Nov. 26, 2013
- Read the November issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPad/iPhone app!
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- Download your Hawk Talk Monthly iOS app
- Download your Hawk Talk Monthly android app
WEEK PREVIEW
The Hawkeyes face No. 10 Nebraska on Wednesday, Nov. 27 beginning at 7 p.m. CT on Mediacom Court in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The match can be viewed live online at BTN.com or hawkeyesports.com. AM 800 KXIC will tape audio of the match and it will air later in the evening on Nov. 27. Iowa takes on Ohio State for the first time this season on Saturday, Nov. 30 at 7:07 p.m. CT. The match can be viewed live on Mediacom’s MC22 or on BTN.com. Audio will be available at hawkeyesports.com. Fans can follow both matches with Gametracker on hawkeyesports.com.
PROMOTIONS
All fans can attend the Wednesday night match against Nebraska for free. It is also $1 hot dog night. The first 500 fans through the door will receive a $5 off coupon for Herky’s Locker Room, and each fan in attendance can register to win at $100 gift card to Herky’s Locker Room. Saturday’s match against Ohio State is Senior Night for Rachael Bedell, Grace Burns, Nikki Dailey, and Bethany Yeager. The first 500 fans will receive a Herky Volleyball Bobblehead, and the Hawkeyes will sign autographs on Mediacom Court following the match. Admission is $5 for adults and free to all University of Iowa students and fans 18 and younger.
THE CAREER CLIMB
Several members of the Hawkeye volleyball team are ranked in Iowa career statistical categories. Senior libero Bethany Yeager broke the 23-year-old career digs record of 1,931 set in 1990 by Janet Moylan against Michigan on Nov. 15. The record is now 1,985 and counting. With 15 digs, she will become the first player in Iowa volleyball history to reach the 2,000 career digs mark. Senior setter Nikki Dailey is currently sixth all-time with 3,124 assists, 14th all-time with 93 service aces, and 15th all-time in digs 1,040. Junior outside hitter Alex Lovell is 16th in career kills with 1,081, and senior right side/outside hitter Rachael Bedell is 19th in career kills with 892.
SCOUTING THE CORNHUSKERS
No. 10 Nebraska brings a 22-5 overall record and a 15-3 Big Ten mark into the Wednesday night clash. Fourteenth-year head coach John Cook guides the team, and he is assisted by Dani Busboom Kelly and Dan Meske. The roster is comprised of eight freshmen, five sophomores, one junior, and three seniors. Kelsey Robinson paces the team in kills with 454 (4.54 per set) and digs with 337 (3.37 per set). Mary Pollmiller has dished out a team-most 1,067 assists (10.67 per set), while Cecilia Hall leads the blocking effort with 119 total blocks (1.29 per set). As a team, Nebraska owns a .273 hitting percentage and averages 13.48 kills per set.
THE LAST TIME
UI volleyball fell to Nebraska 3-0 (19-25, 21-25, 8-25) in the teams’ last meeting on Oct. 23, 2013 in Lincoln, Neb. Rachael Bedell led the Hawkeye offense with 14 kills and a .333 hitting percentage in the match, while Alex Lovell recorded a team-most 12 digs. Nikki Dailey and Alyssa Klostermann each posted 11 assists, and Alessandra Dietz tallied a team-high two blocks. The Cornhuskers lead the Hawkeyes in all-time meetings 19-0.
EYEING THE BUCKEYES
Ohio State is 17-13 overall in 2013 and 5-13 in Big Ten play. Geoff Carlston is in his sixth year at the helm of the program, and he is assisted by Laura Benzing and Mike Terrill. Four freshmen, two sophomores, four juniors, and three seniors make up the Buckeye roster. Kaitlyn Leary leads the way with 547 kills (4.88 per set), while Taylor Sherwin has dished out a team-high 1,200 assists (10.91 per set). Julianne Mandolfo has a team-most 382 digs (3.41 per set) on the season, while Taylor Sandbothe has a team-high 115 blocks (1.04 per set). As a team, Ohio State owns a .210 hitting percentage and averages 13.43 kills per set.
