Nov. 10, 2006
COLUMBUS, OH – The University of Iowa volleyball team was swept by the No. 23 Ohio State Buckeyes, 30-25, 30-26 and 30-14. Iowa falls below .500 for the first time this year at 13-14 (2-13), while Ohio State ups its record to 19-7 (9-7).
“We had moments when we would play well and do some good things, but then we would get stuck in the same rut of too many mistakes in a row,” Iowa Head Coach Cindy Fredrick said. “I thought Jen Barcus played a good game. Our defense was good at times, but then would have moments when it would disappear, both on the block and in the back row.”
Ohio State hit at a blistering .372, while Iowa was held to .129.
Barcus led the Hawkeyes with 11 kills and hit at a .526 clip. Freshman Megan Schipper had nine kills, while sophomore Catherine Smale had seven kills and a team-high nine digs.
Kiley Fister put up 27 assists on the night.
In game one, the Buckeyes jumped out to an early 1-5 lead off four kills and a block. Ohio State kept its lead at a safe distance throughout the first half of the game, until Iowa began to claw back into things. A perfect tip from Fister cut the lead to just three points at 24-21, but Iowa could come no closer and the Buckeyes finished it off with a kill at 30-25.
The Hawkeyes hung tight the whole way in game two, with the lead rarely getting larger than two points for either side. A Schipper kill gave Iowa its final lead at 10-9, but it was short lived after Ohio State rattled off three-straight points. The Hawkeyes remained close the rest of the way, always responding when Ohio State threatened to pull away. Iowa couldn’t get over the top, however, and a service error gave the Buckeyes the win at 30-26.
In game three, Ohio State came flying out of the gates and never looked back. Three-consecutive kills ended things at 30-14.
Iowa will take on the third-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions tomorrow night at 7 p.m. (CT).
MATCH SUMMARYIOWA 25 26 14No. 23 OSU 30 30 30