THIS WEEK
Iowa returns home to host the Kwik Star Klassic at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Sept. 19-21. The Hawkeyes begin the tournament against South Dakota on Thursday night at 6:00 p.m. (CT). Iowa will battle Saint Louis on Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. and finish the weekend against Drake on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG
- The Hawkeyes’ matches against South Dakota, Saint Louis and Drake will be broadcast on B1G+ (subscription required).
- Iowa’s 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 coverage.
- 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.
INSTANT IMPACT
The Hawkeyes have relied greatly on several freshmen in 2024. Outside hitters Malu Garcia and Dominique Phills are Iowa’s most-productive offensive weapons, leading the team in kills with 83 and 69, respectively. Middle hitter and transfer Hannah Whittingstall is tied with Phills in the kill department (69). The Hawkeyes have two newcomers at the setter position. Claire Ammeraal, a transfer from Central Michigan, paces the Hawkeyes with 223 assists. Freshman Jenna Meitzler saw her first game action at the Panther Invite, recording 101 assists in 10 sets. Defensive specialist Jaimie Marquardt has appeared in 24 sets, digging 40 attacks.
SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA
- South Dakota is 6-2 in 2024 with wins over Air Force, Fordham, Iowa State, Missouri, Montana State, and UTEP.
- Senior Kylen Sealock leads the Coyotes in kills, recording 100 thru South Dakota’s first eight matches. She is recording roughly three kills per set.
- Sophomore Avery Van Hook runs the offense, with 303 assists in the opening weeks of play for the Coyotes.
- Freshmen duo Morgan Bode and Audrey Nelson lead the Coyotes in blocks with 24.0 and 20.0, respectively.
- Leanne Williamson enters her ninth season as the Coyotes head coach and 16 years within South Dakota’s volleyball program, helping with the transition to Division I level.
SCOUTING SAINT LOUIS
- Saint Louis is 4-5 through the first three weeks of play, taking care of Army, Illinois State, Southeast Missouri State and Southern Illinois.
- Freshman Addy Brus leads the Billikens offensively with 128 kills (3.8/set).
- Graduate student Abby Lynn facilitates the offense, with 190 assists through the Billikens’ first nine matches.
- Graduate student Carlie Rodgers holds down the defense, recording 143 digs during the 2024 season.
- Andrea Beaty enters her second season at the helm of the Billikens volleyball program after a 16-16 finish in her first season.
SCOUTING DRAKE
- Drake started the 2024 season 2-6, with wins over Nebraska-Omaha and Little Rock.
- Junior Macy Daufeldt leads the Bulldogs in point production with 117 kills and 11 service aces.
- Junior Addison Beagle conducts Drake’s offense, with 264 assists recorded so far in the 2024 season.
- Graduate Student Jada Wills holds down the defense with 145 digs.
- Darrin McBroom enters his 10th season with the Bulldogs, coming off an historic 2023 season. Drake was 30-8 in 2023, earning the most wins in program history.
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 has surpassed 2,000 career assists since joining the Hawkeyes.
- 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. Entering the season, the veteran had played in 79 matches and averaged 1.71 kills per set in her career.
UP NEXT
Iowa begins Big Ten play with road contests against Rutgers (Sept. 26) and Maryland (Sept. 28). The Hawkeyes’ match against Rutgers is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. (CT) and will air on the Big Ten Network. First serve against Maryland is set for 6 p.m. (CT) on B1G+. Both matches will broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.