Nov. 21, 2003
ANN ARBOR, MI – The Iowa volleyball team dropped its 16 conference loss of the season Friday evening in a 3-0 loss to Michigan at Cliff Keen Arena.
Michigan took the early advantage to begin game one, pulling out to a 6-3 lead. The Hawkeyes fought back, posting a 5-2 run to tie the score at 8-8. The game remained close with the score tied at 12-12. The Wolverines then took control, posting a 10-2 run to take a 22-14 lead. The Hawkeyes were only able to muster four more points as Michigan won game one, 30-18.
The beginning of game two proved to be a repeat performance of game one with Michigan taking a 6-3 advantage. Iowa fought back, but the Wolverines continued to hold a steady lead. With the Hawkeyes narrowing the gap at 14-11, Michigan posted a 13-6 run for the 27-17 lead. Iowa claimed seven of the next 10 points in the 30-24 loss.
Iowa lost momentum after intermission. The Wolverines dominated game three with a 30-10 win, handing the Hawkeyes their second lowest point total of the season.
In total match statistics, the Hawkeyes collected 34 kills, 30 assists, three service aces, 34 digs and three total team blocks. Michigan registered 57 kills, 45 assists, five service aces, 37 digs and 12 team blocks. Hitting percentage proved to be a major factor as Iowa was out-hit .462-.113.
Senior Abby Tjaden led the Hawkeye attack with nine kills, while committing two errors in 17 attempts to hit at a team-best .412 clip. She also collected two digs and one solo block Junior Carolyn Giese posted six kills and committed only two errors in 12 attempts to hit at a .333 clip. She also collected three digs and a team-best two solo blocks. Junior Laura Simpson collected eight kills and committed no errors in 25 attempts to hit at a .320 clip. Junior Pam Kavadas recorded a team-high 14 digs.
Iowa (6-21, 1-16) will return to action tomorrow night when it travels to East Lansing, MI, to face Michigan State. Competition is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (CT) at the Jenison Field House.