SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The University of Iowa volleyball team was edged by Nevada, 3-2, on Sunday inside Yosemite Hall.
Senior Caitlan Buettner posted her third-consecutive double-double with 16 kills and 20 digs. Two more Hawkeyes registered double-figure kills, including seniors Delaney McSweeney (13) and Audrey Black (10). Senior setter Bailey Ortega set a season-high 34 assists.
In junior Amanda Darling’s first career start as a Hawkeye, she led Iowa with 28 digs and recorded two service aces.
Junior Anna Davis was named to the all-tournament team for her consistency throughout the tournament. Davis registered a .321 hitting percentage on the weekend, knocking down 21 kills.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (IOWA, 26-24): In the opening set, the Hawkeyes jumped ahead with a strong start, claiming the first four points. A kill from McSweeney, assisted by Ortega, initiated the lead. Throughout the set, Iowa maintained its lead. After a series of kills from Nevada, the Hawkeyes responded with an ace from Mateo and another kill from McSweeney. Nevada made a comeback to tie the set at 24 at the end of the set, but Iowa capitalized on errors to clinch the set.
SET 2 (IOWA, 25-22): In the second set, the Hawkeyes opened the scoring with an ace by junior Michelle Urquhart. After giving up a point, the Hawkeyes bounced back with a kill from Black and an ace from Darling. Iowa jumped ahead after a 10-10 tie with sophomore Nataly Moravec’s kill. The set continued with both teams fighting back and forth, resulting in six ties. Iowa clinched the set with a kill by Black and closed it out with an ace from Darling.
SET 3 (Nevada, 25-17): The Hawkeyes kicked off the third set with three consecutive points, getting the early lead, 3-1. From there, the two teams took turns leading until the Wolf Pack was able to push past with a nine-point run. The Hawkeyes lessened the deficit to five with their own run, but were not able to catch Nevada.
SET 4 (Nevada, 25-21): Iowa picked up an early lead in the fourth set, going up 9-5 with kills from McSweeney, Black, and Urquhart and service aces from Sydney Dennis and Black. Nevada took the lead after a five-point run, 10-9, before Iowa was able to put a few more points on the board to tie the set at 11. The Wolf Pack broke through again, scoring six-straight. Iowa came back to trim the margin to two, but fell short.
SET 5 (Nevada, 15-10): Iowa scored first, but Nevada was quick to take the lead, 5-1. Scoring went back and forth before Iowa was able to put three consecutive points on the board to close within two (8-6). The Wolf Pack scored in pairs, broken up by single points for the Hawkeyes, until they took the set and the match.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes head home to host the Fryfest Invitational Friday-Sunday Sept. 1-3 as they host Middle Tennessee State, Kent State, and South Dakota State. Admission is free on Friday.
