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HARRISONBURG, Va. — The University of Iowa volleyball team (2-0, 0-0) upset No. 22-ranked Washington State (1-1, 0-0), 3-0, on Saturday morning inside Sinclair Gymnasium.
Senior Meghan Buzzerio and junior Griere Hughes led the team with 12 kills, while junior Brie Orr added 32 assists and junior Halle Johnston notched a career-high 21 digs.
HEAR FROM COACH BROWN
“I am very proud of the team and how they came out here with a very high standard. We talked a lot about initiating the standard and maintaining it throughout the sets. I am very proud of them for executing that. It’s tough to pick out one player because it was a true team effort from serving to serve receive to attacking. Everybody contributed in a grand way for this win. I am proud that the team was able to fight through any rumble that Washington State presented to us. They are a big, physical blocking team and we knew that was going to be adversity.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (25-19) | Iowa and Washington State traded blows early, but back-to-back kills from sophomore Amiya Jones gave Iowa a 5-2 lead and the Hawkeyes kept that lead throughout the majority of the set. Scrappy plays by Iowa kept the Cougars away, but Washington State battled back to tie the set at 19. A kill by senior Meghan Buzzerio gave Iowa all the momentum it needed and the Hawkeyes rallied off six straight points to take the first set.
SET 2 (25-19) | The Hawkeyes continued to seize control in the second set. Iowa forced an early timeout after a four-point run to make the score 8-4. A five-point run following the timeout tied the set, but a kill by sophomore Hannah Clayton gave Iowa the lead. The Cougars remained in striking distance until a powerful kill by junior Griere Hughes gave Iowa momentum to close the set at 25-19 for the second consecutive set.
SET 3 (25-22) | The final set was much closer than the first two with neither team gaining more than three points on the other. Every Hawkeye scoring run was answered by the Cougars. M. Buzzerio added a set-high six kills, while Hughes tallied five during the set. Leading 21-19, Washington State called a timeout in an attempt to shift momentum, but the Hawkeyes stayed mentally focused and maintained the lead even when Washington State made a run to bring the score to 23-22. Orr clinched the victory with a dig-kill in what was one of the longest rallies of the match.
NOTABLES
- Junior Halle Johnston notched a career-high 21 digs
- This is Iowa’s first victory over Washington State in three total matches.
- Iowa outblocked Washington State, 6-5.
- The Hawkeyes registered a team hitting percentage of .290.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes face tournament host James Madison in the finale of the James Madison Invitational tonight at 6 p.m. (CT). The match will be live streamed on Madizone (free).
