IOWA CITY, Iowa– University of Iowa volleyball fell to Illinois, 3-1, on Sunday afternoon at Xtream Arena. The Hawkeyes drop to 9-13 on the season and 3-7 in the Big Ten.
Senior Michelle Urquhart set a career high with 20 kills, while adding 13 digs to secure a double-double. Freshman Dominique Phills set a new career high with five blocks. Sophomore Hannah Whittingstall had six blocks, seven kills, and a team-leading .261 hitting percentage. Senior Gracie Gibson registered six kills and four blocks. Junior Claire Ammeraal had 35 assists, eight digs and four kills.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JIM BARNES
“We were right in the first and second sets. The difference in us winning the third was that we served tougher. We changed a bit of what we were doing serving wise. It gave us enough to stay close and then flip it right at the end. I am proud of the team for not quitting or giving up. There are things we can grow from. We have perfect evidence to show the team that when we serve tough, we have a chance to win. I was extremely proud of Michelle (Urquhart) today, she executed every shot in the book.”
MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (ILLINOIS 25-21)
The Hawkeyes got out to an early 2-0 lead with kills from Gibson and sophomore Gabby Deery. Illinois responded with three kills of its own before a kill from Urquhart tied the set at 3-3. Both teams traded points, finding little separation from one another. After a service ace from Whittingstall tied the set at 7-7, Illinois went on a 5-0 run to lead 12-7. The Illini continued to push on the race to 25, with Iowa finding some momentum late to come back within four at 22-18. The Hawkeyes fought off two set points and held Illinois to a .179 hitting percentage before dropping the first set.
SET TWO (ILLINOIS 25-21)
Illinois took a 1-0 lead before the Hawkeyes were able to score three in a row to lead 3-1 off a kill from Urquhart and service ace from senior Joy Galles. Both teams went point-for-point before Iowa was able to string three plays together to go in front, 9-6. Illinois would close that gap, tying the set at 10-all. Iowa and Illinois continued to trade kills on the race to 25. Illinois found some separation late at 19-16, causing Iowa to call its first timeout. Despite saving two set points, the Hawkeyes could not mount a comeback in the set.
SET THREE (IOWA 27-25)
Both teams started the set going point-for-point, until Iowa was able to find some separation at 6-3 with kills from Ammeraal and Whittingstall. Iowa won the race to ten on a kill from Phills, 10-8. The set remained tight with neither team finding separation until Illinois got up three at 19-16. An Iowa timeout at 22-18 sparked a massive rally. The Hawkeyes would finish the set on a 7-1 run, saving four match points. A block from Gibson and Phills closed out the set for the Hawkeyes.
SET FOUR (ILLINOIS 25-13)
The Illini responded with a 5-0 run to start the fourth set. Iowa fought back to get within two at 6-4 with a kill from Urquhart and service ace from freshman Jaimie Marquardt. The Hawkeyes would not be able to come back as the Illini never lost their momentum, leading 15-7 at the media timeout. A kill from Whittingstall would save a match point before Iowa dropped the set and match to Illinois.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes travel to Ohio State on Thursday night, Oct. 31, and Penn State on Friday, Nov. 1. Fans can watch Thursday’s match against the Buckeyes on Big Ten Network, beginning at 6:30 p.m. (CT).