Notes: at Michigan State, Michigan

THIS WEEK
Iowa heads to the state of Michigan for matches against the Spartans and Wolverines on Oct. 10 and 11. The Hawkeyes meet Michigan State in East Lansing for the first time since 2023 on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. (CT). Iowa travels to Michigan to take on the Wolverines on Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (CT).

HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG

• Both matches 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 NEWS

• Graduate Chard'e Vanzandt recorded her 1,000th career kill in Iowa's sweep over Maryland on Sept. 25.
• Of Iowa's 10 wins in 2025, eight have come via sweep.
• Claire Ammeraal tallied a season-high 50 assists in the five-set loss at Oregon on Oct. 3.
• Heading into the weekend in Michigan, Ammeraal is 134 assists away from 3,000 in her career.
• The Hawkeyes beat East Texas A&M and Lindenwood to wrap up nonconference play. The nine out-of-conference wins are the program's most since 2014.
• Chard'e Vanzandt was the MVP of the Hawkeye Invitational, tallying 22 kills and a .500 hitting percentage.
• 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 12-2 on the season and finished non-conference action undefeated for the first time since 2012.
• Michigan State is 2-2 in conference play with wins over Michigan and Northwestern. 
• Malayah Long runs the offense with 542 assists (3rd in B1G) and averages 10.42 assists per set. She was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Sept. 15th after totaling a league-leading 147 assists, averaging 11.31 assists per set and recording two double-doubles.
• The balanced attack of Karolina Staniszewska and Evie Doezema gives Long options, as they have 151 and 133 kills, respectively. 
• Lia Schneider holds down the defense with 142 digs. 
• 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. 

SCOUTING MICHIGAN

• The Wolverines are 11-4 on the season and 1-3 in B1G play, with a win over No. 10 Minnesota. 
• Allison Jacobs is Michigan’s main offensive option, leading the team with 208 kills and is ranked fourth in the Big Ten in total kills. Jacobs was named B1G Co-Player of the Week on Sept. 8 after recording 66 kills in 13 sets for a 5.08 kills-per-set average. She added five aces and seven blocks over the four matches. 
• Morgan Burke facilitates the offense with 353 assists, averaging 6.92 assists per set. Burke reached her 2,000th career assist against Wisconsin on Oct. 5th, becoming the 10th Wolverine to reach the milestone. 
• Defensively, Maddi Cuchran protects the back row with 169 digs, while Serena Nyambio leads the team with 57 blocks. 
• Entering her third season with the Wolverines, head coach Erin Virtue has a 36-39 record. 

BIG TEN LEADERS
After two weeks of league play, two Hawkeyes are within the top five of their respective statistical categories. Libero Milana Moisio paces the Big Ten with 205 digs. Middle hitter Aleksandra Stojanovic is third in the league in hitting percentage, converting at .443. While setter Claire Ammeraal is sixth in assists with 511, she has tallied the most kills of any setter in the conference with 89. As a team, Iowa has racked up the third-most blocks in the league with 141. The Hawkeyes have the third-best ace-to-error ratio at 0.82. The Hawkeyes have the second-fewest service errors in the second-most sets played.

VANZANDT JOINS 1K CLUB
Graduate Chard'e Vanzandt recorded the 1,000th kill of her career in Iowa's sweep of Maryland on Sept. 25. Vanzandt led the offense with 14 kills with her 12th of the night hitting the milestone. So far, the native of Houston, Texas, has led Iowa in kills in eight matches. Vanzandt began her career at JUCO Blinn College before transferring to Louisiana Tech in 2022. After one season as a Bulldog, Vanzandt moved on to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for two seasons. She was a first-team all-SoCon selection as a senior last year. 

INTERNATIONAL IMPACT
The Hawkeyes have seen strong production from their international student-athletes. Freshman Carmel Vares has 134 kills and a .250 hitting percentage. Sophomore Aleksandra Stojanovic is hitting .443 on the season with 76 kills and 40 blocks. Stojanovic hit .714 against Illinois State and moved into a tie for 12th all-time in program history. She followed it up with an efficient .875 day against Weber State. Defensive specialist Greta Schlichter has 32 digs for the Hawkeyes. Freshman Marichka Hoshylyk posted three kills against Butler to help secure the Hawkeye win.

RETURN TO CARVER
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.

B1G IN THE RANKINGS
Seven Big Ten teams are ranked in the recent AVCA Top 25. Nebraska is No. 1 in the nation. Wisconsin holds at No. 7. Purdue (No. 12) leapfrogged Minnesota (No. 14). After an impressive sweep of LA, Indiana enters the rankings at No. 20. Penn State (No. 19) and USC (No. 22) remain in the top 25. Illinois and UCLA are receiving votes.

UP NEXT
Iowa returns home for matches against USC and UCLA at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Oct. 17 & 19. Tickets are available on hawkeyesports.com.