CORALVILLE, Iowa – The University of Iowa volleyball team was defeated, 3-0, by second-ranked Nebraska on Wednesday evening inside a sold-out Xtream Arena.
Sophomore Hannah Whittingstall and senior Michelle Urquhart each recorded five kills. Senior Anna Davis had four kills and hit a team-high .364. Senior Joy Galles and redshirt freshman Olivia Lombardi both had seven digs.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JIM BARNES
“It wasn’t the result we wanted, but we kept getting better every set. I was proud of our seniors. We beat them in the serve and pass game, which they are number one in the country in, so there are some things to grow from with that experience. With three matches left in the season, we will fight to the end.”
MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (NEBRASKA 25-9)
The Huskers got out to a 2-0 lead before the Hawkeyes tied the set off a Nebraska error and kill from junior Claire Ammeraal. Small runs throughout the set lengthened Nebraska’s lead before Iowa called its first timeout at 12-5. Coming out of the timeout, Iowa found two kills from Whittingstall and Ammeraal. Nebraska found another small run, before the Hawkeyes pushed across two more points with a Whittingstall kill and Urquhart ace. The Huskers ended the first set on a 9-0 run.
SET TWO (NEBRASKA 25-16)
Iowa got out to an early 2-0 on a kill from Urquhart and Nebraska error. The Hawkeyes pushed their lead to 5-2 after a kill from freshman Dominique Phills and service ace from Davis. After a Nebraska timeout, Iowa kept the pressure on, forcing a pair of Husker errors. Nebraska took its first lead of the set at 9-8, followed by a 5-1 run. Kills from Phills and Davis kept the Hawkeyes within striking distance at 18-13, before the Huskers closed out the set.
SET THREE (NEBRASKA 25-17)
Nebraska kept its momentum, starting with a 4-0 run. The Hawkeyes responded with a 4-1 run of their own, led by kills from Urquhart and a service ace from freshman Jaimie Marquardt. The Huskers used a 5-0 run to break away, 13-6. Iowa would string together three consecutive points to cut the deficit to 15-10. Nebraska won the race to 20 on a 5-1 run and led 20-11. The teams traded points in the final stretch of the set. A kill from Whittingstall staved off a match point before Nebraska finished the set and won the match.
UP NEXT – Iowa travels to Minneapolis on Saturday evening to battle No. 16 Minnesota. First serve is set for 7:30 p.m. inside the Maturi Pavilion.