SAN JUAN, P.R. – University of Iowa volleyball knocked off Providence, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at Mario Morales Coliseum. The Hawkeyes improved to 2-0 on the season.
Junior setter Claire Ammeraal improved on her performance from the season opener with a triple-double against the Friars. Ammeraal tallied 34 assists, 17 digs and 11 kills in the win. Additionally, the Madison, Wisconsin, native eclipsed 2,000 career assists in the opening set.
Senior Michelle Urquhart joined Ammeraal in double figures with 10 kills. Fellow seniors Anna Davis and Gracie Gibson hit well for the Hawkeyes. Davis blasted eight kills and hit .471, while Gibson registered five kills at a .500 clip. Libero Joy Galles led the Hawkeyes defensively with 22 digs and contributed offensively with three assists and two aces.
As a team, Iowa hit .233, while holding the Friars to a .184 hitting percentage. The Hawkeyes had 12 service aces. Iowa had a distinct advantage in kills, edging Providence 57-41.
MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (IOWA 25-23)
Iowa’s first point of the set came on a kill from Urquhart, set up by Ammeraal’s 2,000th career assist. Providence sprinted out to an early 4-1 lead before the two teams traded the next seven points. Trailing 10-7, Iowa would win six of the next eight points to take a 13-12 lead on freshman Malu Garcia’s serve. With the teams toggling back and forth briefly, Urquhart helped Iowa rattle off four points in a row to take a 17-14 lead. The Friars responded with a mini-run and regained the lead at 22-21, before redshirt freshman Olivia Lombardi entered and served the Hawkeyes in front. Ammeraal finished the set with a kill.
SET TWO (IOWA 25-19)
The Hawkeyes controlled the set from start to finish, never trailing. Redshirt freshman Alyssa Worden and sophomore Hannah Whittingstall served the Hawkeyes to an early 5-1 advantage. Providence was forced to call a timeout after Garcia’s serving run gave Iowa a 9-3 lead. The Hawkeyes used a flurry of kills to build their lead to 10 at 19-9. Despite a flourish of points by the Friars that pulled them within four, Iowa secured the set with a pair of kills from Ammeraal and two errors from Providence.
SET THREE (PROVIDENCE 25-21)
After Providence earned the first point of the set, the Hawkeyes responded with three in a row. Iowa led 5-3 before the Friars went on a 4-0 run. Trailing 11-10, the Hawkeyes fell out of rhythm as Providence extended its lead to 18-10. It was time for Iowa’s run which came late in the set, drawing within two at 21-19. Three kills from the Friars earned them set point opportunities. Iowa fended off two set points before Providence grabbed the set on a termination.
SET FOUR (IOWA 25-19)
Iowa bounced back in the fourth, taking an early lead and never giving it up. The teams traded the first five points and then toggled back-and-forth before the set was tied at 11. Davis took matters into her own hands for the Hawkeyes, recording four consecutive kills and pushing Iowa’s lead to 15-11. Iowa ballooned that separation on kills from Ammeraal and freshman Dominique Phills. The Friars attempted a comeback, but service errors did them in at crucial moments. The Hawkeyes finished on a 4-0 run courtesy of two errors and kills from Garcia and Davis to win the match.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JIM BARNES
“We played several players that earned valuable experience. Claire (Ammeraal) had another impactful match, filling up the stat sheet. She is one of the most offensive setters in the country. We learned a great deal this weekend and look forward to going home and playing in front of our great fans next weekend.”
NOTABLES
- Claire Ammeraal earned her 2,000th career assist in the first set against Providence.
- Ammeraal also recorded a triple-double, her first as a Hawkeye.
- Michelle Urquhart recorded double-digit kills with 10.
- Iowa tallied 12 service aces in the match.
- Joy Galles led the Hawkeyes with 22 digs.
UP NEXT: Iowa hosts the Hawkeye Invitational Sept. 6-8 at Xtream Arena in Coralville. The Hawkeyes play two matches on Friday, taking on San Jose State at noon (CT) and Delaware at 6:30 p.m., before battling Cal Baptist at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday.