COLLEGE PARK, Md. — University of Iowa volleyball fell to the Maryland Terrapins, 3-1, inside XFINITY Center Pavilion on Saturday evening.
Redshirt freshman Nataly Moravec led the way for the Hawkeyes posting 13 kills, a career-best five service aces, and a solo block. Fifth year Caitlan Buettner posted 11 kills with a clip of .423 and nine digs. Senior Bailey Ortega and freshman Kaia Mateo split the assists with 21 and 18, respectively.
HOW IT HAPPENED
SET 1 (Maryland, 25-16): Maryland started the set on a roll, but the Hawkeyes closed the spread to two with redshirt junior Anna Davis and Moravec laying down two kills. After a couple of Terrapin kills, Moravec took it upon herself to score three straight — a kill to give Iowa possession and two service aces — bringing Iowa within one,, 8-7 Maryland. The Terrapins made an attempt to pull ahead, but Iowa followed suit, capitalizing off an error from its opponents, a kill from junior Michelle Urquhart, a block from Urquhart and redshirt senior Delaney McSweeney, and an ace from Ortega to tie the set at 12. Maryland pulled ahead, while Moravec put down two kills to keep Iowa in the set, but the Terrapins ultimately finished the set with a win.
SET 2 (Maryland, 25-16): The set started out evenly matched as the teams exchanged kills. Redshirt junior Amanda Darling was awarded a kill off a reception placed short on the Terrapins side and a kill from Moravec tied the score at two-all. Iowa tied it up again at six, following a kill from Moravec assisted by Mateo, a block from freshmen Rosa Vesty and Gabby Deery, and an ace from Moravec. The Hawkeyes continued to fight as Moravec, McSweeney, and Deery each laid down kills, but the Terrapins came out on top.
SET 3 (Iowa, 25-17): The Hawkeyes jumped out front early with kills from McSweeney and Moravec. Maryland answered, but Iowa was not backing down, tying the score at four, five, and six before breaking through on a five-point scoring run, highlighted by a block from McSweeney and senior Audrey Black and a Vesty ace. Once again, the Terrapins responded, but the Hawkeyes called a timeout. Vesty scored with a kill assisted by Ortega out of the break. Maryland got a kill down and Iowa answered, scoring 10-consecutive points with kills from Buettner (3), Black (2), and Vesty and an ace from Moravec. Maryland scored once more, but Buettner settled the set with a kill assisted by Mateo.
SET 4 (Maryland, 25-17): McSweeney got Iowa on the board with a kill assisted by Ortega to tie the Terrapins, one-all. Maryland pulled ahead, but Vesty and Moravec kills brought the spread within two. Maryland jumped out front, while kills from Black, Buettner, and McSweeney kept the Hawkeyes in the set. Iowa went on a 7-2 run towards the end of the set but wasn’t able to catch the Terrapins, and they took the set and match.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return home to host Rutgers on Friday at 6 p.m. (CT) on B1G+ (subscription required) and Maryland on Saturday at 8 p.m. (CT) on B1G Network.
