Hawkeyes Fall to Michigan

IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa volleyball dropped straight sets to Michigan Friday night at Xtream Arena. The Hawkeyes ­­­­fall to 9-12 on the season and 3-6 in Big Ten play.

Sophomore Hannah Whittingstall led the Hawkeyes with seven kills, three blocks and hit .500. Junior Claire Ammeraal recorded 17 assists and four kills, while hitting at a .300 clip. Senior Joy Galles held down the defense with 12 digs.

MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (MICHIGAN 25-16)
Michigan got out to an early 2-0 lead, before a Wolverine service error gave the Hawkeyes their first point. Kills from sophomore Rosa Vesty and senior Michelle Urquhart tied the set at 3-3. The Hawkeyes would push ahead with back-to-back blocks from Whittingstall and Urquhart, to give Iowa a 5-3 lead. Both teams continued to trade kills on the race to 10. A kill from Ammeraal tied the set at 9-9, before Michigan went on an 11-2 run, to lead 20-11. A kill from Ammeraal saved a set point before the Wolverines took the first set.

SET TWO (MICHIGAN 25-20)
The Hawkeyes won the first point before the Wolverines went on a 7-1 run. Iowa would make a run of its own, winning four of five points to get within two at 8-6 on kills from senior Gracie Gibson and Whittingstall. Trailing 16-11, Iowa surged forward on Wolverine miscues to cut the deficit to two at 16-14. Michigan won the race to 20 but a kill from Ammeraal got Iowa within four at 20-16. Both teams traded points for the remainder of the set before Michigan won the set on a kill.

SET THREE (MICHIGAN 25-18)
The Wolverines continued to carry their momentum from the first two sets, getting out to an early 6-1 lead. Both teams continued to trade points until a block from Whittingstall got the Hawkeyes within two at 8-6. Michigan won the race to 10 and both teams continued to trade points. A kill from Whittingstall pulled Iowa within three at 18-15. The Wolverines closed out the set on a 3-0 run to take the match.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes host Illinois on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. (CT) for their Spike-or-Treat themed match at Xtream Arena.