Notes: SEMO Invitational

THIS WEEK

The Hawkeyes travel to Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for the SEMO Invitational Sept. 11-13. Iowa takes on SEMO at 6:00 p.m. (CT) Thursday at the Houck Field House. The Hawkeyes will round out the tournament with Murray State on Friday at 3:00 p.m. and Weber State on Saturday at noon.

2025 NEWS

• The Hawkeyes are off to their best start (6-0) since 2009. A win over SEMO will mark the best start in school history.
• Iowa was immaculate at the Kwik Star Klassic, sweeping matches against Butler, Illinois State and Loyola Chicago.
• Through two weekends, setter Claire Ammeraal has been the tournament MVP at the Rebel Challenge and Kwik Star Klassic. Ammeraal has a triple-double, two double-doubles, leads the team in assists (174) and has 56 digs, 36 kills and 13 blocks.
• Libero Milana Moisio was the defensive MVP at the Kwik Star Klassic, tallying 38 kills, 4.2 digs/set and 13 assists. Middle hitters Hannah Whittingstall and Aleksandra Stojanovic were named to the all-tournament team.
• Iowa won the Rebel Challenge in Las Vegas, picking up sweeps over UNLV and Cal State Bakersfield. Iowa won its fifth consecutive five-set match, outlasting Utah Tech on Aug. 30.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

• Iowa's matches against SEMO will be streamed ESPN+. There will not be a video stream of the matches with Murray State and Weber State.
• All of Iowa's matches are broadcast 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 SEMO

• Heading into their tournament, the Redhawks are 3-3 on the season.
• SEMO was picked to finish first in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll. The Redhawks secured their 11th regular-season title after posting a 15-3 conference record in 2024.
• Katy St. John was named the OVC Freshman of the Week after tallying 37 kills and hitting .365. She recorded back-to-back career-high kills against Western Michigan and Northern Kentucky with 15 in both matches.
• Two-time all-OVC first teamer, Lucy Arndt, returns at a pin for the Redhawks. She finished 2024 with 437 kills, 40 aces, and 3.39 kills-per-set. Arndt has four double-doubles and has five double-digit kill performances this season.
• Libero and reigning OVC defensive player of the year, Nina Schuberth, led the OVC with 563 digs in 2024.
• Head coach Julie Yankus enters her 15th season with SEMO, compiling a 231-210 record with the Redhawks. She was named OVC Coach of the Year in 2021 and has led the Redhawks to two OVC Tournament Championships (2019 & 2021) and regular season titles (2021 & 2024).

SCOUTING MURRAY STATE

• Murray State opened the 2025 season with a 2-4 record, after going 14-14 in 2024.
• Ella Vogel was named to the Preseason all-MVC Team, after finishing her junior year with 431 kills. She averaged 3.92 kills per set, which was third-best in the MVC.
• In the first weekend of play for the Racers, Vogel joined the 1,000-kill club after recording 40 kills across three matches. She is ranked second overall in the MVC with 85 kills in 2025.
• Katie Titus runs the offense for the Racers, notching 133 assists through 24 sets.
• Holding down the defense, Hallie Forester is leading the Racers with 61 digs and 3.81 digs per set.
• David Schwepker enters his 27th season at Murray State. He is the winningest coach in program history with 433 wins. He led the Racers to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003, 2014, and 2016. 

SCOUTING WEBER STATE

• The Wildcats are 5-1 to open the 2025 season. Weber State earned first-place in preseason voting in the Big Sky Conference after finishing 2024 14-16 overall and 10-6 in conference play.
• After the first week of play, the Wildcats were named the Big Sky Commissioner’s Team of the Month following a 3-0 start.
• Rose Moore earned offensive player of the week honors after totaling 38 kills and recording a career high 20 kills against UC Irvine.
• Ashley Gneiting was named to the preseason all-conference team following a productive junior year with 367 kills and 3.06 kills per set in 2024. She has 58 kills to start the 2025 season.
• Morgan Pratt facilitates the Wildcat offense with 188 assists through six matches.
• Head coach Jeremiah Larsen enters his 11th season with the Wildcats and has the second-most wins and second-highest win percentage in school history. His overall record with Weber State is 178-149 and he has led the Wildcats to two NCAA tournament appearances.

INTERNATIONAL IMPACT

The Hawkeyes have seen strong production from their international student-athletes. Freshman Carmel Vares is leading Iowa’s offense with 44 kills through six matches. Sophomore Aleksandra Stojanovic is hitting .442 on the season with 39 kills and 18 blocks. Stojanovic hit .714 against Illinois State and moved into a tie for 12th all-time in program history. Both Vares and Stojanovic set their career highs with 13 kills against Utah Tech. Freshman Marichka Hoshylyk posted three kills against Butler to help secure the Hawkeye win. Defensive specialist Greta Schlichter has 12 digs in five matches for the Hawkeyes.

SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Senior setter Claire Ammeraal is on a tear through the first six matches for the Hawkeyes, earning tournament MVP awards at the Rebel Challenge and Kwik Star Klassic. Through 19 sets, Ammeraal has totaled 174 assists, 56 digs, and 36 kills. She is ranked seventh among Big Ten setters in total assists and has the most kills among setters. Ammeraal recorded her second career triple-double against Utah Tech recording 41 assists, 18 digs, and 11 kills in the five-set victory.

BALANCED ATTACK

Iowa's offense is using a balanced attack in 2025. Pins Chard'e Vanzandt, Carmel Vares and Alyssa Worden have taken turns leading the Hawkeyes early in the season. Vares leads the team with 44 kills, while Worden (40) and Vanzandt (39) are close behind. The trio averages north of 2.1 kills per set and has a combined 28 blocks. The Hawkeyes also have a strong presence with Hannah Whittingstall and Aleksandra Stojanovic and use offensive setter Claire Ammeraal to strike from the middle.

UP NEXT

Iowa welcomes in-state rival Iowa State in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series on Sept. 17 at 6:00 p.m. (CT). The Hawkeyes then host the Hawkeye Invitational and entertain East Texas A&M on Sept. 19 at 6:00 p.m. and Lindenwood on Sept 21 at 2:00 p.m.