LOS ANGELES – University of Iowa volleyball fell in three sets to the No. 20 USC Trojans at the Galen Center on Friday night. It was the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Iowa finishes the 2024 season 10-22 overall and 4-16 in the Big Ten.
Freshman Malu Garcia lead the Hawkeyes with 11 kills and two aces, while hitting at a .400 clip. Freshman Jenna Meitzler recorded 20 assists. Senior Joy Galles held down the defense with 13 digs. The Hawkeyes recorded more aces than USC, winning the service battle, 5-4.
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JIM BARNES
“We are so grateful for our four seniors. Their hard work helping us start this building process makes me so proud. We had the work ethic and teamwork but didn’t always get the results we wanted. The building has begun.”
MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (USC 25-16)
The Hawkeyes found their first point of the match off a kill from senior Gracie Gibson, to tie the set at 1-1. USC used a 5-0 run to break away from the Hawkeyes and lead into an Iowa timeout, at 7-2. Coming out of the timeout, kills from senior Michelle Urquhart and sophomore Gabby Deery, along with a service ace from sophomore Hannah Whittingstall brought the Hawkeyes within three, at 8-5. The Trojans continued to push ahead, finding a 15-9 lead over the Hawkeyes. A 4-0 Iowa run, led by kills from Garcia and Whittingstall, brought the Hawkeyes within two, at 15-13. The Trojans finished the set on multiple small runs to take the first set.
SET TWO (USC 25-23)
Both teams traded runs, not finding separation in the early going of the set. The Trojans got out to a 4-1 lead when a kill from Whittingstall and service ace from Garcia tied the set at 4-4. USC won the race to 10, pushing ahead to 15-8 on a 5-0 run. The Hawkeyes responded, with three consecutive kills from Garcia, to come within three at 15-12. Garcia continued to stay hot for the Hawkeyes, rattling off a kill and an ace to get Iowa within one at 18-17. The end of the set remained tight, with Iowa finding its first lead of the match at 21-20. A Garcia kill fought off a set point before a Trojan kill earned USC the set.
SET THREE (USC 25-16)
The Hawkeyes got an early 5-1 lead on kills from Urquhart and Garcia and a Whittingstall and Meitzler block. USC responded back with an 8-1 run to lead 9-6 and force an Iowa timeout. The Trojans built their lead to seven at 16-9. Iowa strung together three points off kills from freshman Dominique Phills and Garcia, along with an Urquhart ace to get within four at 18-14. The Hawkeyes would not be able to close the gap and the Trojans finished the match on a 7-3 run to close out the season finale.