Oct. 21, 2005
The University of Iowa Hawkeye (13-9, 3-6) volleyball team was no match tonight for third-ranked Penn State (18-2, 9-0). Iowa fell in three games to the conference leaders by scores of 30-15, 30-21, and 30-23.
Penn State came out pumped up in game one, and their front row proved to be a difficult match-up for the Hawkeyes. Iowa managed only seven kills for a .033 hitting percentage to the Nittany Lions .467 attacking percentage and 17 kills. Stacy Vitali and Melanie Meister each had two kills for Iowa.
Game two was better for the home team as they hung with Penn State in the opening points of the game. The Hawkeyes had a 4-2 lead when the Lions starting hammering down kills to overcome the deficit. Despite losing the game, 30-21, Iowa improved their attacking efficiency to a .250 hitting percentage on 15 kills.
Iowa played their best volleyball of the night in the final game of the match. The Hawkeyes stayed close to Penn State through the first half of the game, knotting the score up six times up to a 17-17 deadlock. However, the attacking ability of Penn State was up to the task and came back to put away the Hawkeyes, 30-23.
Catherine Smale lead the Hawkeyes with nine kills and a .615 attacking percentage. Meister and Vitali were next with four kills. As a team, Iowa hit just .127 in the match while Penn State had a .420 efficiency mark. The Hawkeyes had 35 kills to 52 by the Nittany Lions.
Freshman Kiley Fister put up 30 assists on the night along with two kills and two service aces. Fellow freshmen Emily Hiza and Smale lead the Hawkeyes with nine and eight digs, respectively.
The Hawkeyes continue Big Ten action tomorrow night against Ohio State (12-5, 5-3). The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. to accommodate the Iowa men’s basketball Black and Gold Blowout.