Sept. 4, 2014
- Read the September issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPad/iPhone app!
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 2014 Media Guide
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
WEEKEND DETAILS
The University of Iowa volleyball program continues its 2014 season at the Residence Inn Challenge hosted by Arizona State, Sept. 6-7. The Hawkeyes are scheduled to face UAB at 1 p.m. (CT) and Idaho State at 7 p.m. (CT) on Saturday, and conclude tournament play with a 1 p.m. (CT) match against the 17th-ranked Sun Devils on Sunday. Every match will be played at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Arizona.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Hawkeye fans can access links to live stats on the Iowa volleyball schedule page at hawkeyesports.com. Iowa’s match against Arizona State at 1 p.m.(CT) on Sunday will be streamed live on the PAC-12 Network, available only through participating television providers. To find out if you have access to the channel, visit pac-12.com/network/pac-12-arizona.
QUICK HITTERS
? Iowa out-blocked every opponent in week one (37 to 20).
? The Hawkeyes lead the Big Ten in blocks (37) and blocks per set (3.75).
? Mikaela Gunderson leads the conference with 1.90 blocks per set, while Alessandra Dietz ranks fifth in the league with 1.40 blocks per set.
? Iowa ranks third in the conference in digs per set with 16.10. Nebraska leads the way averaging 18 digs per set, followed by Indiana with 16.42.
? Michelle Fugarino ranks third in the conference with 5.0 digs per set.
? Alessandra Dietz ranks eighth in the Big Ten with a .432 hitting percentage.
? Jess Janota and Alex Lovell were named to the Texas A&M Invitational all-tournament team.
? All six newcomers — Kaylee Smith, Danielle Cabel, Mikaela Gunderson, Taylin Alm, Michelle Fugarino and Jess Janota — played in opening weekend. Janota, Fugarino and Gunderson started each match for the Hawkeyes.
? Seven-of-14 Big Ten teams rank in the Top 25 including No. 1 Penn State, No. 4 Wisconsin, No. 7 Purdue, No. 9 Illinois, No. 12 Nebraska, No. 14 Michigan State, and No. 18 Minnesota. Northwestern and Michigan are receiving votes.
APPROACHING A MILESTONE
First-year head coach Bond Shymansky owns a career record of 292-110 (.726) and is just eight wins from logging his 300th career victory. This is his 13th season as a head coach. He spent the past five seasons (2009-13) at the helm of the Marquette volleyball program and seven seasons before that leading Georgia Tech (2002-09).
ALL-TIME
? Iowa leads UAB, 1-0, in all-time meetings. The teams’ lone match was played on Nov. 29, 1990 at the WIVC Tournament in Knoxville, Tennessee. The Hawkeyes recorded a three set victory (15-9, 15-7, 15-6) over the Blazers.
? Idaho State leads Iowa, 1-0, in all-time meetings. The teams last played at the Hawaii Invitational on Sept. 8, 1995. The Bengals topped the Hawkeyes in five sets (17-15, 12-15, 15-6, 13-15, 12-15).
? Arizona State leads Iowa, 2-1, in all-time meetings. After dropping the first two meetings to the Sun Devils, Iowa posted a four-set win (21-25, 26-24, 25-21, 25-22) over Arizona State on Sept. 2, 2011.
LINK UP WITH THE HAWKEYES
For an inside look at the Iowa Volleyball program and to access exclusive coverage, “like” University of Iowa Volleyball on Facebook and follow @IowaVolleyball on Twitter. Be sure to follow the team’s live Twitter feed, @IowaVB_Live, for more frequent in-match tweets, play-by-play, statistics and more.
A NEW ERA
Bond Shymansky was named the ninth head coach of the Iowa volleyball program on Jan. 31, 2014. The UI alum and Iowa City, Iowa, native owns a career record of 292-110 (.726) amidst his 13th season.
Shymansky came to Iowa following five seasons (2009-13) at the helm of the Marquette volleyball program, where he guided the Golden Eagles to their first NCAA berth, NCAA victory, and first Big East regular season title. Marquette also won a Big East Tournament Championship, and made three-straight postseason appearances (2011-13).
Shymansky added associate head coach Michaela Franklin and assistant coach Jackie Simpson on Feb. 25, 2014 and completed his staff with the addition of director of operations Danielle Carlson.
#GREATTODAY
The Hawkeye volleyball program has been focused on one moniker since the arrival of head coach Bond Shymansky and his staff. Whether student-athletes are on the court, training in the weight room or learning in the classroom, the Hawkeyes want to be #GreatToday. A major shift in a program can be challenging, but striving for greatness in each area with exceptional effort has been helpful for the group.
BIG TEN NETWORK COVERAGE
The University of Iowa volleyball team competes live on Big Ten Network (BTN) and BTN Plus 13 times this season. The Hawkeyes’ match against Illinois on Oct. 15 in Iowa City will be televised live on BTN. First serve has been changed from 7 p.m. (CT) to 8 p.m. to accommodate the schedule of the network.
Thirteen Iowa matches will be shown via live stream online through BTN Plus. To see if your cable package gives you access to BTN Plus content, sign up for BTN Plus or learn more about it, visit btn2go.com.
IOWA TIES
Head coach Bond Shymansky and six student-athletes — Kaylee Smith, Kari Mueller, Danielle Cabel, Alli O’Deen, Alyssa Klostermann and Lauren Brobst — on the 2014 roster were born and raised in the state of Iowa.
For several Iowans, playing volleyball for the Hawkeyes is in their blood. O’Deen’s mother, Mueller’s sister, and Smith’s mother all played volleyball at the UI.
Shymansky, an Iowa City native, earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications in 1995 and a Master of Arts in English Education in 1997 from the University of Iowa.
PREP VOLLEYBALL HONORS
The 2014 UI volleyball incoming class of junior transfer Mikaela Gunderson and freshmen Taylin Alm, Danielle Cabel, Michelle Fugarino, Jess Janota and Kaylee Smith received Prep Volleyball Highest Honorable Mention distinction in May.
Prep Volleyball consults college coaches from across the country and compiles a Top 30 recruiting class list, followed by a 25-team Highest Honorable Mention list and a 44-team High Honorable Mention list.
U.S. NATIONAL TEAM TRYOUTS
Three Hawkeyes — senior Alessandra Dietz, junior Erin Radke and sophomore Lauren Brobst — gained valuable experience trying out for the U.S. Women’s National Team at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in February.
AVCA TEAM ACCOLADE
UI volleyball earned the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award for the 2013-14 season after maintaining a team cumulative GPA above 3.30. The Hawkeyes were one-of-134 Division I teams to be recognized — a new record for the award.
B1G PRESEASON POLL
The Hawkeyes are picked to finish 11th out of 14 teams in the Big Ten, as announced by the conference office on August 14. Defending national and Big Ten champion Penn State was at the top of the poll, followed by Nebraska, NCAA runner-up Wisconsin, Illinois and Purdue. Michigan State, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio State and Northwestern round out the top 10. Iowa occupies 11th ahead of Indiana, Maryland and Rutgers.
ON DECK
The Hawkeyes continue their road stint at the 2014 SDSU Classic in Brookings, South Dakota, Sept. 12-13. Iowa will face Eastern Illinois and North Dakota on Friday and conclude tournament play with Saturday matches against Florida International and South Dakota State.