CORALVILLE, Iowa – University of Iowa volleyball dropped a hard-fought match to No. 25 Washington, 3-0, on Friday night at Xtream Arena. The Hawkeyes fall to 8-7 and 2-1 in conference play.
Senior Michelle Urquhart closed in on a double-double with 10 kills and nine digs. Urquhart was efficient converting on 10-of-17 swings with only two errors (.471). Freshman Malu Garcia also recorded 10 kills to lead Iowa offensively. Freshman Jenna Meitzler assisted on 28 of Iowa’s 36 terminations. Senior Joy Galles led Iowa defensively with 14 digs.
HEAR FROM COACH BARNES
“We didn’t execute quite like we did on the road in the 20’s. To hit .375 in the third and not get it done because of our passing really hurt. They made a few runs each set, and we battled so well each time. We were right there in the second and third. At times, we won the serve and pass war, but didn’t quite execute at the end of the sets.”
MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (WASH, 25-20)
Iowa and Washington traded points early in the match on a combination of kills and errors. Trailing 5-4, the Hawkeyes allowed a 5-0 run that would prove to be the difference in the set. Iowa battled back during the middle of the set, capitalizing on several Husky errors to draw within three at 15-12. Kills from sophomore Gabby Deery and Garcia helped the Hawkeyes hang around, but ultimately Washington claimed the opening set.
SET TWO (WASH, 25-23)
The Hawkeyes won the race to 10, highlighted by kills from Garcia and seniors Anna Davis and Gracie Gibson. The Huskies responded, taking advantage of Iowa attacking miscues, and took an 11-10 lead. Much like the first set, Iowa recovered with kills from Gibson and Urquhart. Neither team led by more than three for the remainder of the set. With Iowa trailing 17-14, the Hawkeyes got a side out and tied the set on back-to-back aces from Urquhart. Iowa and Washington toggled points back and forth, with the Hawkeyes leaning on production from Garcia and Gibson. Deadlocked at 23, Washington took set two on consecutive Hawkeye attacking errors.
SET THREE (WASH, 25-23)
Iowa bounced back and was the first to 10 once again. Garcia, Gibson and Urquhart continued to terminate for the Hawkeyes. Iowa’s lead ballooned to 12-8 on a Washington service miscue, but the Huskies responded on a kill, ace and Hawkeye error. Similar to set two, once tied again, the teams never gained much separation. Iowa forced a Washington timeout after inducing a service error and an Urquhart ace swung momentum the Hawkeyes’ way. But out of the timeout, Washington secured two kills to force a timeout from the Iowa side. The Huskies capitalized on a kill and ace to win the match.
UP NEXT: The Hawkeyes (8-7, 2-1 B1G) travel to Nebraska (13-1, 3-0 B1G) to take on the second-ranked Huskers on Sunday at 2 p.m. (CT) from the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The match will be streamed on B1G+ and broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.