IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa senior forward Payton Sandfort has been named to the 10-player preseason All-Big Ten team, it was announced Tuesday by the league office.

The Hawkeyes have been represented on the preseason All-Big Ten team in five of the last six seasons, voted upon by a selected panel of media. Previous honorees include: Joe Wieskamp (2019), Luka Garza (2020), Keegan Murray (2021) and Kris Murray (2022).

Sandfort has also been named to Blue Ribbon’s preseason first-team All-Big Ten team and he has been tabbed as one of the best seniors and sharp shooters in college basketball by Andy Katz on NCAA.com.

The 6-foot-8, 215 pound forward put up career-best numbers across the board during the 2023-24 season, averaging 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists, while shooting 44.6 percent from the floor, 37.9 percent from distance and 91.1 percent from the free throw stripe. He ranked second in the Big Ten in free throw percentage, third in 3-point percentage, eighth in scoring, 12th in field goal percentage and 13th in rebounding en route to third-team All-Big Ten honors.

The Waukee, Iowa, native scored in double figures in 27 games and posted a team-best 11 20-point contests, including a career-best 30-point, 12-rebound outing in Iowa’s NIT First Round win over Kansas State. He made a career-high seven 3-pointers in the victory.

During the season, Sandfort was one of the best shooters in the Big Ten, leading the league with 94 3-point field goals. He made two or more 3s in 27 games, three or more in 17 games and four or more 12 times. The 94 makes ranked in the top 40 nationally.

Sandfort, who became just the second Big Ten Player since 1992-92 to average 16+ points, 6+ rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 3-point field goals, made Iowa history during a Feb. 27 victory over Penn State. He recorded the first triple-double in program history, finishing with 26 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks in the game.

The Hawkeyes will host Minnesota-Duluth in an exhibition game on Oct. 25 before facing Texas A&M Commerce in the regular season opener on Nov. 4. Game times and television will be announced at a later date.

2024-25 Preseason All-Big Ten Team
Oumar Ballo, Indiana
Payton Sandfort, Iowa
Dawson Garcia, Minnesota
Brooks Barnhizer, Northwestern
Bruce Thornton, Ohio State
Jackson Shelstad, Oregon
Ace Baldwin, Jr., Penn State
Braden Smith, Purdue*
Dylan Harper, Rutgers
Great Osobor, Washington
*denotes unanimous selection

Big Ten Preseason Player of the Year
Braden Smith, Purdue

ST. LOUIS, Mo.– The two-time defending MVC champion Drake women’s basketball team will enter the 2024-25 season with more lofty expectation after the league announced its preseason poll and preseason all-conference teams on Tuesday morning. The Drake women were picked to repeat at league champions and landed two individuals on the player awards list including Katie Dinnebier, the Preseason Player of the Year.

The Bulldogs earned 566 total points and got 39 of 48 possible first-place votes. Both UNI (504 points) and Belmont (475 points) rounded out the top three and were the only other programs to garner first-place selections.

The remainder of the poll was made up of Murray State in fourth (391 points), Missouri State in fifth (380 points), UIC in sixth (347 points), Illinois State in seventh (341 points), Valparaiso in eighth (193 points), Indiana State in ninth (189 points), Southern Illinois in 10th (167 points), Bradley in 11th (97 points), and Evansville in 12th (96 points).

Individually, Drake’s all-world tandem of Katie Dinnebier and Anna Miller were both included on the Preseason All-MVC First Team. Dinnebier, the reigning MVC Player of the Year, received the same recognition in this preseason cycle.

The rest of the Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference teams are listed below.

The Bulldogs will start their title defense with a pair of exhibition matchups in late October before tipping off the regular season at North Dakota State on Nov. 4.

PRESEASON POLL RESULTS

1. Drake – 566 (39 first-place votes)
2. UNI – 504 (six first-place votes)
3. Belmont – 475 (three first-place votes)
4. Murray State – 391
5. Missouri State – 380
6. UIC – 347
7. Illinois State – 341
8. Valparaiso – 193
9. Indiana State – 189
10. Southern Illinois – 167
11. Bradley – 97
12. Evansville – 96

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

Katie Dinnebier              Sr.          Drake

Grace Boffeli                     Sr.           UNI

Maya McDermott            Sr.           UNI

Anna Miller                       Sr.          Drake

Lacy Stokes                       Sr.           Missouri State

Katelyn Young   Gr.          Murray State

PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM

Jailyn Banks                      So.         Belmont

Kendal Cheesman         Sr.           Belmont

Leah Earnest                     5th         Valparaiso

Tuti Jones                           Gr.          Belmont

Keimari Rimmer              Gr.          UIC

Maya Wong                        Gr.          Illinois State

ORIENT-MACKSBURG INVITATIONAL (BOYS) 

