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VB Notebook: vs. Michigan, at Michigan StateVB Notebook: vs. Michigan, at Michigan State
Volleyball

VB Notebook: vs. Michigan, at Michigan State

OPPONENT Iowa (8-21, 2-16) vs. Michigan (16-12, 7-11)
LOCATION Iowa City, Iowa (Xtream Arena)
DATE Wednesday, Nov. 23
FIRST SERVE 6 p.m. (CT)

 

OPPONENT Iowa (8-21, 2-16) at Michigan State (13-13, 8-8)
LOCATION East Lansing, Mich. (Breslin Center)
DATE Saturday, Nov. 26
FIRST SERVE 1 p.m. (CT)
The Setting

The Setting

  • University of Iowa volleyball hosts the Michigan Wolverines on Wednesday at 6 p.m. (CT) inside Xtream Arena.  Wednesday will be Junior Hawk Club Day. The Hawkeyes then travel to East Lansing, Michigan and face the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday at 1 p.m. (CT) inside the Breslin Center.

     

    HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

    • Live stats for each contest can be found on the volleyball schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.
    • Both matches will be available on B1G+ (subscription required). 
    • John Evans will be on the call on Hawkeye Radio Network (YouTube) for the Michigan match.
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SCOUTING MICHIGAN

  • Head Coach Mark Rosen (25th season) is currently on a temporary leave of absence due to health-related reasons. Associate Head Coach Leisa Rosen (24th season) has been appointed to oversee the program during his absence.
  • Michigan is currently 16-12 overall, and 7-11 in conference play.
  • This will be the only meeting between the teams this season.
  • The Wolverines clinched one notable win against a Big Ten opponent this season: beating No. 9 Penn State on the road, 3-0, last September.
  • Redshirt junior libero Hannah Grant ranks second in the conference in aces per set (.41), and third in service aces (41). Grant also ranks third in total digs (441), and digs per set (4.45).
  • Junior outside hitter Jess Mruzik is sixth in conference in attacks per set (9.98), kills per set (3.69), points per set (4.21). Mruzik ranks seventh in the Big Ten in points (417), and total kills (365).
  • Senior middle blocker Jess Robinson is third nationally and first in the Big Ten in hitting percentage (.438). Robinson also ranks seventh in conference in total blocks (112).

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE

  • Leah Johnson enters her first season at the helm of the Spartans.
  • Michigan State is currently 12-17 overall and 3-15 in conference play.  
  • This will be the first and only meeting between the teams this season.
  • Junior libero Nalani Iosia ranks sixth in the Big Ten in total digs (421).
  • Sophomore outside hitter Aliyah Moore ranks 15th in the conference in kills per set (2.80).
  • Graduate student setter Zoe Nunez leads the team in assists with 698.
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THAT’S A B1G WIN

  • Iowa Picked up its second Big Ten win of the season on Nov. 13 over Rutgers, 3-0.
  • Junior middle hitter Delaney McSweeney recorded a .643 clip, while sophomore Michelle Urquhart registered 11 kills to lead the team to victory over the Scarlet Knights.
  • The Hawkeyes picked up their first Big Ten win of the season over Indiana on Saturday, Oct. 8. Iowa defeated the Hoosiers, 3-2.
  • Senior middle hitter Amiya Jones led the Hawkeyes with 17 kills, while junior middle hitter Delaney McSweeney followed with 15 on the afternoon.
  • Redshirt senior Lily Tessier assisted 27 kills, while junior setter Bailey Ortega assisted 20.
  • As a team, Iowa tallies seven service aces led by Jones and sophomore outside hitter Toyosi Onabanjo with two apiece.

B1G LEADERS

  • Senior libero Mari Hinkle averages 4.01 digs per set which is sixth in the conference. She is eighth in the conference in total digs registering 405 thus far. 
  • Against Drake, Hinkle recorded a career-high 34 digs. 
  • Senior middle hitter Amiya Jones is ranked fifth in the conference for total aces (38). Jones is sixth in the Big Ten for aces per set (.37).

AJ’S ACES

  • Senior middle hitter Amiya Jones has totaled 38 aces this season, leading the team.
  • Jones ranks fifth in the Big Ten in service aces (38) and sixth in aces per set (.37).
  • Jones set her career high of seven aces at Indiana (Oct. 26, 2019), and has matched the seven aces twice this season against UNI and Purdue.

BEST CONFERENCE IN THE NATION

  • Six Big Ten teams finished the season ranked in the final top 20 AVCA Coaches Poll — No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2 Nebraska,  No. 6 Purdue, No. 7 Minnesota, No. 11 Ohio State, and No. 17 Penn State.
  • The Big Ten Conference has crowned an NCAA Champion in 10 of the last 16 years and at least one Big Ten team has advanced to the Final Four in seven straight seasons.
  • This season, six teams are ranked within the top 25 — No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 5 Nebraska, No. 8 Ohio State, No. 9 Minnesota, No. 11 Penn State and No. 19 Purdue.