The Hawkeyes have four matches this weekend and an outside shot to crack the top 25.
By Kyle Mann
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After a monumental performance last weekend, the Hawkeye volleyball team has a chance to make a name for itself this weekend before heading into Big Ten play on Sept. 23. Iowa will host the Holiday Inn Hawkeye Challenge, beginning with two matches today followed by two more on Saturday.
Like last weekend, Iowa will start with an 11 a.m. match today versus Gardner-Webb, followed by a 7 p.m. match with Coastal Carolina. In a unique display of scheduling, the Hawkeyes will wake up and play Coastal Carolina again at 11:30 a.m. Saturday before a 3:30 p.m. collision with Drake to wrap things up.
Standing 6-3 after having played three ranked opponents and a talented Iowa State team, it would appear that the toughest part of Iowa’s nonconference schedule has come and gone, but a statement sweep this weekend would go a long way to reaffirm the Hawkeyes’ legitimacy.
“Coming into this weekend, we need to win each match,” head coach Bond Shymansky said. “All these matches are huge for us because they’re what will solidify who we are and what we’re doing as we head into Big Ten play.”
It would be naïve to not notice a slight step down in quality of opponents this week — but Coastal Carolina was the champion of the Big South Conference last season.
In fact, after receiving 21 votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, another strong performance could place the Hawkeyes right on the bubble of being ranked in the top 25 for the first time in … seriously, who knows how long?
“We don’t underestimate anybody, and playing back-to-back days of double-headers takes its toll on a team,” Shymansky said. “We really feel like we are building a great résumé for us to be an NCAA Tournament team, and in order for us to continue building that résumé, we have to take care of business at home this weekend.”
The Hawkeyes believe they have found a groove early in the season. The biggest difference in the Hawkeyes last weekend was that when they started playing well, they maintained it. That’s what they struggled with in Hawaii, and that’s what will be key to a continued rise in performance and the polls.
Senior leader Mikaela Gunderson is confident that the team has worked through that kink.
“I think in the beginning, it showed that we were a little nervous and not quite sure how to close out a match,” Gunderson said. “But we’re more prepared, and now we’re getting our confidence, getting into the swing of the game, and we’re not afraid to terminate at the end.”
Indeed, amid the noise and the pressure of last weekend was a Hawkeye offense hitting .424, .500, and .391 in its winning sets versus the Cyclones, followed by a .303 mark against the Aggies. However, two sets were more than .400.
Junior Lauren Brobst, who was at the end of many of those kills, isn’t surprised at all by the new-look Iowa squad.
“I knew coming into this season we were going to be really good this year,” she said. “Getting to see those votes [in the poll] and see that other people are rooting for us makes it come to life.”
Follow @KyleFMann for news, updates, and analysis of Iowa volleyball.
