Huskers Down Hawkeyes in Lincoln

Stats | Boxscore

Nov. 21, 2012

Box Score

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LINCOLN, Neb. — The University of Iowa volleyball team fell in straight sets at No. 10 Nebraska on Wednesday night (12-25, 16-25, 8-25). The Huskers used a .471 attack percentage and owned a 46-27 advantage in kills to earn the 3-0 victory inside the NU Coliseum.

The Huskers move to 22-6 overall and 14-5 in Big Ten play; the Hawkeyes fall to 10-22 and 2-17 in league action. Nebraska is 13-1 at home this season.

Junior Rachael Bedell and sophomore Alex Lovell led the Iowa attack. Bedell paced the visitors with 11 kills and Lovell added nine. Junior Bethany Yeager tallied a match-high 11 digs, becoming the fifth Hawkeye in program history to eclipse 1,500 in her career (1,508).

“I thought the outside hitters did a good job,” said head coach Sharon Dingman. “Bethany (Yeager) was so competitive all night. She did a great job.”

The Huskers started quickly in the opening frame, jumping out to a 6-1 lead. Nebraska extended its advantage to 17-3, before the Hawkeyes claimed eight of the next 11 points to cut the lead to 20-11 and force a Husker timeout. The home team went on to win the opening set, 25-12, tallying five of the final six points. Nebraska hit .556 in the frame and recorded 17 kills. Iowa posted a .222 hitting percentage, recording 10 kills. Bedell led the visitors with five kills. Lovell added four, hitting .800.

The Hawkeyes opened a 7-5 lead in the second set. Nebraska answered, winning four-consecutive points to grab a 9-7 advantage and force an Iowa timeout. The Hawkeyes responded, using three kills and two Husker errors to win five of the next six points to quiet the Coliseum crowd and take a 12-10 lead. With the set even, 14-14, Nebraska won 11 of the final 13 points to earn a 25-16 second set victory and take a 2-0 match lead. The Huskers tallied 15 kills, posting a .308 hitting percentage. Iowa hit .158 and recorded 11 kills.

The Huskers hit .667 in the third frame en route to a 25-8 set and match victory. Nebraska registered 16 kills and had no errors, limiting the Hawkeyes to six kills and a -.111 attack percentage.

Iowa wraps up play on Saturday, hosting 2011 national runner-up Illinois for senior night. The Hawkeyes and Fighting Illini will meet at 7 p.m. on Mediacom Court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Iowa will honor senior Allison Straumann following the conclusion of the match.