IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa volleyball team has added three more transfers to its 2024 roster. The announcement was made by head coach Jim Barnes on Friday.

Joining the Hawkeyes this month will be sophomore middle blocker Hannah Whittingstall from Southern Methodist University (SMU) and junior libero Kenya Prescott from Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). The Hawkeyes will also welcome senior middle blocker Gracie Gibson from Lafayette College beginning this fall.

Whittingstall (6-foot-2) appeared in 15 matches for the Mustangs this past fall amassing 30 blocks and 36 kills. Whittingstall and SMU won 26 matches and lost in the NCAA Tournament second round to eventual champion Texas. She totaled a career-high nine kills against Houston on Sept. 9, 2023.

The San Antonio, Texas, native was a four-time first team all-state and all-district selection at Alamo Heights High School. She was a two-time District Most Outstanding Hitter and two-time District Champion. Whittingstall was also a four-time San Antonio Express News Super Team Selection and a Texas Girls Coaches Association All-Star. She was the 46th-ranked recruit in the class of 2023.

“Hannah brings a great deal of speed and competitiveness to our middle position,” said Barnes. “She can attack from many areas and she is a relentless blocker. Hannah has a high ceiling and will make an impact over her career as a Hawkeye.”

Gibson (6-foot) has played four seasons at Lafayette College prior to transferring to Iowa. As a senior, she started all 24 matches and earned All-Patriot League Second Team accolades. She finished 2023 with 156 kills, leading the Patriot League in hitting percentage at .381. Gibson tallied a team-high 85 blocks (fifth in the Patriot League) and added 42 digs on defense. The native of San Antonio, Texas, registered single game career highs in kills (13) against Northeastern and blocks (9) against Navy.

She totaled 153 kills and a team-best 44 blocks in 23 matches in 2022. Gibson ranked second on the squad in blocks (73) and amassed 144 kills in 25 matches for the Leopards as a sophomore. She was recognized on the 2021 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll with a 4.0 GPA. Lafayette played a shortened 2020 season in the spring of 2021 (seven matches); Gibson recorded a team-high 26 blocks and was named to the conference’s Academic Honor Roll.

“Gracie is a powerful and explosive middle attacker and blocker,” Barnes said. “She is experienced and will fit really well into our middle attack offense. Gracie will also bring mature leadership to our team on and off the court. We are excited about our transfer middles and what they will bring to our team.”

Prescott played the last two seasons at DMACC. She was honored as a 2023 first-team all-conference honoree. The sophomore libero was a defensive staple for DMACC all season. She set the school record mark for digs with 1,541 during her career in Boone. Prescott also holds the record for digs per set at 5.84. In 2023, Prescott had 783 digs, resulting in 6.02 digs per set. The Carroll, Iowa, native ranked fourth in the country in total digs and fifth in digs per set. She competed as a prep at Kuemper Catholic

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa junior pitcher Brody Brecht was named a preseason First-Team All-American by Perfect Game, it was announced Thursday.

Brecht posted a 3.74 ERA in 17 appearances as a sophomore. The Ankeny, Iowa, native allowed just 38 hits and 28 runs over 77 innings. He allowed just nine extra base hits and a .174 batting average against. Brecht led the nation with 4.32 hits allowed per nine innings and tallied 109 strikeouts, the second most in program history.

Brecht was named a third-team All-American by the NCBWA and Perfect Game last season and a freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball and Perfect Game in 2022.

Iowa will begin its season at the Swig & Swine College Classic in Charleston, South Carolina, from Feb. 15-17. The team will face Seton Hall in its season opener.

The (5-4) AHSTW Lady Vikes had a bumpy start to the season with a 1-2 record and saw both Ava Paulsen and Bella Lamp go down with injuries.  Since then, Head Coach Jason McCall used his team’s focus and depth of experience from his seniors to go 4-1 in Western Iowa conference play. When asked about why his team has played so competitively and efficiently against Western Iowa opponents. Coach McCall credits the ambitious and confident attitude the Lady Vikes carry with them into all of their Western Iowa matchups.

One of the key ingredients for a fierce AHSTW squad is the effort from leading scorer and rebounder Delaney Goshorn. Goshorn is over the 14-point mark per game and has hooked 53 rebounds on the year.  Coach McCall gives kudos to the progress he has seen Goshhorn make since the start of the year.

Coach McCall also explained that the Lady Vikes high winning percentage in the WIC is not solely from Goshorn but the other seniors on the team. High effort and consistency from players like Sadi Paulsen with 51 points and Ella Langer who leads the team in steals at 23.

This Friday AHSTW is back in action, and it will be a special game for McCall. Friday night will be his first senior night as a head coach and he anticipates being a little emotional.

