Junior Brie Orr is moving up the ladder for the Iowa volleyball team.

Now an upperclassman, Orr is taking a larger leadership role for the Hawkeyes after being named one of the three team captains for this season.

“I definitely felt a big change in maturity, just because it’s more of a calling up to be on my A-game at all times. It’s awesome,” Orr said. “It’s such an honor to be a captain on this team. It just makes me know that I have to do a lot for this team, and they’re gonna do a lot for me.” 

In her first year as a Hawkeye, Orr appeared in all 33 games for Iowa and picked up a Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week honor. Orr added to her achievements in her second year at Iowa after ending the season leading the team in assists with a total of 1,242. She also ranked second on the team last year with 298 digs. 

This year, Orr is one of three captains for a program that pulled in the 24th ranked recruiting team in the nation. It is a talented group of freshmen for sure, and Orr and her fellow captains will be key in helping those underclassmen develop.

“Our freshman class is amazing,” Orr said. “They’re all doing such a great job. Our returners are doing so great. It’s just all meshing together really well, even in the first two weeks of us playing together.”

With everything already coming together this early in the season, Iowa should be in a good position to achieve one of Orr’s main goals – making the NCAA Tournament.

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“That’s just a huge team goal,” Orr said. “But especially having two years where we’re so close. To me, it’s just a huge goal to do whatever I can to help my fellow teammates and I make the tournament.”

Even with all she has achieved to this point in her Hawkeye career, Orr still has several parts of her game she is looking to improve to be the best player she can be.

“I am really looking to improve my serve,” Orr said. “Another big thing is working on being a more offensive setter. Getting kills as much as I can, keeping the blockers on the other side guessing, so it’s not being just an outside-driven team.” 

Over her career at Iowa, Orr has totaled 2,541 assists, which ranks seventh in program history. Durability has been key for Orr to achieve that high number. She has appeared in every game of her college career, with an average of 10.35 assists per game.

With two years under her belt now and the title of captain now attached to her name, Orr will be a crucial member of Iowa volleyball’s team this year.

“This will be her third year as our starting setter,” interim head coach Vicki Brown said. “Now she’s adding in a leadership component, which she really did a good job with this spring, not only leading as far as keeping up with our offensive, but also just being a vocal leader. She really has both ends mastered almost, and it’ll be exciting to see her put that into the fall season.”