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VB Notebook: vs. Illinois, NorthwesternVB Notebook: vs. Illinois, Northwestern
Volleyball

VB Notebook: vs. Illinois, Northwestern

OPPONENT Iowa (8-18, 0-14) vs. Illinois (13-11, 8-6)
LOCATION Coralville, Iowa (Xtream Arena)
DATE Friday, Nov. 10
FIRST SERVE 6 p.m. (CT) on B1G+
PROMOTION Military Appreciation Day

 

OPPONENT Iowa (8-18, 0-14) vs. Northwestern (11-13, 5-9)
LOCATION Coralville, Iowa (Xtream Arena)
DATE Sunday, Nov. 12
FIRST SERVE 2 p.m. (CT) on B1G+
PROMOTION Senior Day (Recognition to follow match)

 

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The Hawkeyes return home to Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, to take on Illinois on Friday, November 10 at 6 p.m. (CT) followed by Northwestern on Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. (CT). Both matches will be live streamed  on B1G+ (subscription required).

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 (93) 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 1,048 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 (10).
  • Six athletes have registered triple-digit digs; Sydney Dennis (336), Caitlan Buettner (229), Michelle Urquhart (170), Bailey Ortega (155), Nataly Moravec (137), and Amanda Darling (102).
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SCOUTING ILLINOIS

  • Chris Tamas enters his seventh season at the helm of the Fighting Illini.
  • Illinois’ is currently 8-6 in conference play.
  • This will be the second meeting between the squads this season. The first was on September 30 at Illinois. Illinois swept the match, 3-0.
  • Senior outside hitter Raina Terry leads the Big Ten in the four different categories; attacks per set (12.13, 3rd nationally), points (492, 7th nationally), total attacks (1,235, 3rd nationally), and total kills (429, 7th nationally).
  • The Illini were on a six game win streak before playing No. 2 Wisconsin on the road last Saturday. Illinois was swept 3-0 (13-25, 13-25, 12-25).
  • Jessica Nunge (sister of former Iowa basketball player Jack Nunge), returned for her fifth season with the Illini as a graduate student.

SCOUTING NORTHWESTERN

  • Shane Davis enters his eighth season at the helm of the Wildcats.
  • Northwestern is 11-3 overall and 5-9 in conference. This is the first meeting between the teams this season. The next contest between the squads is set for Friday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. inside Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois.
  • The Wildcats lost AVCA Second Team All-American Temi Thomas-Ailara in the offseason. Thomaas-Ailara is now at No. 2 Wisconsin.
  • Junior defensive specialist/libero Ellee Stinson is third in the conference in both total digs (339, 80th nationally) and digs per set (4.29, 78th nationally).
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2023 UPDATE

  • Iowa is 8-18 overall and  0-14 in Big Ten play, coming off back-to-back road matchups against Michigan, 0-3, and Michigan State, 0-3. The Hawkeyes are 5-9 at home and 3-9 on the road.
  • Fifth year Caitlan Buettner ranks sixth in the Big Ten in total attacks (941) and 77th nationally.
  • Junior Michelle Urquhart currently ranks second in the conference in service aces (39) and ranks 38th across the country, as well as second in aces per set (.46) in the Big Ten and 35th in the NCAA.
  • Redshirt sophomore Sydney Dennis currently ranks seventh in the league in total digs (336) and ranks 173rd nationally.
  • Iowa leads the Big Ten in three categories: digs per set (14.54; 138th in NCAA), team attacks per set (35.14; 98th in NCAA), and team digs (1,352; 156th 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.

 

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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. 2  Wisconsin, No. 16 Purdue, and No. 19 Penn State.

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes are set to 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 Pavillion 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. Full schedule details are available on hawkeyesports.com.