Iowa's players celebrate after scoring a point during an NCAA volleyball match against Southern Illinois at Xtream Arena in Coralville on Thursday, Sept. 10.
Going into the season, fourth-year middle hitter Hannah Whittingstall outlined a few of the team’s big goals for 2026.
"At the beginning of the year, we created a goal sheet," Whittingstall said. "We said win all nonconference games before we start (conference play), make the Big Ten tournament and then the ultimate goal is to make the NCAA tournament because I think it would just be such a big step for this program.
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"Each year we've made steps up in the right direction, and that would just be a great way, especially for me, to end senior season. Hopefully we can do it — I think we can."
Iowa's hopes of an unbeaten nonconference slate are already gone, but Barnes believes the Hawkeyes remain on track for their two postseason goals.
“Iowa State shows we’re on path for it,” Barnes said. “We’re just really inconsistent right now."
Iowa held the Cyclones to a .230 hitting percentage on Tuesday and recorded seven total team blocks (2.33 per set).
In the five sets Iowa lost against Southern Illinois, Incarnate Word and Missouri State, opponents hit .273 while the Hawkeyes averaged 2.0 team blocks per set.
“We have the ability to do it, and if we can shore up some of these things, there’s no doubt we can make the Big Ten tournament,” Barnes said. “If we beat enough teams and the right teams, we’ll be in the NCAA tournament. Big, long season ahead of us. A lot of games. We’re 6-3, dropped some matches we shouldn’t have, but we won one that we weren’t expected to win.
“That’s inconsistency.”
The Hawkeyes will get four chances to find consistency this week with a home match on Wednesday and three during the Kwik Star Klassic this weekend at Xtream Arena in Coralville.
Bulldog Bounce Back
Iowa’s first chance to rebound from the loss to Missouri State will come on Wednesday against Drake (5-3, 0-0 Missouri Valley).
Barnes expects a spirited effort from the Bulldogs, who were picked to finish second behind Northern Iowa in the Missouri Valley preseason poll.
“They play hard, and they really want to beat Iowa,” Barnes said. “Our players are becoming well aware that every opponent we play comes out really fired up to beat a Big Ten team and to beat Iowa, we certainly feel their energy coming at us, and Drake two-fold. They’ll play really hard.”
Drake opened the season 2-3, but won its last three matchups to claim the Kansas City Klassic Crown over the weekend. The Bulldogs will play Omaha on Tuesday before traveling to Iowa City.
Drake junior Bliss Beck, a Tiffin native, ranks fifth in the MVC with a .368 hitting percentage while senior Lisa Melenciano ranks seventh with 3.21 kills per set.
“They’ve got some weapons there,” Barnes said. “There’s things we can do to hurt them, but we need to really — and I know I’ve said it over and over — but, we got to serve, block and defend them. That’ll take care of the rest.”
Wednesday’s match begins at 8 p.m. with broadcast coverage provided by Big Ten Network and the Hawkeye Radio Network. For a list of local stations, visit hawkeyesports.com/hawkeye-radio-network.
Injury Report
Third-year outside hitter Hallie Steponaitis returned to the court Saturday after being held out of Iowa's previous two matches with shoulder soreness.
Barnes expects her to be available moving forward and does not anticipate the issue to be long-term.
“I think she’s good,” Barnes said. “That was part of why we wanted to give her a two game rest — and to get Rosa (Vesty) a hard look. But, it looks like that was really good for her, and she just needs a little bit more reps because it’s funny, players take a couple days off and then they kind of get out of rhythm like she did, but her arm was good. Hopefully that continues all week.”
Steponaitis appeared in the first three sets of Saturday’s four-set loss to the Lady Bears. She recorded five kills on a .071 hitting percentage.
Ethan Petrik is a University of Iowa beat writer for the Lee Enterprises network. Follow him on X or send him an email at ethan.petrik@wcfcourier.com.
