Hawkeyes Downed by No. 7 Wisconsin

CORALVILLE, Iowa – University of Iowa volleyball fell in straight sets to seventh-ranked Wisconsin on Sunday afternoon at Xtream Arena. Iowa dropped to 10-4 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten.

Graduate Chard’e Vanzandt led the Hawkeyes with eight kills and recorded the lone service ace. Freshman Carmel Vares was strong from the right side, terminating seven kills on 17 swings and hitting .235. Senior Claire Ammeraal totalled 19 assists with six kills and four digs.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JIM BARNES
“Wisconsin played very well. We hit too many balls out today and that was uncharacteristic of us. I wish we would have challenged their block a little better today. Against the top teams, we are going to have to serve tougher and get them out of system more. Carmel (Vares) came back and had some good swings and showed a lot of toughness. Claire was ferocious and aggressive the whole game. I wish we could have played a better game for our great fans to see.”

MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (WISCONSIN 25-16)
Vanzandt picked up where she left off from Thursday, terminating the first point of the match for Iowa. Wisconsin went on a 6-0 run with three kills and three Iowa errors. Vanzandt recorded back-to-back kills to cut the deficit in half at 6-3. Iowa used its first timeout to slow Wisconsin’s momentum, trailing 9-3. The Badgers used an 8-0 run to take a 14-3 lead over the Hawkeyes. Two Wisconsin errors and a kill from freshman Gia McGrew stopped the run. Iowa’s freshmen tandem of Vares and McGrew struck for the offense to cut into Wisconsin’s lead. A great dig from senior Milana Moisio set up Ammeraal, who hammered a kill, but Iowa still trailed 18-11. Vares delivered on a cross-court swing from the right side late in the set. A Wisconsin ace gave the Badgers the set. The Hawkeyes could not overcome their slow start in the opening set.

SET TWO (WISCONSIN 25-14)
After Wisconsin snagged the first two points, a long rally was won by Iowa on a block from Vanzandt and junior Hannah Whittingstall. Ammeraal’s third kill of the match stopped a small Badger run at 5-2. Freshman Aleksandra Stojanovic, Vanzandt and Vares stopped a Wisconsin attack, cutting into Wisconsin’s lead at 6-4. Vares tied the set at 6-6 with a kill from the right side. Iowa grabbed its first lead of the afternoon on the next point, which was an ace from Vanzandt. Wisconsin rallied with its own 4-0 run to take the lead back, 11-8. A successful Iowa challenge, Badger error and Vares kill tied the set at 11-11. The Badgers took control with a 9-0 run, as Iowa was unable to halt their momentum despite two timeouts. McGrew stopped the run with a kill from the left side at 20-12. Wisconsin ended the set on a 4-0 run with two kills and two Iowa errors.

SET THREE (WISCONSIN 25-16)
Wisconsin started the third set with a 7-1 run. Whittingstall and Ammeraal terminated back-to-back kills to cut the Badger lead to 7-3. The Badgers took advantage of four Iowa errors early in the set to go up 12-3 and Iowa regrouped with its first timeout. A kill from Ammeraal and two errors from Wisconsin kept Iowa within striking distance at 14-8. The Hawkeyes pulled within five at 18-13 on two kills from Vares and one from Ammeraal. A Wisconsin error forced the Badgers to call a timeout. Kills from Hallie Steponaitis and Vanzandt kept the Hawkeyes alive, with Wisconsin leading 20-15. The Badgers finished on a 5-1 run to take the match.

Up Next: Iowa begins a four-match road swing, traveling to Oregon on Oct. 3. First serve is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. (CT) against the Ducks.