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VERMILLION, South Dakota – The University of Iowa volleyball team (4-2, 0-0) defeated the Wyoming Cowgirls (4-3, 0-0), 3-1 in the opening match of the South Dakota Tournament on Friday.
Senior Meghan Buzzerio tallied a career-high 24 kills, junior Brie Orr added a season-high 50 assists, and junior Halle Johnston recorded a career-high 31 digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (29-27) | The Hawkeyes opened up a two-point lead early, but allowed Wyoming to take the lead with a four-point run to take a 3-7 lead. The Hawkeyes trailed throughout most of the set and tied the set briefly at 16 after a kill by sophomore Courtney Buzzerio, but fell behind again until the final points of the set. Iowa rallied a three-point run to tied the set at 25 and battle back and forth, but an ace from Wyoming sealed the first set in the Cowgirls’ favor.
SET 2 (25-18) | The Hawkeyes returned to form in the second set, hitting .412 as a team. After spotting Wyoming an early lead, Iowa went on a five-point run to take control of the set. The Hawkeyes forced Wyoming to burn both timeouts before the 15th point. Iowa called a timeout leading 19-17, but rallied to win the set easily with service aces by sophomore Amiya Jones on two of Iowa’s last three points.
SET 3 (25-22) | The Hawkeyes led wire-to-wire in the third set, starting on a 7-3 run. Iowa had another efficient set, hitting .393 and taking the edge in blocks, 4-2. Wyoming attempted to inch its way back into the set, but Meghan Buzzerio continually closed the Cowgirls’ window as she picked up seven kills in the set. A Wyoming service error gave Iowa its second set victory of the match.
SET 4 (25-23) | The story of the fourth set was the Hawkeyes fighting back after falling behind early. Kills from Meghan Buzzerio and Jones brought Iowa within two points, but Wyoming continued to keep the Hawkeyes off the lead. Junior Brie Orr tied the set at 20 after an ace but errors from both teams allowed Wyoming to fall behind again. Without room for error, Courtney Buzzerio stepped up to deliver two kills and tied the set at 23. A Jones and Meghan Buzzerio block gave Iowa its 24th point and a Johnston ace sealed the victory in Iowa’s favor.
NOTABLES
- Sophomore Courtney Buzzerio earned her team-leading 10th ace of the season.
- Courtney Buzzerio recorded a career-high 15 kills.
- Iowa hit .412 in the second set.
- Iowa owned the service ace battle, 8-6.
- Amiya Jones notched a career-high two aces.
- Junior Halle Johnston tallied a career-high 31 digs.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to the Sanford Coyote Sports Complex this afternoon to face UC Davis at 4:30 p.m. (CT). A live stream of the match is available on the team’s schedule page at hawkeyesports.com.