2. Nodaway Valley (47 points) — 3. Gabe Winkelmann (19:00.90), 7. Luke Kading (19:52.60), 10. Paul Kading (20:13.80)

3. Bedford (80 points) — 12. Kaleb Johnson (20:54.00)

4. Lamoni (85 points) — 2. Tate McDole (18:52.30)

ORIENT-MACKSBURG INVITATIONAL (GIRLS) 

Lamoni (NTS) — 6. Lauren Olson (25:30.60), 11. Josie Hill (34:06.70)

Nodaway Valley (NTS) — 7. Jazz Christensen (25:53.50), 10. Kaylee Van Horn (30:14.50)

CAM (NTS) — 8. Lyndsey Chaney (25:57.70), 12. Ellen Gerlock (34:39.80), 13. Elizabeth Rouse (35:35.20), 15. Megan Gerlock (37:12.30)

The Audubon Wheelers volleyball team is a young group that continues to strive for improvement as the season progresses. Although the record may not be what they had hoped, they continue to play with intensity. Head coach Brandi Gruhn says she’s proud of the way her team has competed through tough competition.

The Wheelers have a roster loaded with up-and-coming talent. However, Alissa Testroet and Peyton Gust are the team’s only two seniors. Both have been with the program all four years, and Coach Gruhn stated their leadership has been invaluable to her team

With the seniors providing the veteran experience, Audubon’s junior class is big, talented, and leading the way statistically.  First-year setter Anna Larsen is fifth in the Western Iowa Conference in assists with  292.  Teammate Harlow Miller is a conference leader both offensively and defensively. She currently leads the conference with 206 kills and ranks second in the conference in blocks. Gruhn not only appreciates their heart and hustle but also their ability to work together.

As with every team, the Wheelers have some improvements that need to be made. However, Coach Gruhn likes the attitude her squad brings to the table.

The Wheelers will face the Treynor Cardinals at home tonight.

Baylor coach Dave Aranda admits this season has gotten off to a frustrating start. The Bears are 2-3 overall and opened Big 12 play with close losses to Colorado and BYU. They visit unbeaten and 16th ranked Iowa State Saturday night.

Aranda says several key players who missed the last couple of games due to injury have returned to practice.

Aranda says the Bears face a big challenge on both sides of the ball.

Aranda says the Cyclones combine a ball control offense with a defense that wants to prevent big plays.

Northern Iowa coach Mark Farley says the bye week came at the perfect time for the Panthers. UNI followed up a loss at Nebraska with a 36-7 loss at Hawaii on September 21st. They open the Missouri Valley race at home on Saturday against FCS top ranked and two-time defending national champion South Dakota State.

Farley has not named a starting quarterback for this week. Aidan Dunne started the first four games but sophomore Matthew Schecklman also played in the loss at Hawaii and completed four of eight passes for 23 yards.

UNI is 2-2 and Farley says there are several areas that need to improve as conference play begins.

South Dakota State is 3-1 with the lone loss at Oklahoma State.

Farley says South Dakota State has talent and confidence.

The goal for the Panther defense is to slow down South Dakota State quarterback Mark Gronowski. He was the FCS player of the year on offense as a junior.

Gronowski leads a team that Farley is dominant at the line of scrimmage.

University of Iowa outside hitter Malu Garcia was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the conference announced on Monday.

Garcia is Iowa’s first Big Ten Freshman of the Week since Brie Orr earned the honor in September of 2017. It is Iowa’s first weekly conference recognition since Courtney Buzzerio was the Big Ten Player of the Week in the spring of 2021.

Garcia, a native of Hilo, Hawaii, combined for 28 kills and 14 blocks in Iowa’s wins at Rutgers and Maryland. Against the Scarlet Knights, Garcia matched her career high with 17 kills, while also tallying nine blocks and eight digs.

To close out the road trip, Garcia registered 11 kills and five blocks in the Hawkeyes’ five-set win against Maryland.

Garcia’s 138 total kills are the most among Big Ten freshmen. She averages 2.76 kills per set and is hitting .225 in her rookie campaign. Defensively, Garcia is third on the team with 43 blocks.

The Hawkeyes (8-6, 2-0 B1G) are back in action on Friday, Oct. 4, hosting No. 25 Washington (12-0, 2-0 B1G) in Iowa’s Gold Out match at Xtream Arena. First serve is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on the Big Ten Network and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

Class 5A
1. Dowling Catholic (4-1), LW #1 vs #6 Centennial
2. WDM Valley (4-1), LW #2 @ Waukee Northwest
3. Bettendorf (5-0), LW #3 vs Cedar Rapids Kennedy
4. Pleasant Valley (4-1), LW #5 @ Cedar Falls
5. Southeast Polk (3-2), LW #6 @ #9 Johnston
6. Ankeny Centennial (4-1), LW #7 @ #1 Dowling
7. Linn-Mar (4-1), LW #8 @ Muscatine
8. Iowa City Liberty (4-1), LW #9 @ Cedar Rapids Washington
9. Johnston (3-2), LW (X) vs #5 S.E. Polk
10.Waukee (3-2), LW #4 @ DSM Lincoln (Thur)

