Oct. 8, 2010
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EVANSTON, Ill. – The University of Iowa volleyball team fell to No. 24 Northwestern tonight inside Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Wildcats topped the Hawkeyes in straight sets (25-20, 25-14, 25-18). Megan Eskew led the Iowa offense with six kills. Paige Stevens dished a team-best 14 assists and Bethany Yeager picked up a game-high 18 digs.
“We came out playing pretty well but Northwestern was able to put together a run in the opening set and we just never regrouped,” said Head Coach Sharon Dingman. “We had a couple people play well but we need a better combined effort to get the win.”
The Wildcats scored the final seven points of set one to steal the opening frame, 25-20. Iowa, led by Becky Walters’ four kills, played even with Northwestern early and was able to take 20-18 after a kill from Rachael Bedell. The Wildcats then used their late rally to escape with the win. Yeager, among the conference leaders in digs, picked up six saves in the opener.
| Iowa at Northwestern | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Iowa (1-5, 6-9) | 20 | 14 | 18 |
| Northwestern (4-1, 14-2) | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Statistical Leaders | |||
| Kills: Megan Eskew (UI) 6 | Holthus (NU) 14 | |||
| Assists: Paige Stevens (UI) 14 | Glab (NU) 43 | |||
| Digs: Bethany Yeager (UI) 18 | Holthus (NU) 13 |
Northwestern rode their hot streak into set two. The Wildcats attacked at a .310 clip and never trailed in the 25-14 victory. Iowa got three kills apiece from Chante’ Thompson and Megan Eskew and Yeager added nine digs in the frame.
Mallory Husz came off the bench and provided a spark for Iowa in set three. The junior, who had missed the previous contest because of injury, made her first appearance in the third set and collected a pair of kills and three blocks. Her second kill fought off Northwestern’s first match point, but the Wildcats returned serve and forced a Hawkeye error to win set three, 25-18.
The Hawkeyes return to action Oct. 15 at Ohio State. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT).