Spartans Top Iowa in East Lansing

Stats | Boxscore

Nov. 2, 2012

Box Score

• Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPad/iPhone app!
• Download your Iowa Hawkeye Android app!
• Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
• 24 Hawkeyes to Watch

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The University of Iowa volleyball team fell in straight sets at Michigan State on Friday night (20-25, 16-25, 18-25). The match was played at Jenison Field House on the campus of Michigan State University.

The win improves the Spartans’ record to 18-7 overall and 6-7 in Big Ten play; the Hawkeyes fall to 10-16 and 2-11 in league action.

“I thought we played well tonight,” said head coach Sharon Dingman. “We did not pass well enough and we have to serve better. That was disappointing, but I thought our offense was as good as it has been in a month.”

Alex Lovell, a Michigan native, paced Iowa with 12 kills, hitting a career-best .476. Fellow sophomores and Michigan natives Alessandra Dietz and Erin Leppek recorded six and four kills, respectively. Rachael Bedell added seven kills. Junior Nikki Dailey led Iowa with a match-high 28 assists. Classmate Bethany Yeager, who ranks fifth all-time in program history with 1,441 career digs, recorded 14 digs, equaling a match-best.

In the opening frame, the Spartans jumped out to an early 6-3 advantage. Iowa answered, using a 6-3 run of its own to even the first set at 9-9. With the game tied 11-11, Michigan State scored three-straight points to take a 14-11 lead and force a Hawkeye timeout. The visitors responded, evening the set at 15-15. The home team held a one-point advantage at 20-19, before tallying five of the final six points to win the first set, 25-20. Michigan State registered five service aces and a .138 hitting percentage. Iowa hit .222, and was led by Lovell who turned in six kills. Dailey posted 12 assists and Yeager turned in five digs. All three recorded set-highs.

The Spartans opened a 7-1 lead in the second set, forcing a Hawkeye timeout. Following the timeout, Michigan State extended its advantage to 13-3. The home team maintained its lead throughout the frame, hitting .175 on its way to a 25-15 set victory and a 2-0 match lead. Lovell paced Iowa with three kills.

Following the intermission, the Hawkeyes jumped out to a 6-3 lead. Michigan State won seven of the next nine points to take a 10-8 lead and force an Iowa timeout. The Spartans led by one at 14-13, before the home team claimed 11 of the final 16 points to win the set 25-18 and the match, 3-0. Michigan State hit .481 in the final frame, while the Hawkeyes turned in a .455 attack percentage.

Iowa continues action Saturday night at Michigan at 6 p.m. (CT). The match against the Wolverines can be seen live on BTN.com.