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BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The University of Iowa volleyball team (9-12, 3-7) defeated Indiana (12-11, 1-9) in five sets on Saturday night inside Wilkinson Hall.
Sophomore Amiya Jones amassed a career-high 15 kills and seven aces – the most by a Big Ten player this season. Junior Griere Hughes also tied for the team lead with 15 kills.
Junior Halle Johnston added 19 digs and sophomore Courtney Buzzerio notched a career-high 51 assists.
The season sweep over the Hoosiers is Iowa’s second in three years.
HEAR FROM COACH BROWN
“We made a couple changes to the lineup, but it shows our players, all 17 of them, have grit mentality even in adversity. Courtney continues to prove herself and she is a contributor in any capacity we ask of her. Our middles, Hannah and Amiya, had five great sets and our outsides balanced things out. Kudos to them. Of course, Halle (Johnston) made some key digs and key serving runs, so all I can say is that it was a true team effort.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (27-25) | A service error got the Hawkeyes on the board first as Iowa began to build a lead on the Hoosiers. Iowa’s lead was 13-8 when Indiana started chipping away to eventually take a 17-16 lead. The Hawkeyes responded with back-to-back kills from sophomore Amiya Jones, who finished with four kills in the set, to take a 18-17 lead. Iowa tallied two more points to force an Indiana timeout. Iowa held a set point at 24-22 but allowed Indiana to tie the set at 24 and take a brief 25-24 lead. Hughes and sophomore Hannah Clayton reenergized Iowa with two consecutive kills and an Indiana attack error gave Iowa the first set.
SET 2 (25-20) | The Hoosiers got the jump on Iowa to begin the second set, gaining a 6-3 advantage. Iowa trailed by three points until its middles gave the offense a spark. Jones and Clayton tallied two kills apiece and Iowa tied the score at 13. Iowa dropped behind for the second time in the set and was forced to call a timeout. With time running out, sophomore Courtney Buzzerio, playing setter for the Hawkeyes, registered two kills off dumps, however Indiana’s lead was too great and Iowa surrendered set two, 25-20.
SET 3 (25-20) | Indiana posted an early lead out of the break, but the Hawkeyes woke up thanks to a 5-0 run and 4-0 to take a 19-9 lead. Jones broke out at the service line tallying three aces during the set as Iowa took control and cruised its way to a 25-20 set victory.
SET 4 (25-14) | Iowa surrendered a lead after a dominating third set and fell behind 6-10 before calling its first timeout. The Indiana block was fierce in the fourth set, not allowing Iowa’s offense to get any room as the Hoosiers gained the edge in team blocks over Iowa. Iowa was forced to call its second timeout trailing 18-9 and freshman Edina Schmidt entered to help provide a different look for the Hawkeyes. Schmidt was successful early, grabbing two quick kills, but Iowa was too far behind and Indiana paced itself to force a fifth set.
SET 5 (16-14) | Hughes got Iowa on the board first in the decisive set. A service error was ruled against Jones, but after a challenge, Iowa was awarded its second point and opened a 2-0 lead. Indiana fought back to tie the set at three as both teams began trading points. The Hoosiers were the first to eight points. Jones took over after the break with two kills and an ace to give Iowa a 10-9 lead. Clayton followed with a kill and Indiana called its second timeout. A Hoosier attack error gave Iowa a two-point lead, but a challenge by Indiana reversed the call and both teams were tied at 11. Two Iowa errors gave Indiana a 13-11 lead and Iowa began playing catchup with little room for error. Hughes and freshman Kyndra Hansen notched kills to tie the score and a Johnston ace and Indiana net violation capped Iowa’s fifth-set comeback over Indiana.
NOTABLES
- Amiya Jones registered a career-high seven aces – tied for the most in a match in the Big Ten this year. Seven aces are tied for the fifth most in a single match in Iowa history.
- Iowa’s 11 service aces are a season high.
- Freshman Joslyn Boyer notched a career-high 14 digs
- Sophomore Maddie Slagle earned her first kill of the season
- Iowa won its first five-set match of the year.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to Iowa for a four-match homestand beginning Nov. 1 against No. 8 Penn State at 7 p.m. (CT). Tickets for the match are available at hawkeyesports.com/tickets or over the phone at 800-IA-HAWKS.
