Sept. 2, 2011
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AMES, Iowa — The University of Iowa volleyball team used career highs from five players to defeat Arizona State, 3-1, today at the Iowa State Challenge. The Hawkeyes were led at the net by freshmen Alex Lovell and Emily Yanny. Lovell recorded a career best 16 kills and Yanny added career highs in kills (15) and total blocks (6). Sophomore Nikki Dailey dished a career-high 48 assists and Bethany Yeager picked up 30 digs.
“We stayed steady,” said head coach Sharon Dingman. “Bethany was great. Emily obviously had her best match as a Hawkeye and I thought everyone did a great job of grinding through. That’s how we have to win games.”
After dropping the first set, 25-21, the Hawkeyes used a 5-0 run to end set two with a 26-24 win. Arizona State had built a 24-21 lead before Lovell recorded consecutive kills to fight off to tie the frame, 24-24. Lovell then teamed with Mallory Husz on a stuff block before a Sun Devil error finished the rally and tied the match at one set apiece.
“The second set was huge,” said Dingman. “We found ourselves down 24-21 and we were able to fight back and collect the win. I think it gave us a confidence we had been searching for all week.”
The Hawkeyes then grabbed a 2-1 match advantage with a 25-21 win in set three. Yanny’s fifth kill of the set helped Iowa build a 17-11 lead and, after ASU had pulled with a point, 20-19, Megan Eskew showed up with a pair of kills and a block assist to end the frame. Yanny and Husz combined for 11 kills in set three.
Iowa won three of the last four points to seal the match with a 25-22 win in set four. Yanny had six of her career high 15 kills in the final frame.
The Hawkeyes matched their season high with 79 digs, including career best from Tiffany Nilges (15) and Kari Mueller (eight). Dailey set a career high with six blocks and Megan Eskew recorded her fourth straight double-double with 12 kills and 13 digs.
| Arizona State vs. Iowa | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Arizona State (2-2) | 25 | 24 | 21 | 22 |
| Iowa (2-2) | 21 | 26 | 25 | 25 |
| Statistical Leaders | |||
| Kills: Alex Lovell (UI) 16 | Kastl (ASU) 13 | |||
| Assists: Nikki Dailey (UI) 48 | McGaffin (ASU) 46 | |||
| Digs: Bethany Yeager (UI) 30 | Preach (ASU) 26 |