Gymnastics Volleyball

Iowa gymnastics undergoes offseason changes With Iowa men’s gymnastics now cut, Iowa women’s gymnastics will serve as the UI’s only NCAA Division I gymnastics program. Last year, the Hawkeyes played their first full season at the newly-constructed Xtream Arena in Coralville.

This season, Iowa gymnastics meets at Carver-Hawkeye Arena are going to look a lot different. For the first time since 1922, the University of Iowa will not field a men’s gymnastics team.

To combat ongoing financial struggles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, UI President Bruce Harreld and Iowa Athletics Director Gary Barta announced in August 2020 that four Hawkeye sports would be discontinued at the end of the 2020-21 academic year — among the sports cut was men’s gymnastics.

Iowa men’s gymnastics finished the 2020-21 season 4-2. The Hawkeyes placed third at the 2021 Big Ten Championships, and fifth in the NCAA Championship qualifier.

Seniors Evan Davis and Bennett Huang were both named NCAA All-Americans at the end of the 2020-21 season.

With Iowa men’s gymnastics now cut, Iowa women’s gymnastics will serve as the UI’s only NCAA Division I gymnastics program.

Last season, the Hawkeye women won their first-ever Big Ten regular season title.

After a season-opening loss to Minnesota in January, the GymHawks rattled off 10 wins in a row, finishing the regular season 10-1.

In the postseason, the Iowa women did not find as much success as they did during the regular season.

In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the GymHawks finished third in the NCAA Regional Championships.

Senior Lauren Guerin, junior JerQuavia Henderson, and then-senior Clair Kaji were all named NCAA All-Americans when the 2020-21 season concluded.

Now-sophomore Adeline Kennlin garnered Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors, and Hawkeye head coach Larissa Libby received the Big Ten Coach of the Year award. Hannah Kinson/The Daily Iowan Iowa's all-around Bridget Killian practices on the beam during a gymnastics meet against Ohio State on Jan. 23 at Carver-Hawkeye arena. The Hawkeyes defeated the Buckeyes with a score, 196.550-193.800. Killian went on to earn a score of 9.725 during the competition period.

Outside Hitter Courtney Buzzerio bumps the ball over the net during a women's volleyball match between Iowa and Indiana at Xtream Arena on Feb. 5.

Volleyball plays Xtream season

Jerod Ringwald/The Daily Iowan

Before their move to Coralville, the Hawkeyes competed full-time at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City.

Iowa went 4-16 in 2020-21. Two of the Hawkeyes’ four wins came at Xtream Arena. Iowa defeated Michigan State, Indiana, Northwestern, and Rutgers once each in 2020-21.

Last season also marked the first time the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball season has ever been played in the spring.

Because of COVID-19, the Big Ten Conference and NCAA postponed their fall sports seasons — with the exception of football — to the spring.

So, Iowa played in a series of weekend-only, in-conference doubleheaders from January to April.

When the regular season concluded, junior

outside hitter Courtney Buzzerio became the first Hawkeye to earn All-Big Ten recognition under head coach Vicki Brown. Buzzerio is the first Hawkeye to garner first-team All-Big Ten honors since 2001. Buzzerio was the only Big Ten player to register a triple-double in 2020-21, and she led the Hawkeyes in kills and service aces. Seniors Brie Orr, Griere Hughes, and Halle Johnston all opted out of the 2020-21 season because of COVID-19. The senior trio will, however, rejoin Buzzerio and company for their 2021-22 campaign. Counting Orr, Hughes, and Johnston, Iowa will return the entirety of its 2020-21 roster in 2021-22. This season will be Brown’s third as Iowa volleyball’s head coach. 71 | HAWKEYE VIEW THE DAILY IOWAN | WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2021 | DAILYIOWAN.COM