Press Release Courtesy of Rutgers Athletics: Rutgers Volleyball Returns Home to Host Iowa, No. 1 Nebraska
Rutgers Volleyball Returns Home to Host Iowa, No. 1 Nebraska
Scarlet Knights host reigning National Champion for second consecutive season
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – The Rutgers women’s volleyball team returns to the College Ave. Gym for a pair of matches. The Scarlet Knights first host Iowa for its Black Out on Friday, Nov. 4 before welcoming the reigning National Champions, Nebraska, on Saturday, Nov. 5. Both matches are set for 7 p.m. ET.
Game 1: Friday, Nov. 4 – Rutgers vs. Iowa at 7 p.m. Live Stats | BTN Plus
Game 2: Saturday, Nov. 5 – Rutgers vs. #1 Nebraska at 7 p.m. Live Stats | BTN Plus
PROMOTIONS
Free Stuff Friday returns against Iowa on Friday, Nov. 4 with a giveaway of 100 black headbands. Fans are encouraged to wear black to Black Out the Hawkeyes.
On Saturday, join Rutgers for a volleyball giveaway. Stick around after the match as the Scarlet Knights will also be holding a post-match autograph session.
RU’S LAST TIME OUT
Rutgers (4-21, 0-12 Big Ten) competed in two top-five matchups this past weekend, falling to No. 3 Minnesota and No. 4 Wisconsin. RU has faced six ranked opponents this season for a total of nine contests.
Despite the loss, RU led UW in total blocks, 14-2, as seniors Lauren Cloyd and Mikaela Matthews each registered eight blocks in the match. Matthews ranks eighth in the league with 1.20 blocks per set. Freshman Jasmine Stackhouse led the team with 10 blocks across both matches, posting six against the Badgers and ranking 10th in the conference with 1.16 blocks per set on the season.
SCOUTING IOWA
Iowa (17-7, 7-5 Big Ten) enters the week following two Big Ten wins over the weekend. The Hawkeyes defeated Northwestern, 3-1, before upsetting then-No. 24 Illinois, 3-2. Iowa also upset then No. 17 Purdue in five sets, while challenging then-No. 3 Minnesota in a five-set loss.
Jess Jonota leads the team with a .354 hitting percentage, sitting at eighth in the conference standings. Loxley Keala ranks third in the league with 11.44 assists per set.
Iowa has earned a win in all three meetings with Rutgers dating back to 1997. In 2014, RU and Iowa met for the first time as Big Ten foes when the Hawkeyes took the win in four sets before a three-set win in 2015.
SCOUTING NO. 1 NEBRASKA
Top-ranked Nebraska (20-1, 11-1 Big Ten) enters the week on an eight-match win streak. The Cornhuskers’ sole loss came in early October at the hands of then-No. 19 Ohio State in four sets. Prior to that match UN carried a 38-match win streak dating back to its championship run as the 2015 National Champions.
Kadie Rolfzen leads the team with 3.28 kills per set, ranking ninth in the conference. Amber Rolfzen ranks fourth in the league with 1.32 blocks per set. Kelly Hunter ranks fourth in assists per set (11.20) while Justine Wong-Orantes also sits at fourth in digs per set (4.16).
Nebraska will meet Penn State on Friday before its trip to Rutgers.
Rutgers and Nebraska met for the first time in 2014 as Big Ten foes. The teams have met once a year since with the Huskers owning two victories over the Scarlet Knights.
Follow Rutgers Volleyball on Twitter and Instagram (@RUvball) for all of the latest news and updates. The team is also on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersVolleyball). For all Rutgers Athletics news follow us on Twitter(@RUAthletics), Instagram (@RUAthletics), Snapchat (@RUAthletics) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/RutgersAthletics).
Leave a Reply