| OPPONENT | Iowa (8-12, 0-8) at No. 11 Penn State (13-4, 7-1) |
| LOCATION | State College, Pa. (Rec Hall) |
| DATE | Friday, Oct. 20 |
| FIRST SERVE | 6 p.m. (CT) on B1G+ |
| OPPONENT | Iowa (8-12, 0-8) at Maryland (13-7, 3-5) |
| LOCATION | College Park, Md. (XFINITY Center Pavilion) |
| DATE | Saturday, Oct. 21 |
| FIRST SERVE | 6 p.m. (CT) on B1G+ |
The Hawkeyes travel to University Park, Pennsylvania, to take on No. 11 Penn State, Friday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. (CT) inside the Rec Hall. The Hawkeyes then travel to College Park, Maryland, to play the Terrapins inside the XFINITY Center Pavilion on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. (CT).
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
- Live stats for each contest can be found on the volleyball schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.
- Both matches will be live streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).
- Both matches will be available on the Hawkeye Radio Network (YouTube) with John Evans on the call.
HAWKEYE FAST FACTS
- Two athletes have played in every set (72) so far this season; Delaney McSweeney and Bailey Ortega.
- Fifth-year transfer Caitlan Buettner reached the 1,000-kill milestone on October 14th against Michigan State. She currently has 1,001 career kills.
- Senior setter Bailey Ortega is 20 assists away from the 2,000-assist milestone. Ortega currently ranks 10th on Iowa’s all-time assists list with 1,980 career assists behind Jitka Stehnova (2,159; 2002-03).
- Ten Hawkeyes have tallied at least one ace, but five are in double digits; Michelle Urquhart (36), Caitlan Buettner (16), Anna Davis (13), Sydney Dennis (12), and Nataly Moravec (12).
- Five athletes have registered triple-digit digs; Sydney Dennis (286), Caitlan Buettner (192), Michelle Urquhart (156), Bailey Ortega (124), and Nataly Moravec (106).
SCOUTING NO. 11 PENN STATE
- Katie Schumacher-Cawley is in her second season at the helm of her alma mater.
- Penn State is currently 7-1 in Big Ten ball, with wins over Rutgers (3-0), Northwestern (3-0), Illinois (3-0), Minnesota (3-1), Indiana (3-2), then No. 24 Ohio State (3-2), Iowa (3-0), and its only loss coming from undefeated No. 2 Nebraska (0-3).
- Penn State is first in the Big Ten in blocks per set (2.92, fifth nationally).
- Graduate student setter Mac Podraza is a captain for the squad and the reigning Big Ten Setter of the Year. Podraza came to the Nittany Lions after a decorated four year career at Ohio State.
- Jess Mruzik is another Big Ten transfer the Nittany Lions grabbed in the off season. The senior outside hitter has already been named the AVCA national player of the week and the Big Ten player of the week (2x), this season.
SCOUTING MARYLAND
- Adam Hughes enters her sixth season at the helm of the Terrapins.
- Maryland is currently 3-5 in conference play. The conference wins were against Michigan (3-0), Rutgers (3-1), and then No. 16 Minnesota (3-2). The squads losses came to No. 19 Purdue (1-3), then No. 22 Ohio State (0-3), Indiana (0-3), Northwestern (1-3), and No. 1 WIsconsin (0-3).
- The Terrapins rank firth in the conference in total team blocks (193.5, 17th nationally).
- Senior setter Sydney Dowler is ranked second in the Big Ten in total assists (645, 75th nationally) and fifth in assists per set (9.35, 98th nationally).
2023 UPDATE
- Iowa is 8-12 overall and 0-8 in Big Ten play, coming off a home slate matchup against No. 13 Penn State, 0-3, and Michigan State, 1-3. The Hawkeyes are 5-7 at home and 3-5 on the road.
- Fifth year Caitlan Buettner ranks second in the Big Ten in total attacks (789) and 22nd nationally.
- Junior Michelle Urquhart currently ranks second in the conference in service aces (36) and ranks 22nd across the country, as well as second in aces per set (.52) in the Big Ten and 18th in the NCAA.
- Redshirt sophomore Sydney Dennis currently ranks fifth in the league in total digs (286) and ranks 1 nationally.
- Iowa leads the Big Ten in four categories: digs per set (15.25; 78th in NCAA), team attacks per set (35.29; 86th in NCAA), team digs (1,098; 96th in NCAA), and team total attacks (2,541; 120th 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 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.
- Four teams are currently ranked within the top 25 — No. 1 Wisconsin, No. 2 Nebraska, No. 11 Penn State, and No. 19 Purdue.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes come home for a two game home slate against Rutgers on Friday, Oct. 27th at 6 p.m. (CT), followed by Maryland on Saturday. October 28th, at 8 p.m. (CT) inside Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa. Full schedule details are available on hawkeyesports.com.