MILWAUKEE, Wis. – University of Iowa volleyball (5-4) fell to UW-Milwaukee, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon at J. Martin Klotsche Center.
Sophomore Gabby Deery lead the Hawkeyes’ offensive efforts recording a career-best 16 kills. Freshman Malu Garcia and sophomore Hannah Whittingstall also set new career bests of 15 and 13 kills, respectively. Senior Michelle Urquhart recorded a double-double with 10 kills and 14 digs. Freshman Jenna Meitzler recorded her first double-double with 52 assists and 14 digs. Defensively, senior Joy Galles led the Hawkeyes with 22 digs and eight assists, tying her career best in both categories.
HEAR FROM COACH BARNES
“We lost today’s match with the two sets we had leads in. We needed to finish those sets off. They made significant comebacks in both of them. It’s tough to give up sets like that, especially when we worked so hard to get those leads. We have to execute better. I am proud of the players for stepping up, but we need to finish off matches. We are continuing to learn that with quite a few new players on the floor.”
MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (UW-MILWAUKEE 25-21)
The Hawkeyes were able to start the match strong with kills from Gibson and Whittingstall, to take an early 2-1 lead. The Panthers responded with a 6-1 run to go in front, 7-3. Kills from freshman Dominique Phills and redshirt freshman Alyssa Worden would bring Iowa within two before the Panthers pulled away again at 11-6. Coming out of a timeout, Garcia would convert on an attack to give the Hawkeyes the ball back. Both teams would go back and forth, trading kills without long rallies or runs. Trailing 20-15, Iowa climbed back in the set with a 3-0 run on kills from Gibson and Deery. The Hawkeyes would put down a couple more kills and remain within striking distance, but could not overtake Milwaukee in the opening set.
SET TWO (UW-MILWAUKEE 26-24)
Iowa ran out to a 9-5 lead, highlighted by three kills from Urquhart. The Hawkeyes continued to push away from the Panthers and after two blocks, Milwaukee would take its second timeout at 14-9. Iowa’s offense pressured Milwaukee with kills across all positions. Milwaukee responded with a 3-0 run, and Iowa would call a timeout to regroup at 20-17. Whittingstall terminated this run after the timeout, but the Panthers rallied with a 7-0 run to earn set point at 24-22. Iowa fought off two set points with kills from Urquhart and Phills to tie the set at 24-24. Milwaukee closed out the set with two more points to go up two sets against the Hawkeyes.
SET THREE (IOWA 25-23)
The Hawkeyes got off to a hot start in the third going up 7-1, with five kills from Garcia. The Panthers made a run of their own but would be stopped by Whittingstall at 8-5 before they could catch Iowa. The remainder of the set would see both teams countering the other with runs. Milwaukee would go on an 8-1 run in the middle, leading the Hawkeyes 16-12. Two kills from Deery and a strong swing from Garcia would tie the game at 16-16. Both teams traded kills before Whittingstall and Urquhart pushed the Hawkeyes ahead, 23-21. A Hawkeye block gave Iowa set point and with an error from Milwaukee, the Hawkeyes won set three to force a fourth set.
SET FOUR (UW-MILWAUKEE 26-24)
The Hawkeyes would start off the fourth set hot again going on a 6-2 run, before the Panthers would take their first timeout. Iowa extended its lead with four kills from Deery to go up 11-5. This time the Panthers would respond, going on an 8-1 run before kills from Gibson and Urquhart would put the Hawkeyes up 14-13. The Panthers tied the game, and each team would continue to trade kills. After two Panther errors and a kill from Deery, Iowa led 22-19. Milwaukee pushed back and tied it at 23-23. A kill from Deery gave the Hawkeyes set point, but the Panthers would rattle off three straight to close the set and the match.
UP NEXT: The Hawkeyes return home to host the Kwik Star Klassic next weekend, Sept 19-21. Iowa will open the tournament against South Dakota on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. (CT), will face off against Saint Louis on Friday at 6:00 p.m. and finish the weekend against Drake on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.