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99 I n his first year at the helm, University of Iowa head coach Bond Shymansky set out to change the culture of the Hawkeye volleyball program. is year, he is focused on establishing an identity. "We are still working on finding our identity as a team," Shymansky said. "It will get born in how we play in terms of system and structure, but it also gets born in who we are when we play and compete." In their first weekend on the court at the Northern Illinois Invitational from Aug. 29-30, the Hawkeyes flashed glimpses of their new team identity. Aer downing South Dakota State in straight sets in the season opener, the Hawkeyes were tested against Pacific. Iowa took an early 2-0 lead before the Tigers stormed back to force a fih set. e Hawkeyes fired back, using an 8-2 run to gain a lead in the fih set and win the match. "We looked so sharp early on," said Shymansky. "You could kind of see our team giving the fight and fire that we had been working so hard to achieve during preseason. "I'm proud of that gritty win. Pacific is a strong team. at will be a catapulting win for us, because it took so much focus and intensity to win in that fih set." Jess Janota had a hot hand in the deciding set. e sophomore recorded Iowa's final three kills and finished with a team-leading 17 kills and a .500 attack percentage. "Our first weekend was good for us," said Janota. "It was great to finally get on the floor, work the kinks out, and put what we have been doing in the gym the past couple weeks into practice. It's finally all coming together." While Janota is a familiar face on the court, four of Iowa's six starters and its libero made their Hawkeye debuts at the tournament. Freshman Libby Koukol, sophomores Taylr McNeil and Annika Olsen (libero), and juniors Loxley Keala and Ashley Mariani all registered starts, while freshman Molly Kelly also saw time in Iowa's starting rotation. "I think the chemistry is growing," Janota said. "It will only get stronger as we continue to play together." What was once a roster filled with strangers is becoming a team to be reckoned with, and Shymansky sees the potential. "We have something unique and we have something special this year," said Shymansky. "We have a lot of players that are still trying to figure out who they are when they are playing out there, and a couple spots that we need to get more production out of. When we find that balance, we are going to be a really good team." e Hawkeyes open their home slate Sept. 11, hosting the Comfort Suites Challenge. Iowa faces Milwaukee at 11 a.m. (CT) before taking on Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series foe Iowa State at 8 p.m. e Hawkeyes conclude weekend against Texas A&M on Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. (CT). SEPTEMBER SCHEDULE Sept. 11 Milwaukee Iowa State Sept. 12 Texas A&M Sept. 18 Gardner-Webb Coastal Carolina Sept. 19 Coastal Carolina Drake Sept. 23 Nebraska Sept. 26 at Nebraska