Notes: Michigan State, Rutgers

THIS WEEK
Iowa hosts Michigan State and Rutgers at Xtream Arena this weekend. The Hawkeyes welcome the Spartans for a rematch on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. Michigan State won the first meeting in East Lansing in five sets. Rutgers comes to Coralville on Sunday for the lone meeting of the season between the programs. First serve is set for Noon against the Scarlet Knights. Friday is Country Night and Letterwinner Night. A free concert from Iowa native Jordan Beem will take place following the match. Sunday is Iowa's Spike-or-Treat Halloween themed match.

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

• Sunday's match against Rutgers will air live on the Big Ten Network. Friday's contest will be streamed on B1G+.
• 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.

2025 HIGHLIGHTS

• Senior Claire Ammeraal recorded her 3,000th career assist against No. 25 USC on Oct. 17.
• Libero Milana Moisio leads the Big Ten with 274 digs. Setter Claire Ammeraal's six double-doubles are tied for the fourth-most in the league. Her 677 assists are the fifth-most in the conference. Middle hitter Aleksandra Stojanovic is sixth in hitting percentage at .415. As a team, Iowa is third in blocks with 175.
• Setter Claire Ammeraal, libero Milana Moisio and outside hitter Carmel Vares set career highs in assists, digs and kills, respectively, in Iowa's match against Michigan.
• Graduate Chard'e Vanzandt recorded her 1,000th career kill in Iowa's sweep over Maryland on Sept. 25.
• Iowa was immaculate at the Kwik Star Klassic, sweeping matches against Butler, Illinois State and Loyola Chicago.
• The Hawkeyes' 6-0 start matched their best since 2009.

SCOUTING MICHIGAN STATE

• The Spartans are 15-3 on the season and 5-3 in the Big Ten with wins over No. 20 Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan and Northwestern. 
• The Spartans finished nonconference action undefeated for the first time since 2012. 
• Malayah Long runs the offense with 680 assists (4th in B1G) and averages 10 assists per set. Long has been named the Big Ten
• Freshman of the Week twice this year (Sept. 15 and Oct. 13). She is the first Spartan to win multiple freshman of the week honors from the league since 2019 and first setter to do so since 2014. 
• Karolina Staniszewska and Evie Doezema lead a balanced attack from both pins with 196 and 168 kills, respectively. 
• Lia Schneider defends the back row with 178 digs so far this season. 
• Head coach Kristen Kelsay is in her first season at the helm of the Spartan program. The former Michigan State athlete returns to East Lansing after leading recruiting efforts at Minnesota. 

PREVIOUS MEETING
Iowa eyed a reverse sweep at the Breslin Center, but fell in five sets. Michigan State took the first two sets 25-20 and 25-15, using sideout volleyball and out-hitting Iowa in the second set .345 to .094.. The Hawkeyes rallied in the third (25-23) with a scorching .444 hitting percentage and won the fourth (25-21) to even the match. Michigan State won the fifth set, 15-7. The Hawkeyes out-blocked the Spartans 9.5 to 8. Vares and Vanzandt led the offensive attack with 13 and 12 kills, respectively. Vanzandt also recorded a team-high three aces. Ammeraal picked up her fourth career double-double, racking up 43 assists and 10 digs. She also nailed eight kills. Michigan State out-hit Iowa, .293 to .245.

SCOUTING RUTGERS

• The Scarlet Knights are even on the season at 10-10 and are 1-7 in conference play with a win over Maryland at home.
• Rutgers had its longest win streak since 2012 during nonconference play, when they won seven in a row. 
• Currently, Rutgers is 5-4 at home and 1-5 on the road. 
• Lily Bolen is the Scarlet Knights primary facilitator, dishing out 694 assists (2nd in B1G) and averages 10.21 assists per set.
• Aspen Maxwell leads Rutgers with 265 kills and is ranked fourth in the Big Ten.
• Lexi Visintine leads the Big Ten in service aces with 34. 
• Caitlin Schweihofer is in her sixth season at the helm of the Rutgers program with an overall 48-114 record.

HAWKEYE MILESTONE WATCH

• Claire Ammeraal: 14 kills from career 500.
• Allison Berent: 8 digs from career 100.
• Jaimie Marquardt: 14 digs from career 200.
• Milana Moisio: 16 digs from career 500.
• Hallie Steponaitis: 19 kills from season 100.
• Aleksandra Stojanovic: 2 kills from career 100.
• Carmel Vares: 11 kills from season 200.
• Hannah Whittingstall: 3 blocks from 200 at Iowa; 34 kills from career 400.

HALLIE STEPPING UP
Redshirt freshman Hallie Steponaitis has elevated into a more prominent role with the offense, becoming another option for setter Claire Ammeraal. In the past six matches, Steponaitis has set a career high of 11 kills twice against Michigan State and Michigan. She posted her career-best five digs against Michigan and four blocks against Michigan State. Steponaitis has found success this season beating teams down the line and hitting off the block. She currently has 81 kills and is recording 2.13 kills per set.

HAWKEYE FIREPOWER
Iowa's offensive production is distributed across the front row with four Hawkeyes recording more than 100 kills. Graduate Chard’e Vanzandt is Iowa’s top option, terminating 213 kills while averaging 3.00 kills per set. She recorded her 1,000th career kill against Maryland. Freshman Carmel Vares has become explosive at the pin for the Hawkeyes with 189 kills and 2.63 kills per set. She set a career high with 24 kills against Michigan. In the middle, junior Hannah Whittingstall has 116 kills while hitting at a .304 clip. Senior setter Claire Ammeraal remains impactful when in the front, putting away 111 kills. Redshirt freshman Hallie Steponaitis has become another option for Ammeraal. She currently has 81 kills and averages 2.13 kills per set. Sophomore Aleksandra Stojanovic leads the team in hitting percentage, converting at .415 with 98 kills through 20 matches.

UP NEXT
Iowa goes back on the road with matches at Northwestern and Illinois. The Hawkeyes open the season series against the Wildcats in Evanston on Oct. 31 at 7:00 p.m. Iowa makes the short trip to Champaign to take on Illinois at 1:00 p.m. on Nov. 2. Both matches will be streamed on B1G+ and broadcast live on the Hawkeye Radio Network.