CORALVILLE, Iowa — University of Iowa volleyball fell to Michigan State, 3-1, Saturday evening inside Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.
Caitlan Buettner led the way for the Hawkeyes, recording 12 kills on the game and reaching her 1,000thcareer kill. Delaney McSweeney followed closely behind, registering 11 kills and hitting at a clip of .375. Four Hawkeyes posted double digits in digs – Sydney Dennis with 15, Bailey Ortega and Nataly Moravecwith 13 a piece, and Buettner with 11. Ortega led the team in assists with 33.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 (IOWA, 25-23): Michigan State came out with motivation and secured the first couple of points, but McSweeney quickly put Iowa on the board with a kill. Audrey Black and Anna Davis teamed up at the net to post a block and tie the set at three. The Hawkeyes took the lead after Buettner put down a kill. The two teams battled back and forth, tying again at four, five, and six. Iowa pulled ahead by three until the Spartans went on an offensive run and caught the Hawkeyes at 10. The teams met again at 11, and then Iowa was able to push ahead and take the lead thanks to a McSweeney kill. The set remained close, tying consecutively at 15 through 17. Ortega assisted McSweeney to register another kill and put the Hawkeyes ahead. The two teams were neck-and-neck at the end of the set, but after tying at 21, Buettner and Davis paired up for a solid block to put Iowa ahead. At match point, Davis went back to serve an ace and the Hawkeyes came out on top.
Set 2 (Michigan State, 25-13): The Spartans came out strong on offense. Ortega assisted McSweeney for a kill to add a point to the board for the Hawkeyes. Michelle Urquhart went back to serve an ace to shorten the Spartan lead. Sydney Dennis assisted Buettner for a Hawkeye kill. The Spartans jumped ahead, by McSweeney broke up their offensive run with a kill. Iowa then capitalized on a Michigan State error to lessen the gap. The Spartans responded and pushed the lead, until Black registered a kill to put the ball back in the Hawkeye’s hands. Iowa battled but could not catch up to Michigan State. The Spartans took the second set.
Set 3 (Michigan State, 30-28): Michigan State took the first point, but Black responded with a kill to tie at one. Black stayed strong at the net, teaming up with McSweeney for a block to give Iowa the lead. The Spartans met the Hawkeyes at three, and then Iowa’s offense took off. The Hawkeyes went on two 3-0 runs, broken up by a successful Spartan attack. Ortega found an open spot on the other side of the net for a kill, stretching the spread to four. Michigan State fought to catch Iowa, but the Hawkeyes were able to keep the lead. The Spartans brought it within one, until tying it at 14 and 15. Iowa jumped ahead by two after Moravec and Davis paired up for a block, and Moravec stayed strong at the net to post a kill. The two teams fought closely, battling back and forth consecutively for eight possessions. The set came to a tie at 21 and Iowa took a timeout. A sneaky dump across the net by Ortega brought the set to match point. Both teams fought to get ahead by two and clinch the set. The Spartans had the lead at 29-28 and put down a kill to take the third set.
Set 4 (Michigan State, 25-23): The Spartans came out with a kill, but Buettner sent a kill right back. The set tied early at three, following a solo block by Davis. Iowa trailed closely behind for several possessions. Urquhart assisted Moravec to register a kill, bringing the spread to four. The Hawkeyes went on an offensive run of 4-0 to catch the Spartans at ten. Following a timeout, Iowa took advantage of a Michigan State error, and the set came to a tie consecutively at points 12 through 15. The Spartans went on an offensive run, but Buettner got the ball back for the Hawkeyes with a kill. The set came down to the wire at the end, but the Spartans got ahead by two to win the set and the match.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes travel to State College, Pennsylvania to play on Friday, Oct. 20 against Penn State. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on B1G+.
