CORALVILLE, Iowa – University of Iowa volleyball defeated Indiana, 3-2, Saturday afternoon in Xtream Arena for their first Big Ten win of the season.
The Hawkeyes were led by senior Amiya Jones and junior Delaney McSweeney who both hit at a clip over .400 and had career-highs in kills. Jones hit at clip of .452 and had 17 kills, both numbers led the team for the match. McSweeney hit at a clip of .444 and had 15 kills. Seniors Lily Tessier and Mari Hinkle had a team leading 27 assists and 15 digs, respectively. Redshirt freshman Sydney Dennis had a career-high in digs with 11.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (Indiana, 27-25): Indiana and Iowa came out strong and it went back-and-forth the entire set. The biggest lead for either team throughout the set was two. The first timeout of the match came from Indiana with the Hawkeyes up 19-17. After three quick Hoosier points to take a 20-19 lead, Iowa took a timeout. Both teams were battling, going point-for-point until Indiana took their second timeout as Iowa retook the lead, 23-22. A kill from sophomore Addie VanderWeide got the Hawkeyes to set point. The Hoosiers were able to tie it at 24, and Iowa took a timeout. Indiana took the set after scoring three straight points.
SET 2 (Iowa, 25-13): The second set opened much like the first, as scoring from both teams was neck and neck. Iowa took the then biggest lead of the match, going up 6-2, on back-to-back kills from sophomores Toyosi Onabanjo and Michelle Urquhart. Indiana was trying to chip away at the lead, but the Hawkeyes were able to stay ahead. Three straight kills from Iowa forced Indiana to take a timeout with the score, 12-6. Back-to-back kills from Jones and Urquhart extended the Hawkeye lead to 10. Indiana took their second timeout of the set after a 5-0 run from Iowa. An ace off of the hand of Jones got the Hawkeyes to set point and junior Audrey Black had the kill to secure the set win for Iowa.
SET 3 (Indiana, 25-22): The Hoosiers opened the third set with three straight points. Iowa responded with three straight of their own to tie it up. An ace from Onabanjo gave the Hawkeyes a 6-5 lead. The set was going back-and-forth with Indiana getting their points in twos. Iowa tied it up at 11 on back-to-back kills. A 5-0 run for the Hawkeyes gave them a 14-11 lead and Indiana took a timeout. The two teams exchanged points with Indiana was trying to cut the Iowa lead. A big block from Onabanjo gave Iowa the 21-17 lead as the Hoosiers took their second timeout. Three straight Hoosier points cut the deficit to one as Iowa took another timeout. The Hawkeyes quickly took their second timeout when Indiana was able to tie it at 22. Two straight kills for Indiana got them to set point and were able to secure the third set on a block.
SET 4 (Iowa, 25-11): Iowa opened the fourth set on a 3-0 run. Indiana narrowed the gap, but the Hawkeyes were able to maintain their lead. Another three straight points for the Hawkeyes put them up 9-4 and Indiana took a timeout. After the timeout, Iowa stayed hot and was able to put together five straight points to extend their lead to 10. After their run ended at seven, the Hawkeyes had the 18-7 lead. Indiana tried to get within reaching distance, but timely kills from Iowa kept their lead out of reach. A kill from VanderWeide gave Iowa the 25-11 set victory.
SET 5 (Iowa, 15-11): In the decisive fifth set, both teams came out fighting and were battling back-and-forth. Another ace from Jones gave the Hawkeyes a 7-6 lead. After the midway point of the set, Indiana was able to put together a 3-0 run to take a 9-8 lead and Iowa took a timeout. McSweeney was able to record a kill and a block to retake the lead, 10-9. After an unsuccessful Indiana challenge, the Hawkeye lead was two. Indiana took their second timeout after a big block from Urquhart to extend the lead to three. Iowa secured the match victory on an ace off of the hand of the of Hinkle.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JIM BARNES
“I think we are getting tougher, and we are more determined. We have been able to get better every single match. In this match, we controlled all five sets today, and we were finally able to close it out with three wins. When we are tough and digging balls the other team starts to make errors. I am proud of the team and how we were able to put it all together and finish it out.”
HEAR FROM AMIYA JONES
“With Coach’s support, I know that I can compete with myself and continue to get as many kills as the outside hitters. For the rest of the season, I am going to keep working for my team and pushing them to be their best and lead them in anyway I can.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa, on Friday, Oct. 14 to host No. 7 Wisconsin. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).
