Oct. 16, 2009
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BLOOMINGTON, IN – Facing a Homecoming crowd anxiously awaiting Hoosier Hysteria, a sign Indiana hoops season has arrived, the University of Iowa volleyball team dropped a three-set match to the Hoosiers at Assembly Hall Friday evening, 25-23, 25-14, 25-18.
Iowa was led by senior Megan Schipper’s nine kills and 15 digs. Junior Mara Hilgenberg dished a match-high 21 assists and junior Becky Walters led Iowa with three total blocks.
“We had a hard time getting into a rhythm tonight,” said Head Coach Sharon Dingman. “It came down to the first pass and making good choices. It’s definitely something we’ll have to work on in the gym. We can’t think about it (loss to Indiana) long because we have a big match at Purdue tomorrow.”
Iowa battled in the opening set but was unable to get over the hump and eventually fell to the Hoosiers, 25-23. Freshman Emma Krieger Kittle and junior Aimee Huffman paced the offense with three kills each. Schipper added two kills and a set-high nine digs while Hilgenberg dished eight assists.
The Hawkeyes (2-5, 10-9) fell behind 4-1 early before using a three-point run to tie the set, 4-4. The Hoosiers then used a 9-2 run to build a 13-6 advantage. Following a Dingman timeout, Iowa used kills from Hilgenberg and Krieger Kittle and a block from junior Katie Kennedy to close within four points 13-9. Indiana then stretched its lead to five, 16-11, before Iowa tied the set with a 5-0 run, including back-to-back aces by freshman Allison Straumann. The teams continued to battle until Indiana forced set-point, 24-21. Huffman fought off set-point with back-to-back points, a kill and an ace, but the Hoosiers rallied from a timeout to pick up the 25th and decisive point.
Indiana (3-4, 14-7) rode its first-set momentum to a 25-14 win in the second set. Schipper led the Hawkeyes with four kills. Huffman picked up a set-high six digs and Hilgenberg added five assists.
The Hawkeyes used a Hoosier error and kills from Schipper and Walters to take an early 5-4 lead to open set two. Indiana fought back to take an 8-6 lead when Schipper and Walters again struck with back-to-back points to tie the set. The Hawkeyes continued to battle behind kills from Kennedy, Hilgenberg and Schipper, but Indiana finished the set with a 10-2 run to take a 2-0 match advantage.
Indiana closed the match with a 25-18 win in the third set. Kennedy and Schipper led Iowa with three kills apiece and senior Christina Meister added seven digs. Hilgenberg dished eight assists in the decisive set.
The Hawkeyes used back-to-back kills from Kennedy and three Indiana errors to build a 5-0 lead to start set three. After two Indiana errors and a pair of kills from Krieger Kittle and Huffman gave Iowa a 12-8 edge, the Hoosiers rallied with six straight points to claim a 14-12 advantage. Iowa continued to battle with kills from Walters and Kreiger Kittle to pull within four, 22-18, but Indiana closed the set and match with three straight points.
The Hawkeyes continue conference play tomorrow (Oct. 17) at Purdue. The Boilermakers host the Hawkeyes at 6 p.m. (CT) in West Lafayette, IN. Iowa volleyball play-by-play announcer Mike Haberle will call the action live from Halloway Gym on KXIC (AM 800).