Notes: The Rebel Challenge

THIS WEEK

Iowa opens its 2025 campaign in Las Vegas, playing UNLV, Utah Tech and Cal State Bakersfield at the Rebel Challenge. The Hawkeyes play UNLV on Friday at 8:30 p.m. (CT), Utah Tech on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. and CSUB on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. All matches will be played at Cox Pavilion.

2025 NEWS

• Iowa will be meeting UNLV, Utah Tech and CSU Bakersfield for the first time in program history at the Rebel Challenge during opening weekend.
• The Hawkeyes return eight letterwinners, including setters Claire Ammeraal and Jenna Meitzler, who combined to record 1,087 assists last season.
• Junior Hannah Whittingstall leads Iowa in the middle following a sophomore campaign that produced 214 kills, 2.06 kills per set and a .270 hitting percentage.
• Iowa welcomes nine newcomers, including five freshmen, to its 2025 roster. Four transfers join the program, including seniors Milana Moisio and Chard’e Vanzandt.
• The Hawkeyes will have three matches televised on the Big Ten Network: at Washington (Oct. 4), vs. Rutgers (Oct. 26) and vs. Penn State (Nov. 29).
• Iowa will host USC (Oct. 17) and UCLA (Oct. 19) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, marking its return to Carver for the first time since 2021.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

Iowa's match against UNLV will be televised on the Mountain West Network. Contests against Utah Tech and CSU Bakersfield will be streamed on the UNLV Athletics YouTube channel. All of Iowa's matches are available on the Hawkeye Radio Network (YouTube) with John Evans on the call. 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 and the News section on hawkeyesports.com. 

SCOUTING UNLV

UNLV was 15-14 in 2024 and picked up wins over Iowa State and Northwestern. The Rebels were 8-10 in the Mountain West. UNLV is picked to finish tied for sixth in the Mountain West. The Rebels return seven letterwinners and add seven freshmen to the mix. Basia Latos was the Rebels' leader in kills per set (2.56), had the third-most kills (228) and returns as a member of the league's preseason team. Rheanna Deen-Jackson returns after leading the Rebels with 90 blocks in the 2024 season. Caleigh King topped the team with 351 digs and 29 aces and returns for her junior year. Head coach Malia Shoji is entering her third season with a 34–27 overall record at the Rebels' helm. 

SCOUTING UTAH TECH

Utah Tech finished the 2024 season 15-12 and 9-7 in the WAC. The Trailblazers return 13 players, including their leaders in kills, assists and digs. Outside duo Kennedi Knudsen and Tessa Treanor finished the 2024 season with 395 kills and 234 kills, respectively. 2024 assists-leader Marley Roe is back for her junior season after recording 546 assists. Casidy Fried returns for the Trailblazers after leading the team with 142 blocks a season ago. Camilla Hafoka enters her fifth season as the head coach, after serving two years as an assistant coach, with a 71-72 overall record on the Trailblazer sidelines. 

SCOUTING CSU BAKERSFIELD

CSUB recorded a 12-18 record in 2024. The 'Runners were 6-12 in Big West competition. CSUB reverse swept Saint Mary's in an exhibition match on August 16. The ‘Runners add 10 newcomers, as they rebuild their roster for the 2025 season. Virginia Tech transfer Nicole Zake led the team in its exhibition match against Saint Mary’s with 23 kills. The ‘Runners ran a two-setter system in their exhibition match with Evelyn Trivino Espinosa and Luiza Da Cruz recording 19 and 16 assists, respectively. Felipe Nogueria and Cinthia Angus enter their first season as co-interim head coaches for CSUB.

A RETURN TO CARVER-HAWKEYE ARENA

Iowa will host two matches at Carver-Hawkeye Arena during the 2025 season. Contests against USC (Oct. 17) and UCLA (Oct. 19) will be played at Carver-Hawkeye Arena due to scheduling conflicts at Xtream Arena. This marks the first time the Hawkeyes have played at Carver since the 2021 fall season, when Iowa hosted Michigan and Michigan State. The arena was built in 1983 and housed the Hawkeye volleyball program until the spring of 2021, when Iowa moved full-time to Xtream Arena.

IN THE RANKINGS

Seven Big Ten programs are ranked in the AVCA Top 25 preseason poll. Nebraska enters the season ranked No. 1. Penn State, after winning the 2024 national title, is ranked No. 2. Wisconsin is ranked No. 8. Minnesota (No. 11), Purdue (No. 15), UCLA (No. 18) and USC (No. 21) are also ranked in the top 25. The Hawkeyes will play these seven teams a combined eight times in 2025.

HAWKEYE TRANSFERS

• Libero Allison Berent joins the program after spending two seasons, one as a redshirt, at Alabama. As a freshman in 2023, Berent appeared in eight matches and posted a career-high nine digs against South Carolina. She earned her first career start against Mississippi State. A native of Rochester Hills, Michigan, Berent was tabbed as an Under Armour All-American, AVCA Second-Team All-American and listed as a five-star recruit in the 2023 class, according to VBallRecruiter.com.
• Milana Moisio will spend her final year of eligibility as a Hawkeye after playing for Miami (FL) for the first three seasons of her career. A veteran libero from Waukegan, Illinois, Moisio joins with 83 matches played, 210 digs, 37 assists and 35 service aces. Moisio brings postseason experience to Iowa City after reaching the NCAA Tournament in all three seasons as a Hurricane.
• Greta Schlichter transfers in as a libero from Syracuse, where she started in 57 matches over two seasons. As a sophomore in 2024, Schlichter was third on the team in digs with 234. She had a more offensive role in 2023, tallying 101 kills in her freshman campaign. A native of Lathen, Germany, Schlichter played for VC Olympia Berlin for three years.
• Chard’e Vanzandt is an outside hitter from Houston, Texas, who spent the last two seasons as a standout performer at Chattanooga. In 2024, Vanzandt was a first-team all-SoCon selection, playing in all 32 matches with 31 starts for the Mocs. She led the team in kills (390), kills/set (3.20), attacking percentage (.341) and points (451).

UP NEXT

Iowa hosts the Kwik Star Klassic at Xtream Arena Sept. 4-6. The Hawkeyes welcome Butler for their home opener on Thursday at 6 p.m., before entertaining Illinois State on Friday night at 6. The weekend concludes with a matchup against Loyola at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Iowa's match against the Ramblers is Kids' Day. Tickets can be found here.