Class 4A
1. Lewis Central (5-0), LW #1 vs Council Bluffs Jefferson
2. Gilbert (5-0), LW #2 @ Carlisle
3. Pella (5-0), LW #3 vs #10 Newton
4. North Polk (5-0), LW #4 vs Ballard
5. Decorah (5-0), LW #5 vs #9 Waverly-Shell Rock
6. North Scott (4-1), LW #7 vs #7 Xavier
7. Cedar Rapids Xavier (3-2), LW #9 @ #6 North Scott
8. ADM (Adel) (4-1), LW #10 vs DSM North
9. Waverly-Shell Rock (3-2), LW (X) @ #5 Decorah
10.Newton (4-1), LW (X) @ #3 Pella

Class 3A
1. Algona (5-0), LW #1 vs #5 Clear Lake
2. Williamsburg (4-1), LW #2 vs Fairfield
3. Solon (5-0), LW #3 @ Benton
4. Dubuque Wahlert (5-0), LW #4 vs #6 Independence
5. Clear Lake (4-1), LW #5 @ #1 Algona
6. Independence (4-1), LW #6 @ #4 Wahlert
7. Humboldt (4-1), LW #7 vs Charles City
8. Sergeant Bluff-Luton (5-0), LW #8 vs MOC-Floyd Valley
9. Mount Vernon (4-1), LW #10 @ Assumption
10.Carroll (4-1), LW (X) vs Sioux City Heelan

Class 2A
1. Spirit Lake (4-1), LW #1 vs Estherville Lincoln Central
2. West Lyon (5-0), LW #2 @ #9 Cherokee
3. PCM (Monroe) (5-0), LW #3 vs Vinton-Shellsburg
4. Van Meter (4-1), LW #4 @ Chariton
5. Carroll Kuemper (4-1), LW #5 @ #8 DSM Christian
6. Northeast (Goose Lake) (5-0), LW #6 @ West Liberty
7. North Fayette Valley (4-1), LW #9 vs New Hampton
8. DSM Christian (4-1), LW (X) vs #5 Kuemper
9. Cherokee (4-1), LW (X) vs #2 West Lyon
10.Roland-Story (3-2), LW (X) @ Greene County

Class 1A
1. Grundy Center (5-0), LW #1 @ #6 South Hardin
2. Wilton (5-0), LW #2 vs Cascade
3. Emettsburg (5-0), LW #3 @ Pocahontas Area
4. OABCIG (4-1), LW #4 @ West Sioux
5. Dike-New Hartford (4-1), LW #5 @ MFL MarMac
6. South Hardin (5-0), LW #6 vs #1 Grundy Center
7. Iowa City Regina (5-0), LW #7 vs West Branch
8. Sigourney-Keota (4-1), LW #10 @ Pella Christian
9. Treynor (4-1), LW (X) @ Underwood
10.Hinton (4-1), LW (X) vs MVAOCOU

Class A
1. AC/GC (5-0), LW #1 @ IKM-Manning
2. West Hancock (5-0), LW #2 vs South Central Calhoun
3. Lisbon (5-0), LW #4 @ Wapello
4, Saint Ansgar (4-1), LW #6 vs Mason City Newman
5. Woodbury Central (4-1), LW #7 vs Kingsley-Pierson
6. Earlham (4-1), LW #10 vs Panorama
7. North Linn (5-0), LW #9 @ Clayton Ridge
8. Tri-Center (4-1), LW (X) @ St. Albert
9. LeMars Gehlen (4-1), LW (X) vs Sibley-Ocheyedan
10.Nashua-Plainfield (4-1), LW #3 @ South Winneshiek

8-Player
1. Algona Garrigan (5-0), LW #1 @ Siouxland Christian
2. Lenox (5-0), LW #2 @ Murray
3. Remsen St. Mary’s (5-0), LW #3 @ AR-WE-VA
4. Don Bosco (5-0), LW #4 @ Midland
5. Audubon (5-0), LW #5 @ Glidden-Ralston
6. Iowa Valley (5-0), LW #6 @ Winfield-Mount Union
7. Bedford (4-1), LW #7 vs Stanton
8. CAM (Anita) (4-1), LW #8 @ Sidney
9. Belle Plaine (5-0), LW #9 @ Montezuma
10.Southeast Warren (5-0), LW #10 @ Lamoni

Iowa State is 16th in the latest AP College Football Poll. The Cyclones are 4-0 for the first time since 2000 after a 20-0 win at Houston. In the process Cyclone coach Matt Campbell became ISU’s all-time leader in wins.

Campbell is in his ninth season as Cyclone coach.

Campbell credits the leadership on the team for their unbeaten start.

The Cyclones host Baylor in a prime time contest in Ames on Saturday.