CORALVILLE, Iowa – University of Iowa volleyball dropped the finale of the Kwik Star Klassic, 3-1, to Drake on Saturday afternoon.
The Hawkeyes finish non-conference play with a 6-6 mark. Senior Gracie Gibson was named to the all-tournament team, compiling 29 kills, 9 blocks and a .509 hitting percentage through three matches. Sophomore Hannah Whittingstall tallied a career high in kills (14) and blocks (10).
MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (DRAKE 25-20)
Drake started fast and led at 5-2 and 9-3 on efficient attacking. Iowa called a timeout to slow the momentum, but the Bulldogs extended their lead to 12-3. The Hawkeyes fought to get back in the set, but Drake controlled the opening frame. Iowa picked up some kills from sophomore Gabby Deery, Gibson and freshman Dominique Phills. The Hawkeyes pulled within four late, but Drake won the opening set on a kill.
SET TWO (DRAKE 25-20)
Drake carried the momentum into the second, getting out to a 6-3 lead. Iowa cleaned up attacking errors to take its first lead of the match at 7-6 on a block from Whittingstall and Garcia and a kill from Deery. Tied at nine, Drake went on a 5-1 run to go in front 14-10. The Bulldogs stayed in front by that margin, before Iowa climbed back in the set on kills from Phills, Whittingstall and senior Michelle Urquhart. Trailing 21-18, the Hawkeyes surrendered a kill and committed an error. A kill from Gibson fought off a set point, but the Bulldogs would take a 2-0 advantage on a kill.
SET THREE (IOWA 25-22)
The third set was tight from start to finish. Neither team gained separation until the Hawkeyes broke a nine-all tie on kills from Urquhart and Deery. The lead expanded to four at 14-10 on another pair of kills, this time from Urquhart and Whittingstall. A raucous crowd rallied behind the Hawkeyes after consecutive Whittingstall terminations and a massive block from Meitzler and Whittingstall. The Bulldogs pushed back and pulled within one at 20-19. Deery took over with two kills and would later finish off the set to keep Iowa in the match.
SET FOUR (DRAKE 25-20)
Similar to set three, Iowa and Drake were competitive and tied throughout the first 16 points. A couple of Hawkeye blocks stopped a Drake run and re-tied the set at 10-all. The Bulldogs pulled in front of a few Iowa miscues, leading 16-12. As Iowa responded with kills from Phills and Urquhart, Drake seemingly had an answer on its attack. The Hawkeyes used both of their timeouts late in the set, but could not swing momentum back in their favor. Iowa saved two match points before the Bulldogs ultimately won the set and match.
UP NEXT: Iowa opens Big Ten play at Rutgers on Thursday, Sept. 16 in Piscataway. First serve is slated for 5 p.m. (CT). The match will air on the Big Ten Network and be broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.