IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa volleyball team has added three more transfers to its 2024 roster. The announcement was made by head coach Jim Barnes on Friday.
Joining the Hawkeyes this month will be sophomore middle blocker Hannah Whittingstall from Southern Methodist University (SMU) and junior libero Kenya Prescott from Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). The Hawkeyes will also welcome senior middle blocker Gracie Gibson from Lafayette College beginning this fall.
Whittingstall (6-foot-2) appeared in 15 matches for the Mustangs this past fall amassing 30 blocks and 36 kills. Whittingstall and SMU won 26 matches and lost in the NCAA Tournament second round to eventual champion Texas. She totaled a career-high nine kills against Houston on Sept. 9, 2023.
The San Antonio, Texas, native was a four-time first team all-state and all-district selection at Alamo Heights High School. She was a two-time District Most Outstanding Hitter and two-time District Champion. Whittingstall was also a four-time San Antonio Express News Super Team Selection and a Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star. She was the 46th-ranked recruit in the class of 2023.
“Hannah brings a great deal of speed and competitiveness to our middle position,” said Barnes. “She can attack from many areas and she is a relentless blocker. Hannah has a high ceiling and will make an impact over her career as a Hawkeye.”
Gibson (6-foot) has played four seasons at Lafayette College prior to transferring to Iowa. As a senior, she started all 24 matches and earned All-Patriot League Second Team accolades. She finished 2023 with 156 kills, leading the Patriot League in hitting percentage at .381. Gibson tallied a team-high 85 blocks (fifth in the Patriot League) and added 42 digs on defense. The native of San Antonio, Texas, registered single game career highs in kills (13) against Northeastern and blocks (9) against Navy.
She totaled 153 kills and a team-best 44 blocks in 23 matches in 2022. Gibson ranked second on the squad in blocks (73) and amassed 144 kills in 25 matches for the Leopards as a sophomore. She was recognized on the 2021 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll with a 4.0 GPA. Lafayette played a shortened 2020 season in the spring of 2021 (seven matches); Gibson recorded a team-high 26 blocks and was named to the conference’s Academic Honor Roll.
“Gracie is a powerful and explosive middle attacker and blocker,” Barnes said. “She is experienced and will fit really well into our middle attack offense. Gracie will also bring mature leadership to our team on and off the court. We are excited about our transfer middles and what they will bring to our team.”
Prescott played the last two seasons at DMACC. She was honored as a 2023 first-team all-conference honoree. The sophomore libero was a defensive staple for DMACC all season. She set the school record mark for digs with 1,541 during her career in Boone. Prescott also holds the record for digs per set at 5.84. In 2023, Prescott had 783 digs, resulting in 6.02 digs per set. The Carroll, Iowa, native ranked fourth in the country in total digs and fifth in digs per set. She competed as a prep at Kuemper Catholic.