Hawkeyes Fall at Purdue

Stats

Oct. 17, 2009

Box Score | Postmatch interview with C.Meister | Prematch interview with C.Meister

WEST LAFAYETTE, IN -The University of Iowa volleyball team fell to the Purdue Boilermakers, 3-0, Saturday night in Halloway Gym. Three different Hawkeyes tallied at least eight kills in the match, led by junior Katie Kennedy’s team-high nine. Christina Meister picked up a match-high 14 digs and junior Mara Hilgenberg dished 32 assists.

“Competitiveness comes down to two things,” said Head Coach Sharon Dingman, “effort and execution. Once we put the two together we’ll be in good shape. I went to the bench in that third set to improve our execution, and it was better, but we have to put it together consistently to compete in the Big Ten.”

Iowa battled with the lead for most of the opening set but was unable to hold on for the win, falling 25-23. Schipper came out firing with a set-high seven kills and six digs while Hilgenberg dished an astonishing 14 assists in the opening frame.

Iowa (2-6, 10-10) jumped to an early 3-1 lead in the opening set behind a Purdue service error and a pair of kills from senior Megan Schipper and Kennedy. The Boilermakers then rallied to score seven of the next 10 points before the Hawkeyes used a 5-0 run to take an 11-8 advantage. Following a timeout, Purdue closed to within one, 14-13, before Schipper scored on a kill and service ace to stretch Iowa’s lead back to three, 16-13. The Boilermakers then used a 9-4 run to take a 22-20 lead before Schipper came back again with back-to-back kills to tie the set, 22-22. Purdue then rallied with three of the next four points to escape the opening frame with a 25-23 win.

The Boilermakers (3-5, 11-8) took a 2-0 match advantage with a 25-12 win in set two. Freshman Emma Krieger Kittle and Kennedy paced Iowa with three kills apiece. Hilgenberg dished seven assists and Meister added three digs in the frame.

After falling behind 2-0 in the second set, Iowa used a Purdue error and a pair of kills from Krieger Kittle and Kennedy to take an early 3-2 edge. Purdue then fought back with an 8-2 run to take a 10-5 lead before a Boilermaker error and Krieger Kittle kill pulled the Hawkeyes within three, 10-7. Huffman, Kennedy and Krieger Kittle peppered in a few more kills in the set, but Purdue was able to pull away with an 8-1 run to finish the game with a 25-12 victory.

Purdue finished the three-game sweep with a 25-22 win in set three. Junior Aimee Huffman and Krieger Kittle recorded four kills each, Hilgenberg dished 11 assists and Meister picked up six digs.

Iowa jumped to a 3-1 lead in set three behind a service ace from freshman Lauren Friedman, a kill from Krieger Kittle and a Purdue error. The Boilermakers later battled back to tie the set, 9-9, before a pair of kills from sophomore Tiffany Nilges and Krieger Kittle helped Iowa take a one-point advantage, 14-13. Purdue then fought back to take an 18-16 lead before Krieger Kittle and Friedman tied the set with back-to-back kills. The Boilermakers then used a 3-0 run to build a 21-18 edge before the Hawkeyes answered a Dingman timeout with a Kennedy kill and a pair of points from Huffman to pull within one, 22-21. Purdue then answered with a 3-1 run to finish the set and win the match, 3-0.

Iowa returns home to host Northwestern Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. In support of Food Bank Week, any fan who brings two non-perishable food items will receive free admission to the contest. All food items will be donated to the Johnson County Crisis Center.