Hawkeyes Fall to Saint Louis in 5 Sets

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Aug. 27, 2011

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IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa volleyball team fell to the Saint Louis Billikens 3-2 Saturday afternoon at the Hawkeye Challenge. The Hawkeyes are now 1-1 in tournament play. Iowa was led by senior Megan Eskew, who put down a team-high 11 kills and added 17 digs for her first double-double of the season. Nikki Dailey dished out 38 assists while Yeager picked up 25 digs. Mallory Husz added eight kills and a game-high six blocks.

“We lost this game on serve and pass,” said Dingman. “We weren’t able to make the big serve and we we’re unable to handle the big serve. It’s part of the game. It’s one of the most basics parts and it’s hard to win when you’re unable to execute. Once we get better there I think things will start to fall in place for us.”

Iowa gained an early advantage by winning a back-and-forth first set 25-23. Iowa was led by senior Mallory Husz and freshman Alex Lovell, both contributed four kills.

Neither team was able to score consecutive points until Iowa went on a 3-0 run to take an 8-6 lead. There was a 4-0 run late in the match that pulled Saint Louis within one, 24-23, but a Billiken service error ended the run and gave Iowa the one set advantage. Sophomore Nikki Dailey dished out 12 assists while Eskew and Yeager each picked up four digs.

Saint Louis fought back with a 5-2 opening run to win set two, 25-20. Iowa was led by Dailey, who contributed four assists, and Yeager, who picked up seven digs. The Hawkeyes took the lead 15-14 with a 5-0 run before the Billikens answered with a 3-0 run, regaining the lead, 17-15. The Billikens would hold on to finish with a 5-1 run and tie the match, 1-1.

Saint Louis opened the third set with a 14-5 run to earn a 25-18 victory. The Hawkeyes fought back with 4-0 run, pulling within five, 14-9. The Billikens controlled the remainder of the set and closed with a 3-1 run to take the match advantage, 2-1. Iowa was led by Dailey, who contributed two kills and four assists. Yeager picked up six digs.

Iowa forced a fifth set with a 25-20 victory that featured four lead changes and 12 ties. The Hawkeyes found themselves trailing 20-18 before Eskew added three kills during a 7-0 run to end the set. Eskew led Iowa with a game-high six kills and Dailey dished out 13 assists.

Saint Louis regrouped to win the fifth set, 15-9. It was a point-by-point battle that ended in a 5-2 run by the Billikens. Iowa was led by senior Tiffany Nilges, who recorded three kills in the tiebreaker. Dailey added five assists.

The Hawkeyes return on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena tonight at 7 p.m. (CT) to take on the Marquette Golden Eagles in the final match of the Hawkeye Challenge.