The Lady Vikes opponent on Friday is the (6-4) Tri-Center Trojans who are one spot below in the conference standings. The Trojans have played their best when feeding the ball to junior Alexis Flaharty who averages close to 12 points a game. AHSTW is concentrated on the expected toughness of this game.

Tipoff is set for 6:00pm in Avoca.

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AMES, Iowa – Iowa State (9-4, 2-0 Big 12) downed Kansas (7-6, 0-2 Big 12) Wednesday night 69-61 to remain unbeaten in Big 12 play. The Cyclones were led by a commanding performance by Hannah Belanger with 19 points and six 3-pointers.

After the Jayhawks found a double-digit lead to begin the second quarter, the Cyclones answered outscoring KU 16-7 to knot things at 24 at the intermission. Led by 13 third-quarter points by Belanger, the Cyclones surged ahead by as much as 16 and controlled the lead until the final buzzer. The Cyclones totaled 10 3-pointers, the fifth game this season with 10 or more.

Belanger highlighted the night, scoring a season-high 19 points and delivering a season-high six 3-pointers. The senior shot at 60 percent from the 3-point line while hitting the milestone of 2,000 career points.

Addy Brown performed to her seventh double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds, also adding four assists and two steals. Audi Crooks went out to her 12th-straight double figure performance with 11 points to bring the double-figure scorers total to three.

Top Performances

Hannah Belanger downed her previous season highs of 15 points and four 3-pointers with 19 points and six triples. The guard came alive in the third, making four 3-pointers on five attempts and totaling 13 points in the quarter alone. The performance brought her career total to exactly 2,000 points, becoming the 14th active NCAA women’s basketball player to hit the mark.

Up Next

Iowa State heads to Provo, Utah to meet BYU this Saturday, Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. CT.

The Iowa State women overcame a slow start and beat Kansas 69-61 in Ames as they improve to 2-0 in the Big 12.

That’s Iowa State coach Bill Fennelly. Hannah Belanger led three Cyclones in double figures with 19 points as ISU overcame an early 11-point deficit to grind out the win.

Bellanger finished with six three pointers and the Cyclones were 9-of-14 from behind the arc in the second half.

Iowa women’s coach Lisa Bluder says the fourth ranked Hawkeyes are hoping to develop more three point threats going forward. Caitlin Clark had the game winning three pointer in Tuesday’s 76-73 win over Michigan State and finished eight-of-20 from behind the arc. The rest of the team finished one-of-10.

Bluder says the Hawkeyes need to add more three point threats.

A confident Gabbie Marshall would be a big boost. The senior guard is only connecting on 25 percent from three point range.

The Hawkeyes are 13-1 overall and visit Rutgers Friday night.

ON THE MAT 

The University of Iowa women’s wrestling team will travel to the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa, this weekend to compete at the NWCA National Duals Friday and Saturday. The Hawkeyes are entered in as the second seed, following the previous 2023 National Dual Champions, North Central College.

MAKING HISTORY 

The week of October 30th, 2023, was the official start of the inaugural University of Iowa women’s wrestling season. At the East Stroudsburg dual, the Hawkeyes dominated ESU, winning their dual 43-1. On Sunday at the Princeton Open, the Hawkeyes secured six gold medals, and a total of 10 top three finishes. Two placement matches consisted of two Hawkeyes wrestling against each other. Sterling Dias and Emilie Gonzalez wrestled for first at 101, while Anakya Besco and Cali Leng wrestled for fifth at 130.

PREVIEWING THE NWCA NATIONAL DUALS  

The Hawkeyes head up to Cedar Falls this weekend to compete in the NWCA National Duals. They enter the tournament as the No. 2 seed in the bracket and will face Adrain College in the first round.  The Hawkeyes will travel 15 student-athletes. Sterling Dias, Ava Bayless, Brianna Gonzalez, Felicity Taylor, Ava Rose, Emily Frost, Lilly Luft, Ella Schmit, Reese Larramendy, Marlynne Deede, Bella Mir, Kylie Welker, Haley Ward, Alivia White and Jaycee Foeller.

1. 1 IN THE POLLS

For the third time in the regular season, the Hawkeyes sit at No. 1 in the NWCA coaches poll. Iowa leads with 115 points, being followed by North Central at No. 2 (107), and King at No. 3 (89).

INCOMING ALL-AMERICAN  

• Felicity Taylor, a native of Spillville, Iowa, spent the past four years at McKendree University in Illinois, where she helped the Bearcats win three national team titles. She was the NCWWC National Champion in 2021, while finishing as the 116-pound national runner-up in 2019, 2020 and 2022.
• Taylor has also excelled on the national scene, winning both the U.S. Open and U23 National Tournaments and qualifying for Final X. It is the final leg of USA Wrestling’s Senior World Team Trials process.

