No. 20 Minnesota too much for Hawkeyes

Stats

Oct. 27, 2010

Box Score

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MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Iowa volleyball fell in straight sets to No. 20 Minnesota tonight inside The Sports Pavilion (25-22, 25-19, 25-16). Megan Eskew paced Iowa, recording her fifth double-double of the season behind 11 digs and a match-high 12 kills. Paige Stevens dished out a team leading 32 assists and Bethany Yeager added 13 digs. Rachael Bedell contributed with 10 kills and four blocks.

“I thought we played well in the first couple sets but we weren’t good in the third set and Minnesota played consistently through the whole match,” said Head Coach Sharon Dingman. “We didn’t pass well in the third and we didn’t serve at the caliber we need to serve if we’re going to compete.”

The Hawkeyes mounted a late rally in the opening set but were never able to catch the Golden Gophers, who led from start to finish in their 25-22 set one victory. Trailing 21-14, Eskew and Becky Walters sparked Iowa’s rally by answering a Dingman timeout with a kill and a pair of blocks to pull within four, 23-19. A Minnesota attack point then pushed the score to 24-19 before two kills from Mallory Husz and a pair of Gopher miscues ignited a four point run to pull Iowa within striking distance, 24-22. Minnesota’s Ashley Wittman then ended the Hawkeye comeback with her third kill of the set.

Eskew started the second frame with a kill and Husz added an attack point to tie set, 3-3, but Minnesota used a 7-0 run to pull away and grab a 10-3 advantage. Tiffany Nilges and Bedell then sandwiched a pair of kills between a Gopher error to pull within four, 10-6, before Minnesota eventually regained their seven point edge, 16-9. Iowa rallied again behind a wave of kills from Eskew, Bedell, Stevens and Husz to cut into Minnesota’s lead, 19-14, but the Hawkeyes ran out of time and Minnesota won the set, 25-19.

Minnesota kept the things rolling with four straight points to open the third frame and Iowa kept battling back behind Eskew. The junior ended the Gopher rally with a kill and later pulled Iowa within two points with a service ace, 7-5. After Minnesota stretched its lead to 12-9, Eskew answered again with a kill to keep Iowa within reach, 12-10. Minnesota then used a 10-2 run to grab control of the set and cruise to a 25-16 set three win. Chante’ Thompson added a pair of kills for Iowa down the stretch.

The Hawkeyes return to action Oct. 30 when they host Northwestern at 7 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The match will be televised live on the Big Ten Network (HD).