Hawkeyes Fall to Cyclones, 3-0

Stats

Sept. 3, 2011

Box Score

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AMES, Iowa — The University of Iowa volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision to Iowa State Saturday afternoon inside Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones finished with a .319 attack percentage to claim the championship of the Iowa State Challenge. Iowa finished runner-up with a 2-1 tournament record.

“Iowa State controlled the match,” said head coach Sharon Dingman. “We did some good things, but Iowa State was in control. I thought our freshmen played well and I think we’ll take something good from the experience. We started four freshmen and they got a taste of what we can expect from the Big Ten. I think we’ll learn from this.”

Iowa State dominated the net in the opening frame en route to a 25-11 victory. Megan Eskew picked up nine digs in the frame, but the Cyclones attacked at a .333 clip and stuffed four blocks to earn the win.

The Cyclones jumped ahead early in set two before Eskew mixed in a pair of services aces to spark a 5-0 run and pull Iowa within three points, 13-10. Iowa State answered with a 6-3 run to extend its lead to 19-13 before Rachael Bedell and Tiffany Nilges pancaked consecutive kills to pull within four points, 19-15. The Cyclones then finished set two on a 6-1 run to pull out the 25-16 victory.

Iowa State swept the match with a 25-17 win in set three. The 19th ranked Cyclones improved to 6-0 with the victory in front of an announced crowd of 2,344.

Megan Eskew and Bethany Yeager were named to the all-tournament team. Eskew recorded a pair of double-doubles in the tournament and Yeager picked up 61 digs in three matches.

“Overall it was a good weekend,” said Dingman. “Last weekend was a little discouraging with the 1-2 record at home. This weekend we went 2-1 and next weekend we’ll shoot for 3-0.”

The Hawkeyes return to the court Sept. 9-10 in Iowa City, Iowa. The Hawkeyes will host the Iowa Invitational Friday and Saturday on Mediacom Court inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.