Completed Event: Volleyball at Houston on October 25, 2026 , Loss , 1, to, 3
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Iowa State University Athletics
11.11.2026 | Volleyball
AMES, Iowa – Iowa State volleyball has signed five including three from the state of Iowa to join the Cyclones in the 2027 season. The class is made up of two outside hitters, a middle blocker, setter and right side hitter.
Sophia Austen, OH
Austen plays outside hitter and is an Iowa City, Iowa native. Playing for Iowa City West, Austen has earned first team all-state, unanimous first team all-conference and first team all-district honors. Austen is a multi-sport athlete and has qualified for the state track and field meet every season. Austen's mother played soccer at Iowa State from 2002-06.
"Sophia is such a competitor, I think that's the thing I noticed the most," Christy Johnson-Lynch said. "She's an elite, fast arm and well trained. She can pass, she can block, she kind of has all the skills to be a great outside."
Staying home. Sophia Austen is a Cyclone! https://t.co/aGr2cCui6Y
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 11, 2026
Bella Cook, MB
Cook is a middle blocker from Wichita, Kan. playing at Kansas Connections Academy. Cook helped her team to back-to-back third-place Kansas Class 5A state finishes. The blocker is a three-time All-State First Team member, and holds the school records for career blocks and single season blocks.
"What I'm most looking forward to about Bella is that she is a slide hitter and in college a middle than can hit a slide is really valuable," Johnson-Lynch said. "I see her coming in and really competing in the middle position and adding a lot."
Welcome to Iowa State, Bella! https://t.co/4ZRWWxAtfG
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 11, 2026
Nia Fonoti, S
Fonoti will join the Cyclones as a setter hailing from Honolulu, Hawaii. Fonoti is the daughter of three-time AVCA All-American Fiona Fonoti, Iowa State assistant coach from 2018-22. At Lincoln Southwest High School in Nebraska, Fonoti ranks second in school history with a single-match high of 42 assists. Also a multi-sport athlete, Fonoti has won a conference championship in the shot put.
"Nia can do a lot of things," Johnson-Lynch said. "She's a great setter, terrific hands and puts up a beautiful ball. She has a really high volleyball IQ. Her mom was one of my teammates at Nebraska and an assistant coach here at Iowa State so they know the area. She's just a really smart, good player."
Nia Fonoti » Cyclone. Welcome to Iowa State, Nia! https://t.co/Wotqxx3zeI
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 11, 2026
Piper Ladwig, RS
Ladwig is a right side hitter from Urbandale, Iowa, entering ISU as the No. 4-ranked recruit in Iowa. Ladwig helped lead Waukee Northwest to the Class 5A state title in 2026 and 2025. The Wolves had a runner up finish in 2024, while Ladwig has also earned first team all-state, all-conference, AVCA All-Region and AVCA All-America Third Team honors in her career. In 2025, Ladwig hit 278 kills at a clip of .422. After joining Waukee Northwest in 2024, Ladwig has totaled over 700 career kills. Also a star in track and field, Ladwig is the school record holder in the high jump and finished third at the state meet.
"One of the things we wanted to do in this class was just to get a little more size, get a little taller and a little more physical and Piper is definitely in that bucket," Johnson-Lynch said. "I think she is going to be a stopper and that's exactly what we needed to add."
Staying in the 515. Welcome to Cyclone Nation, Piper! https://t.co/4NEPOw8Y7h
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 11, 2026
Logan Vogt, OH
Vogt, also an outstanding hitter at Waukee Northwest coached by her mother Jodi Vogt, is a three-time state volleyball champion (2026, 2025, 2023) and state runner up in 2024. The hitter is the No. 1-ranked recruit in the state. Vogt has racked up the accolades including AVCA All-America, first team all-state, all-district, all-conference and all-tournament team honors. Vogt holds the school records for kills in a match (21), kills in a season (386), kills in a career (over 900) and aces in a match (10). Off the volleyball court, Vogt is also a state track and field and Drake Relays champion, and state runner up in basketball. Vogt holds the Northwest 400m school record, and the all-time Iowa record in the 4x400m, 4x200m and sprint medley relay.
"We're super excited about Logan," Johnson-Lynch said. "She's kind of a beast, she's a really physical player; good passer, good blocker, great attacker. Just really polished and we feel ready to step into the college game."
Staying in the 515. Welcome to Cyclone Nation, Piper! https://t.co/4NEPOw8Y7h
— Iowa State Volleyball (@CycloneVB) November 11, 2026
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