By James Kay
After stunning yet another nationally ranked team, the Hawkeye volleyball team (17-7) is set to face Rutgers and No. 11 Penn State on the road this weekend.
While they are 2-2 in their last four matches, the Hawkeyes have seen steady improvement in all facets of their game, especially on defense.
“Our defense has really picked up,” sophomore Kasey Reuter said. “A part of it is from practice, but a lot of it is a mentality thing. I think we are just able to show people who we are and what we are made of by continuing to put the pressure on them so we can set up the offense.”
In terms of size, the Hawkeyes are usually at a disadvantage, but they have found ways to win against the bigger teams in the Big Ten.
“One thing our team has learned is that we need to stay humble but hungry and never wanting to let the ball drop,” senior Alyssa Klostermann said. “We are not the biggest team in the Big Ten, so that’s when the defensive aspect has to step up. Thinking, ‘We are a better defense’ is going to help you win games along with staying gritty and keeping the ball alive.”
They will need to be at their best going up against a Penn State team that has the best hitting percentage in the conference (.304). The Nittany Lion’s offense is led by junior Simone Lee, who has collected a staggering 338 kills on the season. Lee’s 338 kills are more than any player the Black and Gold has this season.
The Hawkeyes will also have to go up against a Rutgers team that has struggled mightily so far this season. That being said, Rutgers’ defense poses a threat; it has been one of the best blocking teams in the conference. Michaela Matthews ranks in the top-15 in blocks while only playing the second least amount of sets on that list.
The Hawkeyes are hoping junior libero Annika Olsen can continue to lead the back row as she has done recently. She has racked up 19 or more digs in three of the last four matches the Hawkeyes have played.
Her coach has noticed her high level of play.
“Annika continues to get more experienced and really dialed in,” Iowa head coach Bond Shymansky said. “She continues to give a better effort every match and has done a great job with that so far this year.”
Olsen’s teammates aren’t surprised by her recent success.
“We see each other day-to-day, so we know what Annika is capable of,” Reuter said. “She is such a great libero and defensive player. She always brings relentless fire and intensity to our team, and we have really been feeding off that.”
The Hawkeyes will take on Rutgers at the Louis Brown Athletic Center at 6 p.m. today. They will hit the road again to take on Penn State at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Bryce Jordan Center.