2019 Colorado vs Iowa | Big Ten Womens Volleyball

Big Ten Snapshots: A Tumultuous Offseason & New Coach For Iowa

Big Ten Snapshots: A Tumultuous Offseason & New Coach For Iowa

Iowa had a tough 2018, but then 2019 got off to an even more challenging start.

Aug 29, 2019 by Megan Kaplon
Big Ten Snapshots: A Tumultuous Offseason & New Coach For Iowa

In the world of NCAA women’s volleyball, there’s no conference quite like the Big Ten. Heading into the 2019 season, seven of the 14 teams appeared in the AVCA preseason top-25 poll. Five of those seven ranked in the top 10. 

FloVolleyball will be your go-to spot to stream Big Ten matches this season. Click here for the schedule of matches.

*Schedule is subject to change. Every Big Ten's women's volleyball match available on BTN Plus also will be available live and on-demand on FloVolleyball. 

This week, we're bringing you a quick rundown of all 14 teams in the Big Ten, so you can know what to expect as teams get the season rolling this weekend.


Iowa Hawkeyes

2018 Record: 15-16 (7-13 Big Ten)

2018 Postseason: N/A

AVCA National Preseason Ranking: N/A

Big Ten Preseason Ranking: 13


Iowa had a tough 2018, dealing with many injuries and finishing the season 15-16, just under .500 and therefore ineligible for the NCAA Tournament. But then 2019 got off to an even more challenging start. 

In May, the university suspended head coach Bond Shymansky and then later fired him for breaking an NCAA rule by “providing an impermissible benefit” to a student-athlete. In a statement after his firing, Shymansky explained that the offense was covering an athlete’s rent over the summer.


“I did not discriminate against, abuse or harass anyone — and there has never been an allegation of sexual misconduct against me,” Shymansky wrote. “In an act of compassion, I advanced funds to cover a young woman's unanticipated summer expenses in 2017. She came to Iowa City expecting to be on full scholarship, but when that status changed, she had nowhere else to turn.”

Iowa promoted assistant Vicki Brown to interim head coach, making her just the second woman head coach in the Big Ten and the only head coach of color. The former Illinois All-Big Ten middle blocker had already spent two years on the Iowa bench as an associate head coach and previously served as head coach of the indoor and beach programs at the University of San Francisco.


The Hawkeyes lost three players to graduation, with the departure of two-time All-Big Ten outside hitter Taylor Louis stinging the most, and Cali Hoye medically retired from the sport, but not a single player chose to transfer or change her commitment because of the coaching shifts. (Sarah Wing transferred to Omaha, but did so well before the departure of Shymansky.) 

Brown welcomes a freshman class of eight newcomers, as well as transfer opposite Aisha Skinner from Hofstra. Star returners include setter Brie Orr, middle Amiya Jones, and outside Meghan Buzzerio.


“It is amazing to also have one of the only women’s head coaches in the Big Ten. That is a lot of pride that we have as a team,” Orr said of her team’s new head coach. “We really want to do what we can for her because we know she will do all she can for us.”

Watch Iowa in action this season on FloVolleyball. Upcoming matches below.

*Schedule subject to change. 

Aug. 31 Iowa vs. Washington State 10 AM ET

Sept. 6 Iowa vs. Colorado 8 PM ET

Sept. 7 Iowa vs. Washington 8 PM ET