EVANSTON, Ill. – The University of Iowa volleyball team dropped a four-set match to Northwestern Wednesday night at Welsh-Ryan Arena. The Hawkeyes fall to 3-4 in conference and 9-10 on the season.
Freshman Malu Garcia led the Hawkeyes with 13 kills and eight digs. Senior Gracie Gibson had a productive night at the net hitting at a .409 clip with 11 kills and four blocks. Senior Joy Galles led the team defensively with 14 digs. Northwestern had a season-high 13 aces. The Hawkeyes could not overcome 23 attacking errors and 16 service errors. Iowa out hit the Wildcats recording 44 kills to Northwestern’s 41.
MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (NORTHWESTERN 25-22)
Iowa started off the set with a kill and an ace from sophomore Gabby Deery to go up 2-0. Senior Michelle Urquhart and Garcia got involved with kills and an ace to give the Hawkeyes the lead, 5-2. Northwestern would go on its own run to tie the game at six all. The set remained tight with each team trading kills and errors. Northwestern pulled away from Iowa going on a, 9-2, run forcing an Iowa timeout at 20-13. The Hawkeyes fought at the end of the set recording five straight points to pull within two. Iowa would be able to save off one match point from a Garcia kill before falling in the opening set.
SET TWO (NORTHWESTERN 25-13)
The teams traded points at the beginning of the set, making it five all. The Wildcats would break things open after a 16-6 run, forcing an Iowa timeout at 21-11. Junior setter Claire Ammeraal returned to the floor for the first time in conference play in the second set and recorded two assists and a dig. The Hawkeyes had 21 combined errors in the first two sets, 12 attacking and nine from behind the service line.
SET THREE (IOWA 25-19)
With their backs against the wall, the Hawkeyes jumped out to an early 3-1 with a kill from Gibson and capitalizing on Wildcat errors. The Hawkeyes would continue to extend their lead going on a 7-3 run to push the lead to five, 10-5. Iowa played with a lead for the remainder of the set, quickly winning the race to 20. Northwestern would take a timeout with Iowa’s lead at 10, 20-10. Northwestern would push at the end but were unable to stop the Hawkeyes. Freshman Dominique Phills entered the match in the third set and was impactful with three kills and a block.
SET FOUR (NORTHWESTERN 25-22)
A couple of kills and an ace from freshman Jaimie Marquardt gave Iowa an early, 4-1, lead. The Wildcats would tie the set at four, with each team trading kills and neither finding much separation. After the media timeout, Northwestern went up by two and forced an Iowa timeout at 17-15. After a few Wildcat errors and a service ace from freshman Jenna Meitzler, the Hawkeyes tied the set at 19 and Northwestern called a timeout. Iowa won the race to 20 with a kill from Phills but was unable to close out the set, falling to the Wildcats.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return home to Xtream Arena as they host No. 11 Oregon on Sunday at noon for their annual pink out game.