CORALVILLE, Iowa – University of Iowa volleyball fell to Ohio State, 3-0, Friday night in Xtream Arena to open Big Ten play.
The Hawkeyes were led by junior middle hitter Delaney McSweeney who hit at a clip of .444. Seniors Amiya Jones and Mari Hinkle led the team with four blocks and 14 digs, respectively. The Hawkeyes and Buckeyes blocked evenly with eight apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (Ohio State, 25-16): The first set opened evenly matched between the Hawkeyes and the Buckeyes. An ace from Jones gave Iowa their first lead, 5-4. Kills by Bailey Ortega and McSweeney gave the Hawkeyes a one-point lead on two separate occasions. A, 4-0, run by the Buckeyes gave them the lead, 11-8, and Iowa took their first timeout of the set. Back-to-back blocks by Jones got Iowa within two with the score at 13-11. The Hawkeyes took their second timeout with Ohio State up five. The Buckeyes started to pull away with the lead extending to seven, ahead 20-13. An ace by Addie VanderWeide and a block by McSweeney cut the Ohio State lead to four. The Buckeyes closed out the set on a, 5-0, run to secure the first set victory.
SET 2 (Ohio State, 25-8): Sophomore Toyosi Onabanjo opened the second set with back-to-back kills for the Hawkeyes. Ohio State then scored three straight to take their first lead of the set and did not relinquish it from there on. Iowa took their first timeout with the Buckeye lead at 9-4. Ohio State went on a, 10-1, run to take a commanding 10-point lead and the Hawkeyes took their second timeout. The Buckeyes closed out the set scoring seven straight.
SET 3 (Ohio State, 26-24): The two teams exchanged points to open the third set. The Hawkeyes then took the lead after going on a 3-0 run. Points were coming in twos for each team, with lead changes happening often. Iowa was fighting to keep the match alive as they took a 15-12 lead. Ohio State took their first timeout of the match with the Hawkeye lead at three. Iowa stayed hot going on a, 5-0, run to extend their lead to 16-12. The Buckeyes got within one and the Hawkeyes took their first timeout with their lead at 17-16. The late parts of the set went point for point. The Buckeyes went on a 5-0 run of their own to give them the lead, 18-17, and Iowa took their second timeout. The Hawkeyes regained the lead, 22-20, after a 3-0 run and Ohio State took a timeout. A kill by McSweeney got Iowa to set point. The Buckeyes closed out the match scoring three straight to secure the victory.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to Xtream Arena on Sunday September 24 to host No. 11 Purdue. First serve is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT and the match will be televised on ESPN.
