No. 16 Wisconsin Bests Iowa, 3-0

Oct. 23, 2015

Box Score

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa volleyball team fell to No. 16 Wisconsin, 3-0, on Friday night in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes drop to 10-12 overall and 0-9 in conference action with the loss.

“We have to quit fighting from behind,” said UI head coach Bond Shymansky. “We have to remember the killer instinct we showed earlier in the season, get out to a lead, and do a better job of trying to strive to separate ourselves from the opponent. I just feel like we’re playing catch up a lot right now.”

Wisconsin used a four-point run to gain an early 7-4 lead in the first set. They never lost it from there, winning the set, 25-22. The Hawkeyes pulled with two points of the Badgers nine different times, but could never overcome the deficit. Iowa and Wisconsin each hit .256 in the set, but three Badger team blocks and four Iowa serving errors proved to be the different in the set.

With the second set tied, 9-9, the Badgers used an 11-3 run to take an 18-9 lead. After an Iowa timeout, the Hawkeyes clawed their way back into the match, using a seven-point swing to pull within two (22-20) and force a Badger timeout. Freshman Molly Kelly served up the rally and added an ace, while senior Mikaela Gunderson and junior Loxley Keala each added a pair of kills. Following the break, Wisconsin sophomore Kelli Bates notched three kills to seal the set-two victory for the Badgers (25-22).

After trading points to start the first set, Wisconsin used a 6-1 run to establish an 11-7 lead. Iowa responded, using a pair of service aces off the hand of Kelly to pull within one and force a Wisconsin timeout. The Badgers went on an 8-2 rally following the break, registering six kills and a block assist in the process. They maintained control from there, winning the set, 25-18.

“These Big Ten teams are showing a consistency that we have to match,” said Shymansky. “We have to overcome at the end of the set when it’s tight. We’ve been in that moment lots of times so far in Big Ten play. We’re just going to have to play a little sharper.”

Junior Lauren Brobst paced the Hawkeye offense with 11 kills, while Keala dished out 27 assists. Sophomore Annika Olsen notched a team-leading 22 digs, and freshman Reagan Davey matched her career-high with 12. Gunderson led the blocking effort with three.

Iowa returns to action tomorrow night, hosting No. 9 Minnesota at 7 p.m. (CT) in Carver-Hawkeye Arena. All fans are encouraged to wear black.

“Every night in the Big Ten you are going to get the absolute best volleyball in the country,” Shymansky added. “Our group just has to keep getting hungry, keep getting after it, and understand that we’re the underdog right now.”