Oct. 4, 2013
- Read the October issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPad/iPhone app!
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
SOCIAL MEDIA SATURDAY
Iowa volleyball’s match against No. 8 Minnesota at 7 p.m. on Oct. 5 is Social Media Saturday. Fans should link up with the Hawkeyes before the match, by liking Iowa Volleyball on Facebook and following @iowavolleyball on Twitter, to access special discounts and qualify for Iowa volleyball prize packs and a $50 gift card to Herky’s Locker Room. The first 300 fans through the door will also receive Iowa Volleyball mouse pads, and all fans can get autographs from the Hawkeyes on the court following the completion of the match. There will also be a Kids Zone featuring giant board games.
ALL-TIME
The Hawkeyes trail Minnesota in all-time meetings 12-61. The last win for Iowa over the Golden Gophers occurred on Sept. 22, 1995 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes won 3-1 (7-15, 15-11, 15-4, 15-10).
RECORD WATCH
Senior setter Nikki Dailey remains sixth all-time in assists with 2,849 in her career thus far and has moved up to 16th all-time with 84 career service aces. Senior libero Bethany Yeager continues to rank third all-time in digs with 1,791 in her career behind Janet Moylan with 1,931 and Emily Hiza with 1,929. Junior outside hitter moved up to 17th all-time in kills with 922 after collecting 14 kills against No. 23 Wisconsin on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
NOTHING BUT THE BEST
Iowa became the sixth college team in the country to receive a Taraflex Sport M Plus floor on Sept. 19. The portable playing surface, that lays on top of the basketball court in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, has been the Olympic volleyball surface of choice since 1976. The Hawkeyes played on their new floor for the first time against Iowa State on Sept. 21.
BIG TEN POWER
A total of eight teams were ranked in the AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll’s most recent release on Sept. 30. No. 5 Penn State, No. 8 Minnesota, and No. 9 Michigan State, and No. 10 Nebraska made top ten cut. No. 12 Ohio State, No. 14 Michigan, No. 23 Wisconsin, and No. 24 Purdue were also present in the top 25. Illinois fell out of the rankings, but still received votes.
CHECKING ON THE GOLDEN GOPHERS
No. 8 Minnesota brings a 14-1 overall record and a 2-0 mark in Big Ten play into this Saturday’s match in Iowa City. The roster consists of six freshmen, seven sophomores, two juniors, and three seniors. The Golden Gophers are led by second-year head coach Hugh McCutcheon, associate head coach Laura Bush, and assistant coach Erich Hinterstocker. Tori Dixon paces the team in kills and blocks with 189 (4.20 per set) and 60 (1.33 per set), respectively. Alexandra Palmer leads the squad in assists with 499 (10.40 per set), and Ashley Wittman has a team-most 132 digs (3.00 per set). As a team, Minnesota owns a .330 hitting percentage and averages 13.98 kills per set.
DIGGING IT
UI volleyball is 26th in the nation in digs per set (16.57) and paces the Big Ten in digs with a total of 928. The Hawkeyes have 126 more digs on the season than Northwestern, who has the second highest dig total in the conference with 802 thus far. A large contributor to Iowa’s success in the category, is libero Bethany Yeager. The senior leads the Big Ten with 269 digs (4.48 per set) and currently ranks third in career digs with a total of 1,791.
DOUBLING UP
Three Hawkeyes have recorded a double-double in the first 15 matches of the 2013 season. Outside hitter Alex Lovell has notched a total of eight with more than 10 kills and 10 digs, while setter Alyssa Klostermann also has eight on the year with more than 10 assists and 10 digs. Adding six this season is setter Nikki Dailey. In each occurrence she posted more than 10 assists and 10 digs.
CONFERENCE ONLY
Iowa volleyball is second in the Big Ten in service aces with 16 total in three matches for a 1.60 service ace per set average. Setter Nikki Dailey tallied seven of the 16 service aces, ranking her third in the conference with a 0.70 service ace per set average, while middle Alessandra Dietz ranks fourth with six for a 0.60 per set average. Iowa is also second in the digs category as a team with a total of 150 (15.00 per set) in three matches played. Libero Bethany Yeager ranks third individually with 41 digs (4.10 per set) in conference play. The Hawkeyes are fifth in total blocks with 26 (2.60 per set), led by Dietz who is sixth with 16 blocks (1.60 per set) in conference action. Also ranking in the top 10 statistically is outside hitter Alex Lovell, who is eighth in kills with 39 total for a 3.90 kill per set average.
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
As of Sept. 30, the Hawkeyes rank 26th nationally in digs per set (16.57), 46th in aces per set (1.54), and tied for 95th in match win-loss percentage (.643). Outside hitter Alex Lovell is 59th in kills per set (3.82) and 84th in points per set (4.13), while libero Bethany Yeager is 80th in digs per set (4.46).
ALIVE IN FIVE
Hawkeye volleyball owns a perfect 3-0 record in five set matches this season. The team’s five set wins occurred against Wofford on Aug. 30, Youngstown State on Aug. 31 and Milwaukee on Sept. 17.
BIG TEN POWER
A total of eight teams were ranked in the AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll’s most recent release on Sept. 30. No. 5 Penn State, No. 8 Minnesota, and No. 9 Michigan State, and No. 10 Nebraska made top ten cut. No. 12 Ohio State, No. 14 Michigan, No. 23 Wisconsin, and No. 24 Purdue were also present in the top 25. Illinois fell out of the rankings, but still received votes.
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, as eight of its Big Ten opponents currently appear in the AVCA Top 25 poll. Iowa’s top 25 victories since 2008 include: vs. No. 18 Wisconsin (3-0, 2008); vs. No. 18 Michigan State (3-0, 2009); vs. No. 16 Michigan (3-1, 2010); at No. 12 Purdue (3-0, 2012).
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.
SEASON TICKETS
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. All season ticket holders receive snacks and drinks in the Hadley Club room following the second set of each home match.
LINK UP WITH THE HAWKEYES
To keep up Iowa volleyball, like University of Iowa Volleyball on Facebook and follow @IowaVolleyball on Twitter. Follow @IowaVB_Live, for more frequent in-match tweets, play-by-play, statistics and more. Don’t forget to use #IowaVB.