Hawkeyes Fall 3-1 in Madison

Stats

Nov. 20, 2010

Box Score

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MADISON, Wis. – Hawkeye senior Becky Walters tied a modern day program record, but the University of Iowa volleyball team was unable to spoil Wisconsin’s senior night, falling 3-1 to the Badgers tonight inside the UW Field House (25-11, 25-20, 22-25, 25-9).

Walters recorded a pair of service aces to tie the modern day record for service aces in a single season. Since the rally scoring format was implemented in 2001, only Sara Meyermann has matched Walters’ 36 service aces. Walters, Iowa’s lone senior, finished the night with two aces, six kills and three blocks. Wisconsin native Nikki Dailey picked up a team-high nine digs the return to her home state. Paige Stevens, who was a game-time decision after aggravating a hip injury Friday night, dished a team-best 13 assists. Mallory Husz led the Hawkeye offense with seven kills.

The Badgers transitioned from the senior night pregame ceremony into a dominant opening set. Wisconsin stormed out of the gate by attacking at a .357 clip and used a pair of service aces to cruise to a 25-11 set one win.

The Hawkeyes woke up and put up a fight in the second set, but Wisconsin eventually prevailed 25-20 to grab a 2-0 match advantage. A pair of kills from Husz and an attack point from Tiffany Nilges helped Iowa grab an early 5-4 advantage before Wisconsin rallied to grab a 12-10 lead. Walters then combined a solo block and her record-tying service ace to knot the score 12-12. Wisconsin answered the Walters’ run with five of the next six points to grab a 17-13 lead and seize control of the set. Rachael Bedell recorded a couple kills down the stretch before Jessa Benson’s kill on set-point ended the frame.

Down 2-0, the Hawkeyes exited the locker room on a mission following the intermission. After Wisconsin grabbed the set’s first point, Husz combined a kill and a block to spur a four-point run and help Iowa seize control. Husz later extended the Hawkeye lead to 16-8 with one of her set-high five kills before Megan Eskew’s kill on set-point awarded Iowa the 25-22 win.

Wisconsin rebounded in the fourth frame, using an eight-point run to grab a 13-3 lead en route to a 25-9 set win and 3-1 match victory.

The Hawkeyes return to action Nov. 26 when they host Penn State at 1 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The contest will be televised live on the Big Ten Network (HD).