Today is Thursday, September 02, 2010, and all of Iowa is preparing for the first kickoff of the 2010 Hawkeye Football season. We got Fry Fest, Hawkapalooza, football pregame shows and even an attempt at the world record for the biggest hokey pokey dance, all in the name of Hawkeye football! We Iowans and our non-resident black and gold brethren are ready for smash mouth rushing and lock down defense.
But I want to take this chance to start the rallying cry for a different event- one that takes place at the end of November. The day after Thanksgiving to be exact. The Iowa Hawkeye Volleyball team will host #1 ranked Penn State- that’s right, I’m starting the rally cry for all Hawkeye fans to pack Carver for a volleyball match that takes place in two months!
The Iowa Hawkeye volleyball program has been on a steady rise since the arrival of head coach Sharon Dingman in 2008.
In 2007, the Iowa Hawkeyes finished 9-22 overall and a disappointing 1-19 in Big Ten play. The year before, they had two wins in the conference. Obviously, the program was struggling.
After head coach Cindy Fredrick (mother of former UNI basketball star Ali Farokhmanesh, and childhood friend of my mother; not sure which is a greater claim-to-fame) left the program in December of 2007, it opened the door for Gary Barta to hire someone who could turn the program around. In the spring, Barta would announce the hiring of Illinois State coach Sharon Dingman, who led her team to the 2007 NCAA Tournament and brought over 330 career wins to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Right out of the gate, the Hawkeyes showed the signs of improvement. Highlights of the 2008 season included a sweep of 18th ranked Wisconsin in the Big Ten opener, and the snapping an 18 match road losing streak, which came in Columbus, Ohio. Dingman would finish her first season 14-18 overall, but most importantly, 6-14 in conference play. No, it wasn’t a winning record, but it was much, much better.
In 2009 Iowa Volleyball continued the climb. Although the record didn’t show it, (the Hawks finished with 5 Big Ten wins) the 2009 team was another step in the right direction. Most notably, the Hawkeyes won a set against #1 Penn State. No, they didn’t win the match, but the then two time defending national champion Nittany Lions had won 141 straight sets! The Hawkeyes broke that up. Not great, but it is something to hang your hat on…or knee pads in this case. (FYI- The 11 Big Ten wins in 2008-09 was the most since 2000-01)
Now the Hawkeyes are off to a 3-0 start for 2010. Coach Sharon Dingman and senior 6-3 leader Becky Walters (“Upper Deck Beck”, as she is known at KRUI) are looking to continue the positive trend, but it won’t be easy. As of today, Penn State is still on top, and Illinois, Minnesota, Michigan, and Iowa State are all ranked in the top 25.
So as of right now, I am officially driving the band wagon! Calling all Hawkeye fans, we need to get behind this team! Single match tickets are $3 and FREE for students and youth. (Beats $100 for a football game!)
Let’s get it started Friday, September 10th against #12 Iowa State, keep it rolling in Carver when we welcome #8 Minnesota, #5 Illinois and #19 Michigan. And finally, Friday night, November 26th, against current #1 and three time defending national champions. Penn State is to Women’s Volleyball what Iowa is to Wrestling. Let’s pack Carver-Hawkeye Area, root for the Iowa and see what happens… GO HAWKS!
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