CORALVILLE, Iowa – University of Iowa volleyball defeated Rutgers, 3-0, Sunday afternoon inside Xtream Arena.
Junior Delaney McSweeney led the way for the Hawkeyes offensively hitting at a clip of .643 and registering 10 kills. Sophomore Michelle Urquhart led Iowa with 11 kills and redshirt senior Lily Tessier recorded a team high 20 assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (Iowa, 25-23): Iowa opened the match strong taking a 3-0 lead off of an ace from senior Mari Hinkle. Rutgers responded to get within one, but a big block from senior Amiya Jones gave the Hawkeyes a 6-3 lead. The Scarlet Knights went on to take the lead,10-7, after a 7-1 run as Iowa took a timeout. The Hawkeyes came out of the stoppage swinging as they were able to tie it at 10 on back-to-back kills. A long rally between the two teams ended with a kill from Urquhart to tie the set at 12. Iowa took a two-point lead after a 4-0 run, and Rutgers took their first timeout. The set was going back-and-forth, but the Hawkeyes were able to get three straight to take the 21-17 lead. The Scarlet Knights were not going down quietly as they battled back to get within two. A kill from Jones got the Hawkeyes to set point, but back-to-back Rutgers points forced Iowa to take their second timeout with the score at, 24-23. A service error from the Scarlet Knights secured the set one victory for the Hawkeyes.
SET 2 (Iowa, 25-17): The second set opened with the teams going point for point, with ties at points one through nine. The Hawkeyes got hot and opened a 7-0 run to take the lead, 15-9. The Scarlet Knights took their first timeout of the set. A successful Iowa challenge kept the run alive at eight straight points. The Hawkeye streak ended at 11 straight points. In the run, Iowa had five kills, two blocks and an ace. A kill from Urquhart got the Hawkeyes to 20 points, with their lead at nine. Iowa called their first timeout of the set after the Scarlet Knights were able to record three straight points to cut their deficit to six, 20-14. After the timeout, the set was going back-and-forth, but back-to-back kills from sophomore Addie VanderWeide and McSweeney secured the set for the Hawkeyes.
SET 3 (Iowa, 25-21): The Scarlet Knights jumped out to an early, 5-1, lead. A kill from senior Edina Schmidt got the Hawkeyes within two, 6-4. It was a battle for points as the Hawkeyes and Scarlet Knights were going back-and-forth. Iowa was able to cut their deficit after three straight to get within two, 13-11. Rutgers responded with two straight kills to go up four. A block from VanderWeide tied the set at 15 and forced the Scarlet Knights to take a timeout. Iowa took the lead, 17-16, on back-to-back kills. Once again, the teams were exchanging points and Iowa was able to string together three straight to take a 22-20 lead and force Rutgers to take their final timeout. It was a fight to the finish, as Iowa was able to get to match point, but the Scarlet Knights got two straight to force a Hawkeye timeout. Iowa was able to secure the match on a big kill from Urquhart.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JIM BARNES
“We came in yesterday and practiced hard to get ready for today and it showed. We served really well and kept control of the game. I am proud of our seniors, and we are forever grateful for them to come here and help us get this program going in the right direction.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return home to Xtream Arena on Friday, Nov. 18 to face No. 4 Nebraska. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT and will be live streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).
