MILWAUKEE, Wis. – University of Iowa volleyball downed Illinois State, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center in Milwaukee. The Hawkeyes have improved to 5-3 in 2024.
The freshman duo of Malu Garcia and Dominique Phills led Iowa offensively, each tallying 12 kills. The 12 kills were a new career high for Phills. Freshman setter Jenna Meitzler recorded 33 assists, while digging eight attacks and terminating five attempts. Defensively, the Hawkeyes commanded the net with 17 blocks, led by senior Gracie Gibson (9), who matched her career high.
As a team, Iowa drilled 48 kills in the win. The Hawkeyes held Illinois State to a .058 hitting percentage, the best defensive effort of the season. Iowa improved from the service line, notching nine aces with only seven errors.
HEAR FROM COACH BARNES
“I am proud of how we executed today. Freshman setter Jenna Meitzler stepped in and played without fear. Gracie (Gibson) and Malu (Garcia) gave us a strong offensive punch. Joy (Galles) and Michelle (Urquhart) controlled our serve receive. Michelle also served a masterful match.”
MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (IOWA 25-19)
After alternating the first few points of the match, Meitzler blocked a Redbird attack to give Iowa the early momentum. A 4-0 run ensued, including a Michelle Urquhart ace to go up 7-4. The Redbirds responded with a 4-1 run to tie the set at 11. Senior Joy Galles went on a serving run, including back-to-back aces that forced an Illinois State timeout. With Meitzler on serve at 19-16, the Hawkeyes capitalized on three Redbird errors. Illinois State rallied with three consecutive points to whittle the Iowa lead down to four. Back-to-back kills from Gibson secured the set.
SET TWO (IOWA 25-8)
Sophomore Hannah Whittingstall carried the momentum into set two with a pair of blocks. Leading 4-3, Iowa went on an impressive 13-0 run on Urquhart’s serve. Several kills from Phills and Whittingstall ballooned Iowa’s lead to 17-3. Redshirt freshman Olivia Lombardi was precise with her serve, forcing three Illinois State errors and setting the Hawkeyes up with set point. A Gibson termination put Iowa up two sets to none. Iowa held Illinois State to a -.118 hitting percentage.
SET THREE (ILLINOIS STATE 25-22)
Illinois State responded by taking an 8-5 lead in set three. The Hawkeyes chipped away, although the Redbirds controlled most of the set. Illinois State’s lead grew to five at 18-13, before the Hawkeyes turned it on with kills from Phills and Meitzler. Blocks from Gibson and Whittingstall kept Iowa within striking distance to steal the set late, but service errors gave the Redbirds crucial points. Illinois State won consecutive points to win the set and stay in the match.
SET FOUR (IOWA 25-14)
The Hawkeyes led wire-to-wire in set four to clinch the match. Iowa took advantage of three service errors to begin the set. An ace from Alyssa Worden sparked the offense that would rattle of six of the next eight points. Leading 14-9, Meitzler and Whittingstall executed a slide to perfection, terminating a long rally to send the set to a media timeout. After winning the race to 10, Iowa did not look back and sprinted to a nine-point lead at 19-10. The match ended rapidly with Lombardi serving out the set and back-to-back blocks from Garcia and Gibson.
UP NEXT: Iowa wraps up the Panther Invitational on Sunday afternoon with a contest against Milwaukee. First serve is scheduled for 1 p.m. (CT) and will be broadcast on ESPN+ and the Hawkeye Radio Network.