Defense is a crucial component in any sport, and the libero is responsible for a large portion of this skill when it comes to volleyball. Despite only being in her first season with Iowa, fourth-year Milana ‘Mo’ Moisio is checking all the boxes.
Although she’s not the tallest on the team and doesn’t slam flashy kills, Moisio has carved her impact on the court with dives, digs, and dedication.
“She came in this spring and just did wonderful,” fourth-year head coach Jim Barnes said. “Now she’s one of our captains. She’s fit in really well. The team really respects her a great deal, and that’s what’s helping us play at such a high level so quickly.”
Barnes also praised Moisio for her love for the program, a feeling that is mutual for the Hawkeyes.
“It’s home for her, and she knows how much we value her and the way she plays,” Barnes said. “She made all-tournament at the first tournament she played at, she had a career digs record — it just shows everything we thought about her is coming to fruition, seeing her on the court and really producing.”
Moisio spent the first three years of her collegiate career at the University of Miami. Hailing from Waukegan, Illinois, she appeared in 255 sets for the Hurricanes, a program that qualified for the NCAA tournament all three years.
Despite plenty of postseason experience in Florida, Moisio was drawn to Iowa’s atmosphere and team culture.
“Iowa is genuinely one of the best places I’ve ever been to,” Moisio said. “I really didn’t think it could get this good when I came here. [I] like the people, the place, the culture that this team offers.”
The Carmel Catholic High School graduate said adversity during her time as a Hurricane made her more open to the differences that came with moving to Iowa City.
“It was very challenging at Miami to be on that team,” Moisio said. “All those challenges made me become open to other things. I think that really helped me when I came into a new program like this. I was all ears.”
After a 10-22 mark last season, Iowa volleyball started its new season with a 3-0 trip to Las Vegas during the Rebel Challenge. Iowa knocked off UNLV and Cal State Bakersfield with sweeps, bridged by a 3-2 win against Utah Tech.
The Iowa defense proved to be key against Utah Tech in particular, where Moisio recorded a career-best 18 digs, which Barnes regarded as wonderful work.
“She was a lockdown passer and passed a really high rating for us,” Barnes said. “That was big. Her defense was rock solid. The way she leads is exactly what this team needs. She’s really steady. She’s never too high or too low, and that’s what this team needs to play consistent volleyball.”
For second-year and fellow libero Jaimie Marquardt, who serves in a defensive specialist position for the Hawkeyes, this attitude and mindset has been key to Moisio’s success.
“Mo has brought a lot of consistency to the position,” Marquardt said. “In volleyball, passing has to be consistent. I think her consistency, defensively and in serve receive especially, has really contributed and helped elevate our team to a new level.”
Marquardt also noted Moisio’s sound leadership skills as team captain that stem from three years of prior NCAA experience.
“She’s a senior, so she has that leadership role naturally already,” Marquardt said. “She does a great job forming relationships with each person on the team. That really helps each player build trust with her to help lead us as a captain.”
Moisio tallied a total of 36 digs during Iowa’s Las Vegas outing, averaging 3.27 digs per set. The libero also nabbed two kills and 12 assists.
Last season, Iowa featured another transfer in the libero spot in Joy Galles. After four years at Arizona, Galles spent her final season of eligibility at Iowa, starting all 32 matches and tallying 261 digs. For Barnes, the transfer portal offered another experienced option.
“Joy was a senior libero and a great player for us with good experience,” Barnes said. “That’s what we needed. We needed to find a couple of liberos that had some experience, and Mo fit that perfectly.”