Former Hawkeye Kari (Mueller) Pekar Passes

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa volleyball letterwinner Kari (Mueller) Pekar passed away June 10 following a courageous battle with cancer. She was 33.

Pekar was a member of the Iowa volleyball team from 2011-14, where she appeared in 20+ matches in each of her four seasons as a Hawkeye. Overall, she played in 93 matches and made 17 starts. Pekar finished her career with 357 digs, 33 assists and 17 aces.

She graduated from Iowa in 2015 with a degree in health and human physiology.

A native of Iowa City, Pekar was an all-state selection as a senior at City High and was the school’s all-time leader in career digs. 

Following her playing career, Pekar earned her nursing degree from Kirkwood Community College in 2018. She married former Iowa football tight end Peter Pekar in 2022. 

A celebration of Pekar’s life will be held on Thursday, July 30, in Brookfield, Wisconsin.