HAWKEYES STRONG SHOWING AT SOLDIER SALUTE  

• Iowa sent 10 student-athletes to the finals at Soldier Salute, being represented at every weight class.
• Five student-athletes won titles: Sterling Dias (101), Ava Bayless (109), Brianna Gonzalez (116),Bella Mir (155), and Haley Ward (171). Unattached Jaycee Foeller won the 191 title.
• The Hawkeyes took home the team tournament title accumulating 223 points throughout the weekend. DEEDE DOMINATES

NWCA ALL-STAR CLASSIC 

• Marlynne Deede competed at the NWCA All-Star Classic on November 21st in State College, Pennsylvania.
• Under the lights of Rec Hall on the campus of Penn State University, Deede defeated Latifah Mcbryde of Life, via an 8-3 decision.

NEWCOMERS  

• The Hawkeyes brought in 13 new signees to start the 2023-24 season; 4 transfers and 9 freshman. •Introducing one transfer from Jamestown, Augsburg, and two from McKendree.
• Only one of the Hawkeye newcomers is an Iowa native, Freshman Lilly Luft. Luft comes from Charles City, ranking first nationally in her weight class.
• The other 9 freshman come from a wide range of hometowns, reaching from California all the way to New Jersey.

ESTRELLA’S FIGHT FOR LAHAINA  

On August 8th, 2023, the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than 100 years burned through Lahaina, killing at least 115 people and leveling homes and businesses. University of Iowa wrestler Nanea Estrella attended Lahainaluna High School for four years, boarding in her adopted community about an hour west of her hometown of Makawao, in upcountry Maui. Estrella reached out to the Iowa Student-Athlete Advisory Committee; Macy Anderson, community engagement and communications associate in Student Athlete Academic Services; and Kara Park, assistant athletics director for student development. Together, they decided to hold a drive to replace the toys and athletic supplies that so many kids lost in the fire. Donations poured into Carver-Hawkeye Arena and Iowa Book, as well as Xtream Arena before the Hawkeye volleyball team’s home opener during FRYfest.

GONZALEZ NAMED NWCA WRESTLER OF THE MONTH  

Sophomore Brianna Gonzalez was named NWCA region 5 Wrestler of the Month for November. Gonzalez is currently undefeated at 116 pounds, and is ranked third in recent NWCA rankings.

UP NEXT  

The Hawkeyes will host their second dual inside of Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday, January 21. Further details about the event will be released soon.

The (4-6) Audubon Wheelers basketball team used the Christmas break wisely giving time off for their players to rest in preparation for the second half of the season. The Wheelers started the year off 1-4, with their only victory from a last place Missouri Valley team. Head Coach Darran Miller knew something had to change and decided to shift his team’s focus to defense and saw them gel better together.  Audubon went on to win the next 3 out of 5 with strong wins against Riverside and Boyer Valley. Coach Miller credits the higher intensity on defense and rebounding for the Wheelers recent success.

A large part of the Wheelers dynamic has been the play of senior Edward Miller on both sides of the floor. Miller is averaging over 15 points and close to 9 boards per game. Coach Miller mentioned that Edward Miller does a nice job of deciding when to attack the basket or settling for an outside shot.

Miller is not the only high contributor for Audubon. Junior Aaron Olsen is the second highest scorer on the team with 10.9 points per game and has 24 steals. Now through 10 games into the year and Coach Miller notices that he has team who has no problem hustling for the ball. This year’s group does not get easily intimidated and will play as hard as they can through all four quarters.

Audubon resumes Western Iowa conference action this Friday on the road against a (3-6) IKM-Manning team who share a similar 3-2 record in their last 5 games. The Wolves are led by sophomore Ben Ramsey averaging over 16 points a game and a respectable 35% from behind the arc as a team. Coach Miller has his team looking to be a cohesive defensive unit to have 2024 start off with an Audubon win.

Tipoff is set for 7:15pm Friday January 5th.

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CORAL GABLES, Fla. — University of Iowa swimming split Tuesday’s double dual, defeating Vanderbilt, 178-83, but falling to Miami, 168-93 at the Whitten Center Pool.

“We raced really well today against two very good teams,” Iowa head coach Nathan Mundt said. “It was an exciting start to the second half of our season, and we look forward to having some quality training down here in Miami the rest of the week. The meet builds momentum into our next meet.”

The Hawkeyes tallied four individual wins. Freshman Olivia Swalley earned three first-place finishes in both the 100 (1:03.55) and 200 breaststroke (2:19.67) and in the 200 IM (2:05.42). Sophomore Scarlet Martin added to the individual wins in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:02.70.

The Hawkeyes return to action, Jan. 12, against Illinois at 11 a.m. at the ARC Pool in Champaign, Illinois.