Hawkeyes Open Northern Colorado Tournament With Win

Aug. 31, 2007

Box Score

IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa volleyball team defeated UC Riverside, 3-1 (26-30, 30-20, 30-28, 30-24) in the opening match of the Northern Colorado Tournament Friday. Iowa roared back after dropping the first game to win three-straight for their second victory of the season.

The Hawkeyes were led by junior sophomore Megan Schipper, junior Laura Kremer and freshmen Aimee Huffman and Megan Eskew who all set career-high numbers in kills. Schipper tied her career high with 16 kills to lead the Iowa attack. Kremer, who celebrated her 20th birthday Friday, had a career-high 10 kills. Huffman recorded 12 kills and also had a career-high 27 assists while Eskew killed 11 shots.

After UC Riverside took game one of the match, Iowa stormed out in game two and never trailed, winning the game 30-20. UC Riverside nearly tied the game at 15-14, but the Hawkeyes went on a 10-3 run to gain a comfortable 24-18 lead. Kills by Eskew, Huffman and redshirt freshman Becky Walters brought up game point and Eskew rocketed a service ace to win the game.

Game two stayed within two points until the Hawkeyes took a 12-8 lead on a Huffman kill. UC Riverside battled back to tie game two at 18-18, but a 6-0 run capped by a Kremer kill put Iowa up 24-18. The Highlanders fought back once again to the game at 28-28, but a Schipper kill and a UC Riverside error gave Iowa a 2-1 lead in the match.

The Hawkeyes sealed the win in game four with an 11-2 run midway through the game to take a 20-11 lead. UC Riverside went on a 5-0 run to make the score 20-15, but an Eskew kill and a setting error forced the Highlanders to take a timeout. Both teams traded points until two UC Riverside errors and a Kremer kill put Iowa up 28-21. An attacking error by UC Riverside set up match-point and Huffman drilled a kill for the win.

Iowa returns to action Saturday at 12:30 against Saint Francis.