Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/896242
111 I t's not oen that three players from the same club team go to the same college, but that's the case for University of Iowa volleyball freshmen Brie Orr, Claire Sheehan, and Halle Johnston. e trio from Minnesota live within 60 miles of each other and before committing to play for the Hawkeyes, they were teammates on the Northern Lights Club volleyball team. Johnston and Orr started playing together when they were 13-years-old. Two years later, Sheehan joined the squad. "I used to play for a club called Min- nesota Select, but they really wanted me to come to Northern Lights," Sheehan said. "e coaches thought we would have success if we played on the same team." And they were spot on as the three guided Northern Lights to an AAU National Championship in 2015 and, US Junior Olympic National Championship in 2016. When it came to picking a college, Sheehan was the first to decide and committed to Iowa her sophomore year. "I was trying to get Halle and Brie to come (to Iowa), but there was another setter here, so it was difficult for Brie to decide," Sheehan said. ings eventually worked out for Orr, and she and Johnston both committed on the same day. "I knew I wanted to play volleyball with Claire and Brie because they're hard-working teammates and great people," Johnston said. "When Claire committed, I was super happy because I knew Iowa was the school I wanted to attend. We were both excited to get here and work with (Iowa head coach) Bond (Shymansky). It's a dream come true getting to play in college with some of my closest friends." When they arrived at Iowa, Johnston, Orr, and Sheehan felt a step ahead because of their experi- ence playing with each other on Northern Lights. "It makes things a lot easier," Orr said. "Setting Claire during the club seasons has made it easier because of all the reps. It's easy to find her and see what pace she is at for me to set her. I trust that Halle can get the pass and we know how to play defense next to each other." "We have always connected well," Johnston said. "It's fun playing de- fense with them and scrapping up balls. We are all so competitive, so it makes playing intense and we know we're on the same page." Being comfortable on the court has helped the three transition to life off the court. "e transition to Iowa was definitely easier know- ing I had two good friends on the team," Johnston said. "I knew coming here I had automatic friends, so it made me feel more comfortable in my new environment." NOVEMBER SCHEDULE Nov. 3 Indiana Nov. 5 Purdue Nov. 8 Penn State Nov. 11 Ohio State Nov. 17 at Maryland Nov. 18 at Ohio State Nov. 22 at Illinois Nov. 25 at Nebraska