IOWA CITY — Jim Barnes grabbed headlines when he boldly predicted a record-breaking year for the Hawkeyes during Big Ten volleyball media days late last month.

The comments may seem miscast for a program and coach with a 28-67 record and just eight conference wins in the last three seasons. However, the fourth-year Iowa volleyball head coach remained confident on Saturday as his team opened the season with the Black & Gold scrimmage.

“This is a year where we do see this program making a major step,” Barnes said. “This one, I think, will be the catalyst to all the seasons that are going to come because this team is going to win. The bottom line was you got to win. This team is going to win.”

And, Barnes’s comments on Thursday continued a line of positive messaging from the program, whic

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