-Tournament team for their efforts on the court in Iowa’s four home matches on Sept. 13-14. Others earning all-tournament recognition this season include: Alessandra Dietz (Chanticleer Invitational and Valpo Popcorn Classic) and Alex Lovell (Valpo Popcorn Classic). Dietz was also named most valuable player of the Chanticleer Invitational.
YEAGER’S HARDWARE
Senior libero Bethany Yeager earned the first Big Ten weekly honor of her career when she was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 2. She helped the Hawkeyes accomplish a 3-0 mark and Chanticleer Invitational championship opening weekend. Yeager paced the team in digs in each match tallying 26 against Wofford, 30 against Youngstown State and 23 against Coastal Carolina. Yeager’s award marks Iowa’s first Defensive Player of the Week honor since Christina Meister received the nod in 2009.
TARGETING THE TOP
The Hawkeyes have defeated a ranked team in four of Dingman’s five seasons. Iowa will have plenty of opportunities to continue that trend starting with its matchup against No. 25 Iowa State on Mediacom court in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sept. 21. Iowa’s top 25 victories since 2008 include: No. 18 Wisconsin (3-0, 2008); No. 18 Michigan State (3-0, 2009); No. 16 Michigan (3-0, 2010); No. 12 Purdue (3-0, 2012).
CAREER UPDATES
Senior libero Bethany Yeager, who began the 2013 season ranked sixth in career digs, has moved up to third all-time with a total of 1,715 digs. Junior outside hitter Alex Lovell has moved up to 19th all-time in kills with a total of 849. She was 20th heading into the Hawkeye Challenge. Senior Nikki Dailey remains sixth all-time in assists with a total of 2,760.
ON DECK
Iowa volleyball gets a chance to defeat its first ranked opponent of the 2013 season this weekend against Iowa State. The match is slated for 7 p.m. CT on Sept. 21 and will take place on Mediacom Court in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Following the match against the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk series foe, Iowa opens Big Ten action. The team begins on the road with matches at Illinois and Northwestern before returning to Iowa City for a pair against Wisconsin and Minnesota. Iowa is scheduled to be home every other weekend and will face each Big Ten team twice, except for Penn State and Ohio State.
LINK UP WITH THE HAWKEYES
To keep up with everything Iowa volleyball, like University of Iowa Volleyball on Facebook and follow @IowaVolleyball on Twitter. Be sure to also follow the team’s new live Twitter feed, @IowaVB_Live, for more frequent in-match tweets, play-by-play, statistics and more. Don’t forget to use #IowaVB.
SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
Season tickets remain on sale through the UI Ticket Office. Season tickets are two-for-$30 and include a complementary Hawkeye t-shirt. Contact the UI Ticket Office at 1-800-IA-HAWKS or visit hawkeyesports.com to place your season ticket order.