Oct. 29, 2003
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The Iowa volleyball team remained winless in conference play, dropping a 3-0 decision to 23rd-ranked Minnesota Wednesday evening at the Sports Pavilion.
Minnesota took the momentum to begin game one, jumping out to a 6-2 lead. The Gophers continued to increase its lead over Iowa, posting a 9-2 run to make the score, 15-4. The Hawkeyes fought back, posting an 8-5 run to bring the score to 20-12. The Gophers once again took control, claiming 10 of the final 16 points for the 30-18 win. As a team, the Hawkeyes posted 10 kills and were out-hit .342-.050. Junior Laura Simpson, senior Abby Tjaden and freshmen Tiana Costanzo and Jacqueline Huguelet each collected two kills. Simpson also added four digs.
Game two began as a closer contest with Minnesota taking the early 3-2 lead. The Gophers continued to hold the lead. Iowa rallied back and closed the gap, 21-17, but its efforts came up short. The Hawkeyes fell to Minnesota, 30-23. Iowa was edged in kills, 20-16 and hit at a .191 clip. Simpson added another six kills. Junior Carolyn Giese posted four kills. Huguelet tallied three kills.
Iowa once again fell behind early to start game three with the Gophers leading 9-4. The Hawkeyes fought back, posting a 7-3 run to close the gap, 12-11. The Hawkeyes continued to stay close with the score, 16-15. The Gophers then collected the next three points to force an Iowa timeout. The Hawkeyes closed the gap, 20-18, and capitalized on three Minnesota errors to tie things up at 21-21. Iowa continued to keep things close. With the score, 25-25, the Gophers collected the next three points to force Iowa’s second timeout. Minnesota collected the next point to make the score 29-25. Iowa rallied, collecting the next four points to tie things up at 29-29. That was as close as the Hawkeyes could come as the Gophers collected two kills to win the game, 31-29, and claim the match.
As at team, the Hawkeyes collected 38 kills, 37 assists, two service aces, 51 digs and three total team blocks. Minnesota posted 59 kills, 54 assists, four aces, 57 digs and nine blocks. Iowa was out-hit .301-.110.
Simpson led the attack with 12 kills. She also posted nine digs. Huguelet had a career night, narrowly missing a double-double with nine kills and a team-best 11 digs. Senior Jitka Stehnova collected 31 assists and nine digs. Giese posted six kills and two block assists. Costanzo tallied three kills and nine digs. Tjaden added five kills. Junior Pam Kavadas added 10 digs.
Iowa (5-16, 0-11) will return home to host 20th-ranked Wisconsin on Saturday. Competition is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.