Nov. 21, 2004
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It seems like every high the Iowa volleyball team has experienced this season has been followed by a low, and this week was no different. After snapping a long losing streak with a win over Indiana on Thursday, the Hawkeyes (10-20, 2-16) suffered a defeat today at the hands of Purdue (15-13, 8-10). The Boilermakers spoiled the last home contest for the four seniors on the team in three games (30-20, 30-19, 31-29).
“Obviously it wasn’t the way we would have liked it to end for the seniors here at Carver-Hawkeye,” said Iowa Coach Cindy Fredrick. “We definitely didn’t play as well as we could have. We didn’t transfer many of the things that we did well in the Indiana match to today’s contest.”
The Hawkeyes simply struggled to get anything going offensively in the match. They had a negative hitting percentage in the first game with -.045 and then hit just .140 in the second game.
In the final game of the match, Iowa led for most of the way until Purdue tied it up at 27-27. The teams were tied at 28 points apiece, and then 29-29 when Purdue earned a sideout and put the match away on a kill, 31-29.
The third game was Iowa’s finest offensive effort, with a .311 attacking percentage. Stacy Vitali led the Hawks with eight kills and Carolyn Giese chipped in seven. Laura Simpson and Tiana Costanzo each added six kills apiece. Justeen Patton set up 23 kills in the match and also had three kills. Pam Kavadas led all players with 18 digs. Simpson was a part of four blocks in the match.
Iowa had seven team blocks compared to 12 by the Boilermakers. Purdue also had nine service aces to Iowa’s two. The visitors had 60 kills; Iowa only had 36.
“It is the sadly perfect ending to a very strange season,” said Fredrick. “It was a tough match for everyone, especially Carolyn since she was in the emergency room until 3 a.m. with an illness. Just when you think that everything that can possibly happen to us has happened, something else comes up.”
Iowa will be on the road for their final two matches of the season. The Hawkeyes will take on Minnesota in Minneapolis on Wednesday at 7 p.m. and then will play at Illinois on Saturday.