THE LAST MEETING
Ohio State defeated Iowa 3-0 (17-25, 24-25, 12-25) in the teams’ last meeting on Oct. 12 2012 in Columbus, Ohio. The last time the Hawkeyes beat the Buckeyes was on Oct. 26, 2008. Iowa topped Ohio State 3-1 (25-23, 19-25, 25-15, 25-22) on the road. Ohio State leads Iowa in all-time meetings 55-9.
BIG TEN, B1G DEAL
With eight of 12 teams ranked, the Big Ten continues to be the most represented conference in the AVCA Division I Coaches Top 25 Poll. No. 2 Penn State leads the way and No. 10 Nebraska also appears in the top 10. No. 11 Minnesota, No. 13 Wisconsin, No. 18 Illinois, No. 19 Michigan State, and No. 20 Purdue made the top 20. No. 23 Michigan rounds out the poll.
GOING OUT IN STYLE
This Saturday’s match against Ohio State marks Senior Night for Rachael Bedell, Grace Burns, Nikki Dailey, and Bethany Yeager, and all have made a significant mark in their final season in a Hawkeye uniform. Bedell has etched her name in the all-time career kills list and been a fundamental piece of the Hawkeye offense, leading the team in kills in eight of the last 15 matches played. Burns has recorded career best numbers in sets played (33), service aces (8), digs (48), points (9), kills (1), and hitting percentage (.250). Dailey became the sixth player in Iowa volleyball history to surpass 3,000 career assists and the 16th player to record 1,000 career digs this season. Her feats made her the 11th player in school history to reach the 1,000 mark in two statistical categories. Yeager passed the 23-year-old career digs record of 1,931 this season, and with 15 digs she can become the first player in school history to reach the 2,000 career digs mark.
HAWKEYE LEADERBOARD
Alex Lovell leads the Hawkeyes in kills with 387 (3.39 per set) on the season, while Nikki Dailey has dished out a team-most 563 assists (5.36 per set). Bethany Yeager paces the team in digs with 463 (4.06 per set), Alessandra Dietz has a team-most 102 blocks (0.93 per set), and Alyssa Klostermann has a team-high 25 service aces (0.24 per set).
SERVING UP AN ACE
The Hawkeyes are third statistically in the Big Ten in service aces with a total of 141 (1.24 per set). Thirteen out of 17 on the UI volleyball roster have recorded at least one service ace during the course of the 2013 season. Alyssa Klostermann has a team-high 25 (0.24 per set) on the year, followed by Alessandra Dietz with 24 (0.22 per set), Nikki Dailey with 23 (0.22 per set), and Erin Leppek with 22 (0.21 per set). Others recording service aces include: Alex Lovell (19; 0.17 per set), Rachael Bedell (9; 0.08 per set), Grace Burns (8; 0.24 per set), Kari Mueller (4; 0.06 per set), Emily Yanny (2; 0.10 per set), Katie Kelley (2; 0.17 per set), Anne Yanda (1; 0.06 per set), Julianne Blomberg (1; 0.04 per set), and Alli O’Deen (1; 0.02 per set).
TALKING STATS
Iowa is third in the Big Ten in service aces with 141 (1.24 per set) and fifth in digs with 1,677 (14.71 per set). Alex Lovell ranks 10th in kills with 387 (3.39 per set) and points with 424.5 (3.72 per set). Bethany Yeager is fourth in digs individually with 463 (4.06 per set).
TARGETING THE TOP
The Hawkeyes have defeated a ranked opponent in four of Dingman’s five previous seasons at the helm of the volleyball program. Iowa has one more opportunity to continue that trend against No. 10 Nebraska on Wednesday night. 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).
LINK UP WITH THE HAWKEYES For all things Hawkeye volleyball, `Like’ the official University of Iowa Volleyball Facebook page, and follow @iowavolleyball on Twitter. To receive in-match updates, be sure to follow @iowavb_live on Twitter. Make sure to use #iowavb.