MADISON, Wis. – The University of Iowa volleyball team dropped a match in straight sets to No. 7 Wisconsin on Friday night at the UW Field House. The Hawkeyes fall to 9–16 and 3–10 in conference.
Freshman Malu Garcia recorded a double-double with 12 kills and career-high 11 digs. Sophomore Hannah Whittingstall recorded seven kills, five blocks, three digs and hit at a team-high .412 clip, with no attacking errors. Redshirt freshman Alyssa Worden tallied six kills, with five coming in the third set.
MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (WISCONSIN 25-15)
Wisconsin got out to an early 2-0 lead before a kill from senior Gracie Gibson got the Hawkeyes on the board. Wisconsin would go on a 4-0 run to lead 6-2, and Iowa responded with its own 3-0 run to get within two at 7-5. Wisconsin won the race to 10 and pushed to 13-6 before Iowa called its first timeout. The Badgers would continue to find small runs to push ahead. A kill from Garcia and service ace from senior Joy Galles got the Hawkeyes to double digits before Wisconsin pulled away at 21-11, forcing Iowa’s second timeout. Back-to-back kills from Whittingstall and freshman Dominique Phills was the last push before Wisconsin closed out the set.
SET TWO (WISCONSIN 25-17)
A kill from Gibson got the Hawkeyes on the board to tie the set at 1-1. Both teams traded points, with neither finding separation. Wisconsin found two small runs to push ahead 10-6. The Hawkeyes battled point-for-point with the Badgers, finding ways to score off smart plays and capitalized on a 3-0 run to tie the set at 14-14. Wisconsin responded with a 6-0 run to push ahead to 20-14, forcing an Iowa timeout. Kills from Worden and Garcia gave Iowa some momentum before the Badgers finished on a 5-3 run to take a two set lead.
SET THREE (WISCONSIN 25-13)
The Hawkeyes got on top first with a kill from Garcia to lead 1-0. Both teams traded runs with Iowa finding a 5-4 lead off kills from Garcia and Whittingstall and a block from Whittingstall and Worden. Both teams continued to trade swings and points, tying at 8-8 early in set three. Wisconsin used a 5-0 run to push in front, 13-8. A kill from Gibson would halt the run, but the Hawkeyes would be unable to shift the momentum. The Badgers would finish the set on a 12-5 run to take the match.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes travel home to Xtream Arena on Sunday to face Northwestern at 2:00 p.m. (CT). This is the second meeting between the teams in 2024. It is Iowa’s Military Appreciation game. The match will be streamed on B1G+ and the Hawkeye Radio Network.