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EAST LANSING, Mich. — The University of Iowa volleyball team dropped a 3-1 decision to 10th-ranked Michigan State on Saturday night.
FIGHT FOR IOWA
Taylor Louis tallied a personal-best 20 kills, marking her 20th match of the season — and fourth in a row — with double-digit kills. Louis also amassed a .356 attack percentage. This is the 12th time this season the junior has had above a .300 attack percentage. She chipped in five blocks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 (24-26) | The Hawkeyes and MSU traded points in a set that featured 15 ties and five lead changes. Trailing 19-16, Iowa used a 6-1 run to take a 22-20 lead, but the Spartans drew even again at 24-24. Michigan State then scored back-to-back points to take a 1-0 match lead.
Set 2 (16-25) | Michigan State jumped ahead early in set two and did not trail. The Hawkeyes mounted a comeback, going on a 9-4 run to cut MSU’s lead to 18-14, but the Spartans eventually secured the set and a 2-0 match lead.
Set 3 (25-16) | The Hawkeyes found a great rhythm in set three. The set opened with more back-and-forth action before a kill by Claire Sheehan tied the match at 8-8. Sheehan’s kill sparked an 11-3 run by Iowa, giving the Hawkeyes an 18-11 lead. Iowa went on to clinch a 25-16 set win, cutting MSU’s match lead to 2-1.
Set 4 (21-25) | The Spartans took another early lead in set four. In a tightly fought set, Iowa cut MSU’s lead to 21-20, but No. 10 Michigan State finished the 25-21 set win and the 3-1 match victory.
HEAR FROM COACH SHYMANSKY
“What a great, gritty performance by our team. Even right out of the gate in the first set, we were right there. We got a little soft in the second set for about four or five minutes and that was enough with their serving combination. We had a great comeback and really put it to them in the third set, and I just like how our group is fighting. There are just so many positive takeaways in terms of our positive development. I talked to the team right after the match and told them we just have to keep building off of that. There is plenty of time left this season to continue to build.”
“We can’t look at ourselves as a finished product. Our blocking, I wouldn’t have guessed coming into tonight that we would out block Michigan State 10-5, because they are one of the best blocking teams in the country. That’s a testament to Vicki Brown and the work she is doing as our blocking coach, but we really worked hard and stayed focused on the game plan. That was fantastic. There is a lot more to do. Now we come home to Carver-Hawkeye and take on Indiana and Purdue this weekend. I know our team is excited, because we have more and more premium opportunities.”
NOTABLES
- Annika Olsen recorded 23 digs, marking her 22nd match with double-digit digs this season and her seventh match of the season with 20-or-more digs.
- Claire Sheehan had 12 kills. This is the 10th time this season she has had double digits in kills.
- Brie Orr registered 40 assists. This marks her 19th match of the season with 30-or-more assists and the 11th match with 40-or-more assists.
UP NEXT
Iowa returns home on Friday, facing Indiana in a 7 p.m. (CT) first serve. The Hawkeyes face No. 17 Purdue at 2 p.m. next Saturday.
RECORDS UPDATE
- Iowa: 15-10, 4-8 B1G
- No. 10 Michigan State: 16-5, 9-3 B1G