Hawkeyes Fall to Michigan, 3-0

Stats

Sept. 30, 2011

Box Score

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Iowa volleyball team fell to Michigan in straight sets Friday night (25-22, 25-15, 25-17) inside Cliff Keen Arena. Seniors Megan Eskew and Mallory Husz led Iowa offensively with eight and five kills, respectively. Nikki Dailey dished 17 assists and Bethany Yeager picked up a team-high 11digs.

“This was a tough Big Ten environment,” said head coach Sharon Dingman. “I though Mal (Husz) and Megan (Eskew) played like seniors, but it was a struggle just about everywhere else. We simply didn’t pass or hit the ball well. That’s something we’ll obviously address because it will have to be better tomorrow.”

Michigan won the opening frame, 25-22, with the help of a late 7-2 run. The frame was tied nine times, including as late as 17-17, but Michigan sandwiched a pair of 3-0 runs between kills from Erin Leppek and Dailey to spark a late rally. A service error pulled Iowa within three, 23-20, and Tiffany Nilges kept Iowa alive with two late kills, but Michigan was able to cool the Hawkeye rally and hold on for the three-point win.

The Hawkeyes looked like they might rebound in set two, building an early 8-6 lead with a pair of Husz blocks and a kill from Eskew. But the Wolerines used a six-point run to grab a 12-8 lead and later scored the frame’s final seven points for a 25-15 win.

Emily Yanny came off the bench for Iowa in the third set and packaged back-to-back kills in the midst of a 5-0 Iowa run. A block from Yanny and a kill from Dailey helped Iowa tie the frame, 11-11, but the Wolverines put together a 8-0 run to eventually cruise to a 25-17 win.

Iowa returns to the court tomorrow at Michigan State. The Hawkeyes and Spartans play at 6 p.m. inside Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Mich.