THIS WEEK
The Hawkeyes open the 2024 season in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with matches against the Liberty Flames and the Providence Friars. Iowa takes on Liberty at 4 p.m. (CT) on Friday, before squaring off with Providence on Saturday at 1 p.m. Akron and Evansville will also be at the kickoff tournament.
2024 NEWS
- Iowa opens the 2024 season in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with matches against Liberty and Providence.
- The Hawkeyes travel outside of the continental United States for the first time since 2015 (Hawaii) and for the fourth time in program history.
- Iowa went 8-4 in the non-conference portion of its schedule in 2023. The Hawkeyes swept the Fryfest Invitational, including a pair of 3-0 victories.
- Iowa wrapped up the non-con with road sweeps of Syracuse and Cornell.
- Junior setter Claire Ammeraal is 23 assists away from 2,000 in her career. In two seasons at Central Michigan, Ammeraal tallied 1,977 assists and averaged 8.5 assists per set.
- Senior Anna Davis is Iowa’s leading offensive returner after registering 155 kills and a hitting percentage of .247 in 2023.
- The Hawkeyes return ace leader Michelle Urquhart in 2024. Iowa led the Big Ten in service aces per error (0.79) and was seventh in total aces (162).
- The Hawkeyes’ roster includes student-athletes from California (1), Colorado (1), Hawaii (1), Illinois (4), Iowa (3), New Zealand (1), Serbia (1), Texas (3), Virginia (1) and Wisconsin (2). The 2024 team returns seven student-athletes from last season and adds five transfers and six freshmen.
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
Both matches will be available on the Hawkeye Radio Network (YouTube) with John Evans on the call. Broadcasts are complete with a pre-match show and post-match interview with Coach Barnes. A video stream will be provided on the Puerto Rico College Sports Tours Facebook page. Live stats for each contest can be found on the volleyball schedule page at hawkeyesports.com. Updates and recaps can be found on Iowa Volleyball’s social media platforms.
SCOUTING LIBERTY
The Flames finished 2023 with a 15-14 record and placed fifth in the C-USA. After playing Iowa, the Flames take on Akron in their second match of the tournament. Liberty returns its top three attackers from 2023 (Bacus: 331 kills, Phillips: 305, Blane: 260). The Flames replace leading setter Delaney Dilfer, who had 1,019 assists last season. Nolan Albrecht was named the head coach on May 9 and enters his first season.
SCOUTING PROVIDENCE
Providence finished 9-21 overall and 3-15 in the Big East last season. The Friars will take on Evansville in their second match of the tournament. Providence returns all five attackers that registered triple-digit kills in 2023 and is led by Shaliyah Rhoden (337). Top setters Miller McDonald (640) and Sammie Ruggles (342) paced the Friars in assists a season ago. Margot Royer-Johnson enters her 25th season as head coach of the Friars.
HAWKEYE TRANSFERS
- Joy Galles comes to Iowa as a graduate transfer from the University of Arizona. Galles appeared in 52 matches as a Wildcat, tallying 180 digs and 57 assists in 2023.
- Kenya Prescott joins the Hawkeyes as a transfer from DMACC. She holds the career school records for digs (1,561) and digs per set (5.80) at DMACC. In two seasons, Prescott played in 76 matches and averaged 5.80 digs per set.
- Claire Ammeraal transfers in from Central Michigan, where she played in 63 matches. The junior setter had over 1,000 assists as a sophomore and registered 168 kills in 2023. She averages 8.6 assists/per set. Ammeraal is 23 assists away from 2,000 in her career.
- Hannah Whittingstall arrives in Iowa City after spending her freshman year at SMU. Whittingstall put on a show against Houston in 2023, setting career highs in kills (9) and total attacks (22). The sophomore hit .583% against Baylor a season ago.
- Gracie Gibson is a graduate transfer from Lafayette College, appearing in matches in all four seasons as a Leopard. The veteran has played in 79 matches and averages 1.71 kills per set in her career.
BEST CONFERENCE IN THE NATION
Seven Big Ten teams are ranked in the preseason AVCA top 25 poll. No. 2 Nebraska, No. 3 Wisconsin, no. 7 Oregon, no. 12 Penn State, no. 13 Purdue and no. 24 USC. Minnesota received votes. Seven Big Ten teams qualified to the NCAA tournament in 2023. The Final Four featured top seeds Nebraska and Wisconsin. Nebraska reached the National Championships Game. The Big Ten Conference has crowned an NCAA Champion in 10 of the last 18 years and at least one Big Ten team has advanced to the Final Four in eight of the last nine seasons.
UP NEXT
Iowa hosts the Hawkeye Invitational at Xtream Arena on Sept. 6-7. The Hawkeyes play two matches on Friday, Sept. 6, welcoming San Jose State at noon and Delaware at 6:30 p.m. The Hawkeyes play California Baptist at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. All three matches will stream on B1G+ and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network with John Evans on the call.