Nov. 22, 2011
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa volleyball team fell to No. 2 Nebraska, 3-0, Tuesday evening inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena (25-14, 25-14, 25-19). With the win, Nebraska improved its conference record to 17-2 and clinched its first Big Ten title. Iowa was led by senior Megan Eskew’s 14 kills. Nikki Dailey dished out 28 assists and Bethany Yeager grabbed 10 digs for the Hawkeyes.
Nebraska opened the match with a 25-14 victory in set one. Tied at three, Nebraska went on a 3-0 run that ended with a kill from Eskew. Leading 7-6, the Cornhuskers then scored another three consecutive points to open up the lead, 10-6. The Hawkeyes were unable answer and Nebraska went on a 10-2 run to end the frame. Eskew led the Hawkeyes with four kills.
The Cornhuskers used a hitting percentage of .600 to win set two, 25-14. Nebraska continued its momentum and opened the frame with a 4-0 advantage. The Hawkeyes later cut the lead, 5-4, with the help of two Nebraska errors and an Emily Yanny kill. Nebraska answered with a 12-5 run to open the gap, 17-9, and eventually cruise to the 2-0 match advantage. Eskew lead the Hawkeyes again with three kills.
Nebraska finished the straight-set sweet with a 25-19 decision in the final frame. The Cornhuskers opened the frame with a 5-2 lead. The Hawkeyes later cut the lead, 8-6, with the help of two Eskew kills. Trailing by seven, 15-8, Iowa fought back with a 3-0 run that included back-to-back kills from Eskew. Late in the frame, Alex Lovell slammed a pair of kills to spark a 6-3 run, but Nebraska ended the threat out of a timeout and eventually sealed the frame with a kill from Gina Mancuso. Lovell led the Hawkeyes with seven kills in the final set.
The Hawkeyes return to the court Saturday at seventh-ranked Illinois. The Hawkeyes and Fighting Illini will play at 7 p.m. inside Huff Hall.
| No. 2 Nebraska vs. Iowa | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Nebraska (24-3, 17-2) | 25 | 25 | 25 |
| Iowa (11-21, 1-18) | 14 | 14 | 19 |
| Statistical Leaders | |||
| Kills: Megan Eskew (UI) 14 | Mancuso (UN) 14 | |||
| Assists: Nikki Dailey (UI) 28 | Cook (UN) 32 | |||
| Digs: Bethany Yeager (UI) 10 | Cook (UN) 10 |