LINCOLN, Nebraska – The University of Iowa volleyball team fell in three sets to No. 5 Nebraska on Saturday night inside the Devaney Center.
Junior middle blocker Amiya Jones and sophomore outside hitter Edina Schmidt each tallied five kills to lead the team. Jones registered a team-best four total blocks and a .333 hitting percentage. Sophomore libero Joslyn Boyer led Iowa with seven digs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (Nebraska, 25-14): Iowa scored the first four points of the set highlighted by two blocks assists from Jones and Schmidt. Nebraska tied the set at four, before taking a 14-8 lead, forcing Iowa to use its first timeout. Junior middle blocker Hannah Clayton recorded a kill out of the timeout, but Iowa couldn’t get anything going offensively to start the match.
SET 2 (Nebraska, 25-20): The Hawkeyes fell behind 10-4 and 13-5 but responded in the middle of the set. Iowa rattled off two separate 3-0 runs to cut the deficit to three, trailing 15-12. Iowa trailed by only two, 19-17, after another 3-0 run capped off by a Bailey Ortega ace. Two attacking errors by Nebraska brought Iowa’s deficit to two, 21-19, but that’s all the closer the Hawkeyes could get.
SET 3 (Nebraska, 25-13): Nebraska never trailed in the final set after winning first three points. Trailing 15-5, Iowa scored back-to-back points for the first time in the set thanks to a service error by the Huskers and an ace from junior Maddie Slagle. Trailing 21-9, Iowa burned its last time in the hopes of one final push, but it was too little too late.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH VICKI BROWN
“We worked on cleaning up certain parts of our defense and saw that transfer into the match. Our passers – Boyer, Slagle, and Schmidt – did a great job. They put is in system for a majority of the match. We will continue to fight to maintain our identity no matter who we compete against.”
NOTABLES
- The Hawkeyes are 0-4 against ranked opponents this season. Iowa will face No. 4 Minnesota on April 2-3 for its last ranked matchups of the season.
- Iowa was limited to a season-low 22 kills and an .013 hitting percentage.
UP NEXT
Iowa is back in action March 26-27 for its last home weekend of the season against Michigan State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Both matches are set for 6 p.m. (CT) and will be streamed on B1G Network+.
