IOWA CITY, IOWA – The University of Iowa volleyball team fell in four sets against Oregon on Sunday afternoon at Xtream Arena.
Freshman Malu Garcia recorded a double-double with 12 kills and a career-high 10 digs. Senior Michelle Urquhart recorded ten kills and nine digs, while hitting at a .444 clip. Sophomore Gabby Deery tied her career high with three blocks tonight.
The setter duo of freshman Jenna Meitzler and junior Claire Ammeraal recorded double-digit assists with 20 and 14, respectively. The Hawkeye defense was solid, holding the advantage in digs, 46-39.
The match only saw one tie and one lead change, both coming in the final set.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JIM BARNES
“We had one set where we served and passed well and we won it, but we weren’t able to continue that. That is the whole deal. We have to win that part of the game to beat any good team. We need to get tougher in that part of the game. We’ve been relatively consistent, but the last two matches, we’ve lost because of our passing.”
MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (OREGON, 25-17)
Oregon recorded the first two points, before a kill from senior Gracie Gibson got the Hawkeyes on the board. Kills from Ammeraal and Garcia sparked the Iowa offense early, but the Ducks won the race to ten, 10-7. Oregon went on several small runs to maintain its lead, while Iowa tried to stop the Ducks’ momentum. Oregon took the first set holding Iowa to a .029 hitting percentage.
SET TWO (IOWA, 25-18)
Iowa got out to a hot start, winning the first three points to get its first lead of the match. The Hawkeyes would continue to increase their lead with three kills from Garcia to lead 8-2 before Oregon called its first timeout. The Ducks rebounded after the timeout to pull within one at 8-7. Iowa went on an 8-4 run to force another Oregon timeout at 16-11. The Hawkeyes would lead for the rest of the set, finishing on a 4-0 run. The Hawkeyes hit .259 with three service aces and a sideout percentage of .550.
SET THREE (OREGON, 25-14)
Oregon responded by jumping out to an early 7-2 lead over Iowa and forced the Hawkeyes’ first timeout. The Ducks continued to build their lead, with Iowa unable to catch them as they won the race to 10 and 20. Oregon controlled the set, after Iowa was unable to overcome five service errors.
SET FOUR (OREGON, 25-15)
The Ducks carried momentum from set three to begin the final frame, sprinting out to an 8-1 lead over the Hawkeyes. Iowa rattled off three points in a row on kills from Garcia, Gibson and Urquhart. Oregon built its lead to six on an ace and a kill and led the rest of the set at that margin. Middle hitters Gibson and sophomore Hannah Whittingstall tallied a pair of kills to mount an Iowa comeback, but the Ducks held off the Hawkeyes to win in four.
UP NEXT: The Hawkeyes continue their homestand, hosting Michigan on Friday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. inside Xtream Arena.