Hawkeyes Fall to Northern Illinois, 3-0

Stats

Sept. 19, 2010

Box Score

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DEKALB, Ill. – The University of Iowa volleyball team fell to Northern Illinois today in straight sets, 25-22, 25-17, 25-23. The Hawkeyes started four freshmen for the first time this season and were rewarded with a career-high six kills from Chante’ Thompson. Freshmen Nikki Dailey dished a team-high 13 assists and freshmen Bethany Yeager picked up a team-high 11 digs.

Northern Illinois took an early match advantage with a 25-22 win in the opening set. The Huskies came out swinging and built an 18-10 lead before Iowa used a 10-5 run to pull within three, 23-20. Iowa was later able to fight off consecutive set-points, but a service error ended the rally and NIU held on for the win.

NIU freshman Lauren Wicinski hammered six kills as the Huskies battled to a 25-17 win in set two. The teams were knotted eight times through the first 22 points before NIU ran off three straight scores to break an 11-11 tie. A kill by Becky Walters kept the Hawkeyes within three points, 17-14, but the Huskies finished the set with an 8-3 run to take a two-match advantage.

Northern Illinois opened the third frame by building a 13-8 lead and was able to withstand a couple Hawkeye rallies to clinch the match with a 25-23 win. Iowa used a five-point run to tie the set, 13-13, and later used three straight kills, two from Megan Eskew and one by Mallory Husz, to tie the frame, 20-20. A couple Iowa errors ended the Hawkeyes run and NIU used consecutive kills from Wicinski to end the frame and earn the 3-0 match victory.

Iowa opens the conference season next weekend at Michigan and Michigan State. The Hawkeyes face the Wolverines Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) before traveling to East Lansing, Mich., to face Michigan State Saturday at 6 p.m. (CT).