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VB Notebook: at Sacramento State InvitationalVB Notebook: at Sacramento State Invitational
Volleyball

VB Notebook: at Sacramento State Invitational

OPPONENT Iowa (0-0, 0-0) vs. Cal Poly (0-0, 0-0)
LOCATION Sacramento, Calif. (Yosemite Hall)
DATE Friday, Aug. 25
FIRST SERVE 6:30 p.m. (CT)

 

OPPONENT Iowa (0-0, 0-0) at Sacramento State (0-0, 0-0)
LOCATION Sacramento, Calif. (Yosemite Hall)
DATE Saturday, Aug. 26
FIRST SERVE 9 p.m. (CT)

 

OPPONENT Iowa (0-0, 0-0) vs. Nevada (0-0, 0-0)
LOCATION Sacramento, Calif. (Yosemite Hall)
DATE Sunday, Aug. 27
FIRST SERVE 1 p.m. (CT)

 

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University of Iowa volleyball opens the 2023 season on the road at the Sacramento State Invitational in Sacramento, California. The Hawkeyes play Cal Poly on Friday at 6:30 p.m. (CT), Sacramento State on Saturday at 9 p.m. (CT), and Nevada on Sunday at 1 p.m. (CT) at Colberg Court at The Nest inside Yosemite Hall.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

  • Live stats for each contest can be found on the volleyball schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.
  • All matches will be available on ESPN+ (subscription required).
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SCOUTING CAL POLY

  • Caroline Walters enters her fourth season at the head of the Mustangs.
  • Cal Poly returns 14 athletes, returners include three All-Big West honorees from last season — outside hitter Tommi Stockham, setter Emme Bullis, and outside hitter Lizzy Markovska.
  • Stockham was named First Team All-Big West for a second straight season after leading the team and being second in the Big West in kills at 3.79 per set.
  • Cal Poly’s roster includes 14 freshmen and sophomores, no seniors, and six juniors. The breakdown includes six newcomers: five freshmen and one transfer.
  • Cal Poly finished last season 17-13 overall and 14-6 in conference play.
  • The Mustangs played Iowa’s fellow conference-competitor Northwestern last preseason, falling to the Wildcats, 1-3.

SCOUTING SACRAMENTO STATE

  • Ruben Velta will begin his 16th season as the head coach of his alma mater.
  • Sacramento state finished last season 15-15 overall, 10-6 in conference play.
  • The squad features six seniors, two juniors, six sophomores and two freshmen.
  • The Hornets feature a veteran filled roster, returning 13 athletes. The 13 are made up of six starters and the libero.
  • The Hornets played fellow Big Ten competitor Maryland in last years preseason, falling to the Terrapins, 1-3.

SCOUTING NEVADA

  • Lee Nelson is entering his sixth season as the leader of the Wolf Pack.
  • Nevada comes back after finishing last season 14-15 overall, and 8-10 in conference.
  • The Wolf Pack features 11 returners and six freshmen.
  • Sophomore outside hitter Gabby McLaughlin represented the Wolf Pack this past summer in the 2023 Mountain West Global Challenge. The challenge featured the best players from the Mountain West conference in a 12 day overseas tour.
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ROSTER AT A GLANCE

  • The Hawkeyes’ roster includes student-athletes from Colorado (2), Connecticut, Illinois (2), Iowa (6), Nebraska, New York, Texas (2), Virginia, Wisconsin, and New Zealand.
  • The 2023 squad highlights five seniors, three juniors, four sophomores, and six freshmen.
  • Nine student-athletes are new to the Hawkeyes this season, including three transfers and six freshmen.

HAWKEYE TRANSFERS

  • Caitlan Buettner comes to Iowa from Texas State. The 6-2 outside hitter is a fifth year from El Paso, Texas.
  • Maddy Hanson came to the Hawkeyes from Denver. The sophomore middle hitter stands at 6-1 and is originally from San Antonio, Texas.
  • Nataly Moravec joins the squad from Brigham Young. Moravec stands at 6-2 as a sophomore outside hitter. Moravec calls Weston, Connecticut, home.

BEST CONFERENCE IN THE NATION

  • Six Big Ten teams finished the season ranked in the final top 20 AVCA Coaches Poll — No. 5 Wisconsin, No. 8 Ohio State, No. 9 Nebraska, No. 10 Minnesota, No. 11 Penn State, and No. 20 Purdue. 
  • The Big Ten Conference has crowned an NCAA Champion in 10 of the last 17 years and at least one Big Ten team has advanced to the Final Four in seven of the last eight seasons.
  • This season, six teams are ranked within the top 25 — No. 2 Wisconsin, No. 5 Nebraska, No. 7 Minnesota, No. 8 Penn State, No. 14 Ohio State, and No. 16 Purdue.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes return home next weekend for the Fryfest Invitational, hosting Middle Tennessee State, Kent State, and South Dakota State on Sept. 1-3. Admission for Iowa’s home opener against Middle Tennessee State is free. Full schedule details are available on hawkeyesports.com.