Hawk Talk Monthly — November | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2018-19 | Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store – https://hawkeyefanshop.com/?utm_source=HawkeyeSports&utm_medium=HawkeyeSports&utm_campaign=HawkeyeSports | Box Score (PDF) | Boxscore
EAST LANSING, Mich. — The University of Iowa volleyball team (14-13, 6-10 Big Ten) defeated Michigan State (16-13, 4-12 Big Ten) for its first season sweep of the Spartans since 1991.
Senior Taylor Louis led Iowa with 16 kills, sophomore Brie Orr has 44 assists, and freshman Amiya Jones added seven blocks.
HEAR FROM COACH SHYMANSKY
“Great fortitude and true mental toughness by our whole group. We jumped on them early in the first set and let them crawl back into it, but I thought we doubled down on our intensity level. Meghan Buzzerio had a fantastic game. She has taken over in that L2 spot for us. I thought we had nice balance and our middles did a good job of blocking. Most of it was first contact focus. Our passing was strong and our serving was tough. We really pulled out some tough sets at the end.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (20-25) | Iowa opened the match with two consecutive kills and a block by senior Reghan Coyle to give the Hawkeyes an early edge at 3-1. Junior Meghan Buzzerio followed with her own two-kill streak and a block to force a Spartan timeout at 7-3. Iowa continued to keep the Michigan State offense at bay, but the Spartans crept back into the set with a run of their own to tie the set at 16. Iowa called its first timeout of the set, but Michigan State kept its momentum, running away with the set off of a five-point run.
SET 2 (30-28) | The Hawkeyes began the second set by getting their middles involved in the offense with freshmen Amiya Jones and Hannah Clayton scoring Iowa’s first four kills. Iowa continued its strong start, but Michigan State eventually tied the set at 19 after a 4-1 run. The Hawkeyes and Spartans traded points until a Spartan attack error appeared to give Iowa the set victory at 28-26, but upon further review showed a touch on the Hawkeyes. Iowa sealed the second set with a kill by senior Taylor Louis and ace by freshman Maddie Slagle.
SET 3 (25-19) | The Hawkeyes looked in control in the third set, leading by as many as four before Michigan State grabbed its first lead of the set at 14-13, but it only lasted a point as the Hawkeyes took the lead back thanks to a Buzzerio kills and Jones block. Iowa forced a Michigan State timeout and had all the momentum for the rest of the set.
SET 4 (25-23) | Michigan State held all the momentum in the fourth set after a four-point run gave the Spartans an 8-6 lead. Michigan State continued to hold strong throughout the set, taking an 18-22 lead before forcing an Iowa timeout. After the timeout, a Buzzerio kill and ace by senior Molly Kelly cut the deficit in half. Iowa closed the gap on a block and an ace to tie it at 23. Orr grabbed the 24th point on a kill and an attack error by Michigan State sealed the comeback.
NOTABLES
Junior Meghan Buzzerio finished with a double-double – 12 kills, 10 digs.
Freshman Hannah Clayton recorded a .600 attack percentage (7-1-10).
Iowa recorded a season-high nine service aces.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes hit the road for the final time this season for matches against Indiana and Purdue next weekend.
