CORALVILLE, Iowa — University of Iowa volleyball swept South Dakota State, 3-0, Sunday afternoon inside Xtreme Arena to win the Fryfest Invitational.
Fifth year Caitlin Buettner led the way for the Hawkeyes with 17 kills with a clip of .436. Sophomore Nataly Moravec posted 12 kills, and Delaney McSweeney hit at a clip of .545. Libero Sydney Dennis notched 16 digs. Setters Kaia Mateo and Bailey Ortega registered 17 assists a piece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (Iowa, 25-21): South Dakota State came out with momentum, securing the first three points of the set, but Iowa stuck with them. After back-to-back kills by Anna Davis and Buettner, the Hawkeyes tied the game at four. The teams battled back and forth before Iowa pulled ahead with a solid block by Davis and Mateo to shut down the opposing team’s swing. The two teams battled back and forth, keeping the score tight. Iowa held on to the lead, stretching the spread to 14-11, from a McSweeney kill. South Dakota State then took a timeout, coming back with a kill. Ortega responded with a sneaky dump, putting the ball back with Iowa. Three consecutive kills by the Hawkeyes brought Iowa to a 20-15 lead. The Jackrabbits narrowed the gap to two, but ultimately Iowa went on to win the set.
SET 2 (Iowa, 25-19): The set was back and forth from the jump, but Iowa pulled ahead, 5-2, capitalizing on South Dakota State errors. Iowa maintained the lead after Davis found open space on the floor for a tip. The Jackrabbits tied the set at six, but Iowa took control again after a kill by Moravec. The two teams battled with the set coming to a tie three times. Iowa pulled ahead, 14-11, after a pair of kills by McSweeney, both assisted by Ortega. The Iowa lead brought South Dakota State to a timeout, and the Hawkeyes came back to the court, pushing the spread to four. After a long rally and a few noteworthy digs by Dennis, Iowa continued pace, leading 18-14. A trio of kills by Mateo, McSweeney, and freshman Gabby Deery stretched the Hawkeye lead, 22-17. Iowa took the set following a service error by the Jackrabbits.
SET 3 (Iowa, 25-23): Iowa opened the final set with a pair of kills by Buettner, giving assists to Dennis and Ortega. The Jackrabbits took the lead in the beginning, but Iowa battled to close the gap as Buettner and Moravec added kills to the board. The Hawkeyes tied it up at eight after an attack error by the Jackrabbits. South Dakota State then jumped ahead, 10-8. After a successful challenge, Iowa earned the ball back, and Buettner posted three consecutive kills, allowing Iowa to expand its lead, 12-10. The Jackrabbits attempted to retaliate, but Deery and Buettner came through swinging to record two more kills for the Hawkeyes. South Dakota State took a timeout, and Buettner came out swinging, posting her fifteenth kill of the match. Another successful challenge brought Iowa’s lead to 21-17. The Hawkeyes pushed and secured the set and the match.
NOTABLES
HEAR FROM FRYFEST MVP NATALY MORAVEC
“I’m just working out my nerves. I never played a game last year, and coming in with the home crowd was pretty stressful. But, just being here with my teammates and everyone pulling me together was what really helped.”
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to Xtream Arena Wednesday, Sept. 6, facing Iowa State for the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series matchup. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. (CT) on B1G+.
