Iowa State closed out spring drills with most of the regulars sitting out the scrimmage. ISU has high hopes after finishing 7-6 last season.

That’s ISU coach Matt Campbell who says spring was another step toward building to next season.

Campbell says there is a ways to go for this team to reach its potential.

The offense is experienced and Campbell feels the Cyclones are getting better at the line of scrimmage.

The Cyclones open next season at home against North Dakota on August 31st.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa volleyball team closed its spring season with scrimmages against Creighton, Quincy and UNI inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Saturday.

In an altered format, Iowa won three matches and dropped a pair of close battles with Creighton.

The Hawkeyes were led offensively by newcomer setter Claire Ammeraal, middle hitters Anna Davis and Hannah Whittingstall, and outside hitter Gabby Deery.

Defensively, libero Joy Galles led the Hawkeyes in digs and serve receive.

“The transformation was inspiring to be a part of this spring,” head coach Jim Barnes said. “We added four newcomers and rebuilt our entire team. We have implemented my favorite offense to take advantage of the talent and developed our leadership core. Our team put in long, mindful hours and has improved in every area. The team understands how we want to play and has taken ownership of that.”

HEAR FROM HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS

Claire Ammeraal – Jr. (S)

“The team showed a lot of resilience, especially against a high-level team like Creighton. This tournament showed our strength and what we need to work on. My first few months at Iowa have been a learning experience and it has been great to form so many connections on and off the court.”

Joy Galles – 5th Year (L)

“We came out with plenty of energy and fight, like we have all spring. This team plays with a lot of joy for the game, which makes for an awesome environment. With that being said, I do believe we could have been sharper. We made some errors in crucial moments, which made it hard to finish out sets. Our team has made so much progress since January. It’s been a privilege and pleasure to work with these women and this staff. Our coaching staff is special. Nothing about this program is transactional and that has incentivized our team culture. I was grateful to see the fans that came out to watch us play.”

Hannah Whittingstall – So. (MH)

“Our team has been working hard during the spring and Saturday showed our potential. I am excited to see where we can go moving forward. This is a team that is supportive on and off the court. The past few months at Iowa have been great. The team and staff are very welcoming, in addition to the community. I have enjoyed my time training with the team and getting to explore Iowa.”

The Hawkeyes have concluded their spring season and will return in the fall.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa softball team fell in the final game of a three-game series, 7-3, against Indiana Sunday afternoon at Bob Pearl Field.

Freshman Jaylee Ojo got the start for the Hawkeyes and gave up two early runs to the Hoosiers after five free passes. Junior Haley Downe entered in relief in the first inning and picked up two strikeouts to leave the bases loaded.

Iowa’s offense responded in the bottom of the first as Rylie Moss and Jena Young reached on back-to-back hits to open the inning. Sophomore Tory Bennett capitalized with a single up the middle to score both runs and tie the game at two.

Indiana answered back scoring in the top of the second on two straight singles to take the lead, 4-2. The Hoosiers extended their lead, 5-2, in the fourth on another RBI single.

The Hawkeyes were able to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth but left them stranded as the Hoosiers shut the door. Indiana pushed two more across on a two-run home run in the top of the fifth.

Iowa senior Grace Banes came around to score in the home half of the fifth on an Indiana error to make it 7-3. Sophomore Jalen Adams entered the game in the sixth and kept the Hoosier bats quiet in the final two innings.

The Hawkeyes finished with three runs on seven hits and no errors.

UP NEXT

Iowa (16-21, 4-11) heads to Lincoln, Nebraska on Tuesday, April 23, for a midweek matchup against the Cornhuskers. Game one of the doubleheader will begin at 4 p.m. CT and both games will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.

HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. – The University of Iowa women’s golf team closed out play at the Big Ten Championship, firing a final round 304 on Sunday at the Bulle Rock Golf Club. The Hawkeyes tied for 13th place with a 54-hole score of 902 (300-298-304).

Sophomore Madison Dabagia paced the team, tying for 31st place with at 221 (75-71-75).

Sophomore Kaitlyn Hanna had the best round of the day for the Hawkeyes, shooting a two-over par 74 (73-76-74). The Omaha native had three birdies en route to her 223, putting her in a tie for 37th place.

Indiana was the team champion, firing an eight-under par 856. Minnesota’s Isabella McCauley, Michigan’s Monet Chung and Indiana’s Caroline Craig finished with seven-under par 209s to share the medalist honors.

IOWA LEADERBOARD

T31. Madison Dabagia 75-71-75=221

T37. Kaitlyn Hanna 73-76-74=223

T55. Riley Lewis 74-75-80=229

T55. Ximena Benites 78-76-75=229

83. Shannya Vogler 87-82-80=249

84. Paula Miranda 92-80-81=253

T13. IOWA 300-298-304=902

OREM, Utah – In its final action of a four-game road trip in the Beehive State, Iowa State (17-25) downed Utah Valley (17-25) for the second time this season to get back on track.

