Iowa Defeats Maryland, 3-1

Iowa Defeats Maryland, 3-1

IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa volleyball team defeated Maryland, 3-1, in the only meeting between the two teams on Saturday at Xtream Arena on “Senior Night.”

Hannah Clayton had the highest attack percentage for the Hawkeyes, hitting at .550, with 11 kills and no errors. Bailey Ortega totaled a team-best 48 assists. Mari Hinkle was credited with 14 digs, while senior Courtney Buzzerio shined leading the squad with 23 kills and 56 attacks.

HOW IT HAPPENED

SET 1 (Maryland, 26-24): The first set was back-and-forth throughout, featuring 12 ties and five lead changes. Iowa took the first three-point lead, 19-16. Things tied back up towards the end at 21. The Hawkeyes then pulled ahead from a back-to-back kill and block by Clayton, 23-21.  Maryland charged back winning four of the final five points. Clayton had three kills, hit .600, and had two blocks. Amiya Jones had two kills, hit .400, and had two aces.

SET 2 (Iowa, 25-19): Iowa was the first to pull ahead by three, 9-6. The Hawkeyes maintained their lead with multiple kills from Jones, 14-11. After back-to-back points from the Hawkeyes, the three-point lead swelled to five, 20-15. Multiple rallies ending in Maryland’s favor brought the point spread back to three, 22-19. Kills from Buzzerio and Clayton, along with a block from Edina Schmidt, kept Iowa’s energy rolling through the end. The Hawkeyes took the first set by six. Buzzerio had a staggering nine kills in set two.

SET 3 (Iowa, 27-25): Maryland was the first to build a substantial lead, 9-5. The Terrapins maintained the lead, 12-7. Points went from team to team, staying within a three-point spread with Maryland prevailing, 14-11. Trailing 19-15, the Hawkeyes went on a 3-0 run, forcing a Terrapin timeout. Maryland errors and a kill from both Clayton and Buzzerio brought the game to a tie, 24-24. Back-to-back kills from Jones brought the Hawkeyes to take the lead, 26-25. An ace from Buzzerio, who also had seven third-set kills, sealed the third set in favor of the home team on a 3-0 run.

 SET 4 (Iowa, 25-22): Iowa started out with a three-point lead, 8-5. The Hawkeyes kept their lead between two and three points, 16-13. Iowa’s front row continued to work to keep the lead, 18-15. Maryland scored three-straight to tie the set at 18. An ace from Addie Vanderweide pulled the Hawkeyes up, 20-18. Two kills from Schmidt kept Iowa up, 23-21. A kill from Clayton brought it to game and match point, 24-21. Iowa prevailed, taking the set by three.

 HEAR FROM COACH DAVE BROWN

“I don’t think there are words for how much these seniors mean to this team. Statistically? That goes without saying. As human beings? They are four of the best, kindest, funniest, goofiest, amazing people I’ve ever had the privilege to coach or just to know. They mean more to this program then I could ever sum up into this microphone. They’re the best.”

“I think we did a really good job distributing the ball. I told Courtney before the match that she was going to get a lot of sets tonight, and she had the attitude that she was going to make it work, and she did. Based on the stat line, based on the way her teammates responded to her, it was really cool to see.”

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes travel to Columbus, Ohio, next Friday, Nov. 19, to challenge Ohio State. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT) at the Covelli Center.