IOWA CITY, Iowa – UCLA transfer Mari Hinkle will join the University of Iowa volleyball team for the 2021 fall season, it was announced Thursday by head coach Vicki Brown.
Hinkle, a defensive specialist/libero from Rosemount, Minnesota, played her first two seasons with the Bruins before entering the transfer portal.
“I’m excited for Mari to be joining our program,” Brown said. “She will bring that grit mentality that we always train from a defensive side. She does so well with tracking the ball and moving. I’m looking forward to her passing and serve-receive skills. She’s also going to bring a nice serve and it will be a nice combination of how we’re developing our serve. I’m excited about the overall package that we’ll be adding to our team.”
Back in the Midwest.
We’re excited to announce the addition of transfer @MarHinkle!
📰 👉 https://t.co/6yYoG3oA34 | #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/TCGecDiukv
— Iowa Volleyball (@IowaVolleyball) June 10, 2021
Hinkle played in 68 sets for the Bruins over two seasons. As a freshman, she recorded 40 digs, four aces, and a kill in 20 matches. In 2019, Hinkle recorded five digs and an ace in the NCAA First Round on Dec. 6 against Notre Dame and two digs and an ace in the Second Round at No. 5 Wisconsin on Dec. 7.
Hinkle only played two matches in her sophomore campaign at UCLA.
Hinkle was a five-year starter and two-time team captain as a prep at Rosemount High School under coach Smokey Vitek. She earned Under Armour third-team All-America, first-team all-state, and first-team Star Tribune All-Metro honors. She was named a PrepVolleyball Senior Ace No. 28 and the second-ranked libero.
Hinkle played club volleyball with the Mizuna Northern Lights under coaches Adam Beamer and Walt Weaver. She helped her team to a second-place finish at the 2019 AAU Nationals, earning All-America Team 18 Open honors.
Hinkle’s older sister, Jordan, played at Wichita State (2011-13) and helped the Shockers to their first-ever NCAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2012.
Iowa returns 15 letterwinners in the fall headlined by four seniors – setter/right-side hitter Courtney Buzzerio, middle blocker Amiya Jones, defensive specialist Maddie Slagle, and middle blocker Hannah Clayton.
