| OPPONENT | Iowa (8-20, 0-16) vs. Minnesota (13-11, 8-6) |
| LOCATION | Minneapolis, Minn. (Maturi Pavilion) |
| DATE | Friday, Nov. 17 |
| FIRST SERVE | 7 p.m. (CT) on B1G+ |
| OPPONENT | Iowa (8-20, 0-16) vs. No. 1 Nebraska (25-0, 16-0) |
| LOCATION | Coralville, Iowa (Xtream Arena) |
| DATE | Sunday, Nov. 19 |
| FIRST SERVE | 2 p.m. (CT) on B1G+ |
| PROMOTION | Blackout |
The Hawkeyes have a road-home split for the first time this season. On Friday, Nov. 17, Iowa will travel to Minnesota to take on the Gophers inside the Maturi Pavilion at 7 p.m. (CT). Iowa then hosts No. 1 Nebraska at Xtream Arena on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2 p.m. (CT). Sunday’s match is sold out.
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 (99) 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 1,063 career kills.
- Senior setter Bailey Ortega reached the 2,000-assist milestone on October 20th at Penn State. Ortega currently ranks 10th on Iowa’s all-time assists list with 2,095 career assists behind Jitka Stehnova (2,159; 2002-03).
- Ten Hawkeyes have tallied at least one ace, but six are in double digits; Michelle Urquhart (39), Nataly Moravec (26), Caitlan Buettner (20), Anna Davis (13), Sydney Dennis (12), and Kaia Mateo (11).
- Six athletes have registered triple-digit digs; Sydney Dennis (336), Caitlan Buettner (245), Michelle Urquhart (170), Bailey Ortega (159), Nataly Moravec (151), and Amanda Darling (114).
SCOUTING MINNESOTA
- Keegan Cook is in his first season at the helm of the Gophers, formerly at Washington.
- Minnesota is currently 13-11 on the season, 8-6 in conference play.
- This is the second meeting between the teams this season. The first was in Coralville on September 21st, with then No. 12 Minnesota taking the match in a five set thriller, 3-2.
- The Gophers have upset two ranked opponents this season; then No. 15 Baylor (3-0), and then No. 6 Oregon (3-0).
- Fifth year libero Kylie Murr — previously at Ohio State — ranks fifth in the conference in total digs (382, 135th nationally) and sixth in digs per set (4.06, 117th).
SCOUTING NO. 1 NEBRASKA
- John Cook enters his 23rd season at the helm of the Cornhuskers.
- Nebraska remains the only Division I program in both the nation and the Big Ten that is undefeated this season.
- This is the first and only meeting between the teams this season.
- Nebraska is ranked first in the Big Ten and the nation in two categories; match win-loss percentage (1.000), and opposition hitting percentage (.134).
- Freshman middle blocker Andi Jackson was just named Big Ten Freshman of the week. She is the third athlete of the squad to win this honor this season, joining outside hitter Harper Murray and setter Bergen Reilly.
2023 UPDATE
- Iowa is 8-20 overall and 0-16 in Big Ten play, coming off back-to-back home matchups against Illinois, 0-3, and Northwestern, 0-3. The Hawkeyes are 5-11 at home and 3-9 on the road.
- Fifth year Caitlan Buettner ranks sixth in the Big Ten in total attacks (88) and 90th nationally.
- Junior Michelle Urquhart currently ranks second in the conference in service aces (39) and ranks 93rd across the country, as well as second in aces per set (.46) in the Big Ten and 31st in the NCAA.
- Redshirt sophomore Sydney Dennis currently ranks ninth in the league in total digs (336) and ranks 219th nationally.
- Iowa leads the Big Ten in team attacks per set (35.04; 107th in NCAA), and is second in digs per set (14.41; 151st in NCAA).
- 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 Nebraska, No. 3 Wisconsin, No. 14 Penn State and No. 16 Purdue.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes hit the road to take on Northwestern inside Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois, on Friday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. (CT) and Wisconsin inside UW Field House in Madison, Wisconsin, on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. (CT). Both matches will be live streamed on B1G+ (subscription required). Full schedule details are available on hawkeyesports.com.