Iowa State grabbed the lead early and held on to win its fourth road contest of the season. Karlie Charles hurled a complete game while Angelina Allen had three hits as they willed ISU to victory.

The Cyclones were led at the plate by Allen whose three hits were a game high. She was tied for the game-high in RBI with two and also was able to steal home during the game. Paige Nakashima recorded the lone other RBI for the Cyclones, as the sophomore from Hawaii made her first start of the season. Alesia Ranches, Ashley Minor, Tiana Poole and Olivia Wardlow also had hits on the day.

Charles (3-6) was the only Cyclone to see the circle, as the senior picked up her third complete game of the season. She allowed just two runs on six hits on the day, facing 27 batters and striking out a pair.

Utah Valley scattered six hits across six different athletes on the afternoon. Three of the Wolverine hits were bunt singles while Saige Nielsen had a home run. Nielsen’s home run, a two-run blast, accounted for both Wolverine RBI.

Avery Sapp (4-11) started for UVU and hurled 4.1 innings of action against the Cyclones. Sapp allowed eight hits and two runs but was able to earn five strikeouts. Halle Morris would relieve Sapp and allow just one hit in 1.1 innings of work before Payge Armendariz entered and gave up two runs on two hits in her lone inning of work.

How it Happened

It was a three up, three down inning for both sides in the first as Iowa State used a double play, spearheaded by Ranches – to escape the frame.

The Cyclones got on the board first in the second inning, thanks to a Paige Nakashima single. Tiana Poole got on with a single and was eventually able to take second on a wild pitch. With a 1-2 count, Nakashima singled into right field to plate Tiana and give ISU a 1-0 lead. Back-to-back singles from Kali Gose and Olivia Wardlow would then load the bases but ISU was unable to convert, leaving the bases stranded.

Iowa State added another tally in the third inning to extend its lead to two. Allen led the frame off with a double into left center field which was followed by a Ranches single to put runners on the corners. Ranches then went to steal second and when UVU threw down, Allen stole home as both runners – Allen and Ranches – stole successfully.

Each team would leave one stranded in both the third, fourth and fifth inning, as the game went to the sixth inning of action.

A pair of walks and a HBP would load the bases with two outs for the Cyclones in the sixth inning. Allen then stepped back into the box and ripped a single through the right side to plate a pair and extend the ISU lead to 4-0. One of the base runners, Angelita Fuentes, entered to pinch run and saw her first action of the season as she returned from injury.

Utah Valley attempted to rally in the bottom of the seventh, connecting on a two-out single before Saige Nilsen blasted a homer over the center field wall – her first of the season – to halve the ISU lead, 4-2. ISU was able to get the next batter to ground out though, snuffing the rally and earning its 17th win of the season.

On Deck

Following a four-game stint in Utah, Iowa State will return to the Cyclone Sports Complex on Tuesday, April 23, to face the St. Thomas Tommies for some midweek action. Tuesday’s game is set to begin at 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on Big 12 Now on ESPN+.

STATE COLLEGE, Penn. – University of Iowa women’s wrestling head coach Clarissa Chun was named USA Wrestling Women’s Coach of the Year, announced by the organization at the conclusion of the 2024 Olympic Team Trials tournament on Saturday.

This is Chun’s second coach of the year recognition in her first season with the Hawkeyes. Her first being NCWWC Women’s Wrestling Coach of the Year, awarded to her at the national championships in March.

The Hawkeyes went 16-0 in dual competition in the 2023-24 season and broke the world attendance record for women’s wrestling in their first dual inside of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Chun led Iowa to the NCWC National Duals title, the NCWWC national team title and had six individual national champions, and 12 all-Americans.

Iowa qualified a total of nine wrestlers for the 2024 Olympic Team Trials this past weekend, bringing home three podium finishes.

Several Hawkeyes will continue international competition at the U20 and U23 World Championship later this year. The U20 World Championship will be held in Pontevedra, Spain, this September, and the U23 World Championships will take place in Rio Negro, Colombia, this June.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The 65th-ranked University of Iowa women’s tennis team fell to second-ranked Michigan, 4-0, on Saturday.

Despite the Wolverines securing the doubles point, the Hawkeyes posted a victory at the top spot.

Sophomore Daianne Hayashida and senior Vipasha Mehra downed Piper Charner and Reese Miller, 6-4, to bring the doubles competition down to the tiebreaker match.

At the No. 3 spot, junior Marisa Schmidt and sophomore Nikita Vishwase fought, but ultimately fell to Kari Miller and Bayley Sheinin, 6-1.

In singles competition, the Hawkeyes lined up against five of the six Wolverines being ranked, falling on courts four, five and six.

Sophomore Pia Kranholdt stood strong in her first set against No. 77 Lily Jones with a 6-4 finish. Jones took it to a third set, defeating Kranholdt 4-6, 6-0, 6-0.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will continue competition in Michigan tomorrow, heading to East Lansing to matchup against Michigan State in their final regular season dual. Competition will begin at 10 a.m. (CT).