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VB Notebook: No. 12 Minnesota, No. 21 Ohio StateVB Notebook: No. 12 Minnesota, No. 21 Ohio State
Volleyball

VB Notebook: No. 12 Minnesota, No. 21 Ohio State

OPPONENT Iowa (8-4, 0-0) vs. # 12 Minnesota (4-4, 0-0)
LOCATION Coralville, Iowa (Xtream Arena)
DATE Thursday, Sept. 21
FIRST SERVE 6 p.m. (CT)

 

OPPONENT Iowa (8-2, 0-0) vs. #21 Ohio State (3-6, 0-0)
LOCATION Coralville, Iowa (Xtream Arena)
DATE Sunday, Sept. 24
FIRST SERVE 2 p.m. (CT)

 

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University of Iowa volleyball hosts No. 12 Minnesota on Thursday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. (CT), followed by No. 21 Ohio State on Sunday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. (CT).  Both matches will take place inside Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

  • Live stats for each contest can be found on the volleyball schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.
  • Thursday’s match against Minnesota will be on FS1 with Sloane Martin (play-by-play) and Anna Connelly (Analyst) on the call, and Sunday’s match against Ohio State will be available on B1G+ (subscription required).
  • Both matches will be available through the Hawkeye Radio Network (YouTube).
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SCOUTING NO. 12 MINNESOTA

  • Keegan Cook is in his first season at the helm of  the Gophers, formerly at Washington.
  • Minnesota is currently 4-4 on the season, six of these matches have been against ranked teams.
  • Against ranked teams this season Minnesota is 2-4. The Gophers defeated No. 6 Oregon (3-2), and swept No. 15 Baylor (3-0). Minnesota fell to No. 7 Texas (3-1), No. 8 Florida (3-0), No. 5 Stanford (3-1), and No. 14 Creighton (3-2).
  • Non-ranked opponents include TCU (W, 3-1) and High Point (W, 3-1).
  • The squad welcomed six new athletes, consisting of three transfers and three freshman.
  • Fifth year libero Kylie Murr — previously at Ohio State — leads the Big Ten in digs per set (4.34).
  • Minnesota finished 22-9 overall in 2022 and 15-5 in Big Ten ball.

SCOUTING NO. 21 OHIO STATE

  • Jen Flynn Oldenburg enters her fourth season at the helm of her alma mater.
  • Ohio State is currently 3-6 on the season, and currently on a six game losing streak.
  • The Buckeyes started the 2023 season with a three-game sweep against Northern Kentucky, Bowling Green, and Eastern Tennessee State University, defeating each in three sets.
  • Ohio State’s losses come to No. 11 Georgia Tech (twice, both 3-1), No. 5 Stanford (3-0), No. 6 Oregon (3-1), No. 6 Texas (3-1), and No. 18 Baylor (3-2).
  • The squad features seven newcomers.
  • Senior outside hitter Emily Londot leads the Big Ten in kills per set (4.86).
  • Ohio State finished 22-10 overall and 15-5 in Big Ten play last season, making their first NCAA regional appearance since 2004.
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2023 UPDATE

  • Iowa is 8-4 on the season, coming off a 2-0 weekend during it’s New York Tour. Iowa tabbed wins over Syracuse (3-0) and Cornell (3-0).
  • Fifth year Caitlan Buettner ranks second in the Big Ten in total attacks (487) and 20th nationally.
  • Junior Michelle Urquhart currently second in the conference in service aces with 24 and ranks 16 across the country.
  • Redshirt sophomore Sydney Dennis currently leads the league in digs (173) and ranks 104th nationally.
  • Iowa leads the Big Ten in six categories: digs per set (15.62, 45th nationally), team assists (538, 55th nationally), team attacks per set (35.67, 57th nationally), team digs (703, 46th nationally), team kills (589, 51st nationally), and team total attacks (1605, 60th nationally).
  • 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 Iowa this season, including three transfers.

HAWKEYE FAST FACTS

  • Iowa has had three athletes play in every set (45) so far this season; Michelle Urquhart, Delaney McSweeney, and Bailey Ortega.
  • 10 Hawkeyes have tallied at least one ace, but only three are in double digits; Michelle Urquhart (24), Sydney Dennis (11), Caitlan Buettner (10).
  • Three athletes have registered enough digs to put them in triple digits; Sydney Dennis (173), Caitlan Buettner (127), and Michelle Urquhart (104).
  • The Hawkeyes are 3-2 on the road and 5-2 at home.

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.
  • Six teams are currently ranked within the top 25 — No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2  Nebraska, No. 12 Minnesota, No. 15 Penn State, No. 19 Purdue, and No. 21 Ohio State.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes head to Bloomington to play Indiana on Friday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. (CT) inside Wilkinson Hall. The Hawkeyes then travel to Champaign to take on Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 6 p.m. (CT) inside Huff Hall. Full schedule details are available on hawkeyesports.com.