Hawkeyes Defeat Milwaukee in 5 Sets

Stats | Boxscore

Sept. 14, 2012

Box Score

Postmatch Video Interview: Head Coach Sharon Dingman

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MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The University of Iowa volleyball team defeated Milwaukee in five sets on Friday evening in its second match of the Marquette Invitational (25-23, 25-21, 12-25, 17-25, 15-12). The Hawkeyes move to 8-4 on the season. The match was held at the Al McGuire Center on the campus of Marquette University.

“Milwaukee is a great team,” said head coach Sharon Dingman. “They have been to the NCAA Tournament many times. That is a team that is going to win 28 to 30 matches almost every single year. That is a great win for our program.”

Junior Bethany Yeager led the defense with a team-high 24 digs. She moves passed Kathy Griesheim for seventh all-time in program history with 1,251 in her career. Classmate Nikki Dailey recorded her sixth-straight double-double, and team-best eighth overall, with 39 assists and 16 digs. Alex Lovell registered her sixth double-double. The sophomore notched a career-best 21 kills to go along with 14 digs. Alessandra Dietz added 11 kills.

In the opening set, Milwaukee, a 2011 NCAA Tournament team, and Iowa went back-and-forth. The Hawkeyes forced a Panther timeout leading 16-14. Milwaukee answered, taking an 18-17 lead. With the frame all square at 23-23, a block by Erin Radke and Chante’ Thompson and a service ace by Dietz gave Iowa the 25-23 opening set victory. Lovell led all with eight kills and Dailey added 10 assists and a set-high six digs. The Hawkeyes out-hit the Panthers in the first game, .323 to .200.

Milwaukee (5-6) led 10-7 in the second set before Iowa used a 5-1 run to take a 12-11 lead. The Panthers claimed the next three points to grab a 14-12 lead. The Hawkeyes answered, scoring six of the next seven points to regain an 18-15 advantage and force a Milwaukee timeout. The squads traded points until Iowa earned set point at 24-21. A Panther attack error gave Iowa the set victory, 25-21, and a 2-0 match lead. For the second-straight frame, Lovell led all with four kills. Dailey turned in a set-best nine assists and Yeager added a game-high 10 digs.

In the third game, Milwaukee jumped out to a 13-5 lead and never looked back. The Panthers won the set, 25-12, cutting Iowa’s match lead to 2-1. Lovell equaled a set-high with five kills and Yeager added seven digs.

Tied 16-16 in the fourth set, Milwaukee closed with a 9-1 run to earn a 25-17 victory, evening the match at two sets apiece. The Panthers hit .393 in the frame.

In the decisive fifth set, the Hawkeyes grabbed a 6-4 lead, forcing a Milwaukee timeout. The Panthers scored two consecutive points before Iowa used a 3-1 run to grab a 9-7 advantage. A 3-0 Milwaukee run forced an Iowa timeout. Trailing 11-9 after a Milwaukee point, the Hawkeyes claimed six of the final seven points to earn a 15-12 set and match victory. Thompson finished off the Panthers with two kills for the final two points.

“I saw some things I hope I see again when we are in that same situation,” said Dingman. “We showed a sense of urgency and a lot of heart. It was fun to watch us in that fifth set.”

Iowa concludes action Saturday in the Marquette Invite. The Hawkeyes play the host Golden Eagles at 1:30 p.m. (CT).