SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The University of Iowa volleyball team defeated Syracuse in three sets on Friday evening, inside the Women’s Building.
Senior Delaney McSweeney led the way for the Hawkeyes with six kills, hitting at a clip of .500. Redshirt junior Anna Davis registered an impressive hitting percentage of .625. Senior Bailey Ortega recorded 13 assists for the Hawkeyes.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (Iowa, 25-21): Syracuse took an early lead, but the Hawkeyes began to shorten the spread thanks to a kill by Michelle Urquhart and an ace by Sydney Dennis. The set tied at six following a Syracuse error. The two teams exchanged points, but a kill by fifth year Caitlan Buettner put Iowa ahead, 8-7. Iowa held the lead despite the two teams delivering back-and-forth points. After two Orange points, the set was tied again at 11. Iowa pulled ahead once again with a kill by McSweeney, assisted by freshman Kaia Mateo. A string of four Hawkeyes points sent Syracuse into a timeout. The two teams continued to fight hard, and Syracuse closed the gap to tie again at 16. Another McSweeney kill gave Iowa the lead once again, and they were able to hold off Syracuse and take the set.
SET 2 (Iowa, 25-20): The Hawkeyes snagged the first two points of the set after an Orange error and a successful attack by sophomore Nataly Moravec, assisted by Ortega. Syracuse attempted to fight back until McSweeney came through swinging for her first kill of the set. The set remained close, coming to a tie at five, seven, and nine. Buettner went back to serve and was awarded an ace. Shortly after, Davis followed suit and also posted an ace, increasing the spread to four. The Hawkeyes held the lead, until a series of Otto kills brought the set to a tie at 18, but Iowa was able to jump ahead again and close the second set.
SET 3 (Iowa, 25-15): The final set opened with an Orange error and a kill by freshman Gabby Deery. Iowa pushed ahead after a kill by Buettner, but Syracuse tied it up at four and five. After a successful attack by freshman Rosa Vesty, Iowa began to stretch the spread. Moravec stood strong in the front row to record a solo block, and two consecutive Orange errors led Syracuse into a timeout. Vesty came back onto the court to register an ace. An impressive defensive run put Iowa on top, 14-6. A Deery kill and an attack error by the forced another Syracuse timeout. Iowa kept the lead, and at match point senior Audrey Black put one down for a kill to finish the set and match.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JIM BARNES
“It’s always good to come on the road and beat a Power Five team. We didn’t play our best offensive game, but we served well and did the things that were needed to win the match. We just need to continue to get better every match.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes head to Ithaca, New York, to play Cornell on Saturday, Sept. 16 inside Bartels Hall. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CT) on ESPN+.
