Hawkeyes Sweep Rutgers in B1G Opener

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NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — The University of Iowa volleyball team swept Rutgers, 3-0, in its Big Ten opener Friday night at the College Avenue Gym. Iowa’s 12-2 start is the program’s best since 1994 when the Hawkeyes also started 12-2.
 
FIGHT FOR IOWA
Taylor Louis led Iowa with 11 kills, a .611 attack percentage, four digs, and two blocks. Louis has had 10 matches with double-digit kills and four matches with a .500-or-higher attack percentage.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (25-17) | Holding a 16-15 lead, a Reghan Coyle kill sparked a 9-2 run for the Hawkeyes. The stint secured a 1-0 match lead for Iowa. Claire Sheehan and Coyle led the Hawkeyes with three kills each.
 
SET 2 (25-16) | After a slow start in set one, Iowa found its rhythm in set two. The Hawkeyes jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, leading by as much as 21-10 en route to a 2-0 match advantage. Louis led Iowa with six kills and a block.
 
SET 3 (25-14) | With the score tied 5-5, a kill by Sheehan gave the Hawkeyes a lead they would not relinquish as they captured a 3-0 match victory. Jess Janota led Iowa with five kills, an ace, and a block.
 
HEAR FROM COACH SHYMANSKY
“Good job by our group to really be assertive tonight. It was a little bit of a slow start, trading points in the first set, but then we really separated in the second set. We played a lot of great, clean volleyball in the second and third sets. We were turning points and really dropping the hammer. We had some big time points from Louis, Jess Janota, and Reghan Coyle. I thought we had great support. Claire Sheehan did a great job too. I like what we did defensively, especially blocking wise. We did a nice job with eight blocks, and that’s a good sign as we go into Big Ten play. We really held them to barely over a zero hitting efficiency, so we are excited for that too.”
 
NOTABLES

• This is the first Big Ten opener the Hawkeyes have won since a 3-1 victory over Wisconsin on Sept. 23, 2009.
• Brie Orr registered 30 assists, marking the 13th time this season she has had 30-or-more assists.
• The Hawkeyes held Rutgers to a .012 attacking percentage, which is the lowest attacking percentage for an Iowa opponent this season.

 
RECORDS UPDATE

• Iowa: 12-2, 1-0
• Rutgers: 5-8, 0-1

 
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes take on No. 2 Penn State on Saturday afternoon at the Recreation Building. First serve is slated for 3 p.m. (CT).