Nov. 15, 2003
IOWA CITY, IA – The Iowa women’s volleyball team snapped a 16-match losing streak and recorded its first home victory of the season Saturday evening in a 3-2 win over Purdue in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The win marked the fifth consecutive year that Iowa has defeated Purdue on its home court.
The beginning of game one proved to be a close battle with nether team leading by more than two points until Iowa took a 22-19 advantage. The Hawkeyes continued to hold on the lead and won game one, 30-26. It marked the second consecutive match in which Iowa has been victorious in the first game. Freshman Tiana Costanzo led Iowa with five kills. Junior Laura Simpson and senior Abby Tjaden each collected four kills. Junior Pam Kavadas posted 10 digs. The Hawkeyes out-hit Purdue, .204-.143.
The beginning of game two proved to be a repeat performance of the first game with neither team holding more than a three-point advantage until Purdue took a 22-18 lead. The Boilermakers collected eight of the final 16 points for the 30-26 win. Tjaden and junior Carolyn Giese each collected three kills.
The Hawkeyes came out of intermission with the momentum, pulling out to a 12-6 lead to start game three. Iowa continued to hold a solid lead and went on to take game three, 30-25. It marked the first time this season Iowa has won two games in conference play. Simpson led the Hawkeyes with five kills. Kavadas added 10 digs.
After a close battle to begin game four, the Boilermakers took a 17-10 advantage. Iowa fought back with a 7-0 run to tie the score, 17-17. The game continued to be close, but Purdue took the final edge and won, 30-25, to force a fifth and final set. Simpson and Giese each collected five kills.
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“Our hard work has paid off. In all of our practices, we stress the importance of hard work and it is finally starting to show. It was great to get this win at home in front of our fans.”
Head Coach Rita Buck-Crockett
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Iowa controlled the beginning of game five with a 6-3 lead. Purdue fought back with a 4-1 run to tie the game at 7-7. The Hawkeyes once again took command and posted a 8-4 run to claim the game and the match.
In overall match statistics, Iowa held the advantage in assists (65-62), digs (96-83) and overall team blocks (12-11). The Hawkeyes also out-hit the Boilermakers, .148-.128. Purdue edged Iowa in kills (70-69).
Simpson led the Iowa attack with 20 kills. She also posted eight digs. Giese registered 14 kills, one solo block and five block assists. Stehnova collected her ninth double-double of the season with 52 assists and 13 digs. Costanzo registered her fourth double-double of the season with 13 kills and 14 digs. For the second consecutive night, Kavadas established a new career high in digs with 33. Her 918 career digs now ranks 12th in Iowa history. Freshman April Mech recorded six kills and 11 digs. Tjaden finished the match with eight kills, three digs, two solo blocks and three block assists.
“Our hard work has paid off,” said Head Coach Rita Buck-Crockett. “In all of our practices, we stress the importance of hard work and it is finally starting to show. It was great to get this win at home in front of our fans.”
The Hawkeyes (6-20, 1-15) will travel to Ann Arbor, MI, Friday to face Michigan. Competition is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. (CT). Iowa will then travel to East Lansing, MI, on Saturday to face Michigan State. Competition is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (CT).