Hawkeyes' Comeback Halted by Wolverines

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – University of Iowa volleyball’s comeback effort fell short in a five-set match against Michigan on Saturday night inside Cliff Keen Arena. For the second-straight night, the Hawkeyes sought a reverse sweep, but ultimately lost the fifth set. Iowa fell to 10-8 overall and 1-5 in the Big Ten.

Three Hawkeyes set career highs on Saturday. Freshman Carmel Vares crushed 24 kills. Senior Claire Ammeraal dished 58 assists. Ammeraal also picked up her fifth double-double of the season, adding 13 digs. Senior Milana Moisio tallied 26 digs.

Four Hawkeyes had double-figure kills. Graduate Chard’e Vanzandt had the second-most kills with 14. Junior Hannah Whittingstall joined the group with 12 kills, while redshirt freshman Hallie Steponaitis had 11. Whittingstall hit a team-high .480 converting on 12-of-25 swings.

Whittingstall and Ammeraal led the blocking efforts for Iowa, recording six and five, respectively. As a team, Iowa had nine blocks. Joining Moisio with solid efforts in the back row were Allison Berent, Jaimie Marquardt and Greta Schlichter.

The Hawkeyes outhit Michigan with more kills, 74-73, and a higher hitting percentage .314 to .294. The Wolverines won the service game, tallying nine aces to Iowa’s three. Michigan committed only five service errors to the Hawkeyes’ 11. The Wolverines picked up more blocks, 10-9. Each team had 69 digs.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JIM BARNES
“Our team never gives up. We talked about coming out and having that aggressive mentality. As soon as we do that more consistently, we will win Big Ten matches. We showed incredible toughness. We would make it easier on ourselves if we could execute at the start of the match. Claire (Ammeraal), Mo (Moisio) and Carmel (Vares) all had special nights. I told Mo earlier in the week that she would have a shot to hit her career high sometime this weekend. Claire did a great job setting to her pins and then backsetting to Hannah (Whittingstall).”

MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (MICHIGAN 25-17)
Michigan got out to an early 3-0 lead off an Iowa service error and a kill. The first point of the match for the Hawkeyes came off a swing from Vares. Whittinstall scored from the middle to cut Michigan’s lead in half at 4-2. Michigan struck with another 3-0 run to go up five points on the Hawkeyes at 7-2. A kill from Steponaitis and Michigan error kept the Hawkeyes within striking distance at 7-4. A 3-0 run from Iowa off the arms of Stojanovic, Vanzandt and Vares got the Hawkeyes within one at 9-8. A few back-and-forth kills kept the Hawkeyes within reach before the Wolverines used a 4-0 run to lead 16-10. The Hawkeyes called a timeout down 18-12 to halt Michigan’s momentum. A Michigan service error and Ammeraal kill following the timeout, brought the Hawkeyes within four at 18-14. Michigan remained consistent, siding out quickly and putting pressure on the Hawkeyes. Vanzandt saved one set point before the Wolverines put a ball away to take the first set.

SET TWO (MICHIGAN 25-22)
Vanzandt struck first for the Hawkeyes in the second, terminating from the left side. With Michigan leading 3-2, Stojanovic nailed a kill on the slide for her fourth of the night. Vares tied the set at three after a great dig from Ammeraal and an assist from Moisio. A Vanzandt ace gave Iowa its first lead of the night, 5-4. Iowa’s defense was crucial in the set as Moisio kept two balls up on a long rally that was finished by Steponaitis. A Michigan error gave Iowa its largest lead of the night at 10-7. The Wolverines were quick to respond with a 3-0 run. The teams went back-and-forth during the middle points of the set, with Michigan leading at the media timeout 15-14. The Hawkeyes fought back with two key kills from Vares to take the lead at 16-15. Michigan responded with a 4-0 run to get separation at 19-16. Iowa’s first block of the match came from Ammeraal and Whittingstall to bring Iowa within one at 20-19. Ammeraal forced a Michigan timeout with a termination, tying the set at 21-21. Knotted up at 22, Michigan went on to take the next three points to seal the set.

SET THREE (IOWA 25-21)
The set was tight and full of sideouts through the first 12 points. Iowa used a 4-0 run to gain separation at 10-7. An ace from Marquardt pushed Iowa in front 12-8 and forced a Michigan timeout. Iowa’s largest lead of the set was 14-9. Michigan mounted a comeback with a 4-1 run and Iowa burned a timeout while leading 15-13. A Vares kill and Michigan error out of the timeout gave Iowa a 17-13 cushion. A successful Hawkeye challenge gave Iowa a five-point advantage at 18-13. Next, Steponaitis pounded a kill off the block down the left sideline. A 6-2 run helped to put the set on lock and Michigan called a timeout at 21-15. The Wolverines stayed alive off a 3-0 run and Iowa called a timeout leading 21-18. Whittingstall converted on a slide to stop the Michigan comeback at 22-19. Iowa led 24-19 when Michigan saved two set points before committing an error to give the Hawkeyes the set.

SET FOUR (IOWA 29-27)
Whittingstall opened the fourth set with a kill, which was the first time Iowa won the first point of a set. Vares continued her dominance with a pair of kills to put Iowa up 4-2. Iowa built its lead to 10-5 with the Hawkeye pins finding holes and being creative with their shots. Ammeraal and Whittingstall got up for a major block to grow Iowa’s lead to 12-5. Vanzandt terminated another Ammeraal assist to give Iowa its largest lead of the night at 14-6. Iowa called a timeout at 16-13 after Michigan began to mount a comeback. The Wolverines came all the way back to tie the set at 17. Ammeraal terminated on two to tie the set at 19-19. Whittingstall had a solo block of a Michigan backrow attack to give Iowa the 20-19 lead. Through the final stretch, both teams went back-and-forth. Michigan called a timeout when an Iowa block gave the Hawkeyes match point at 24-23. A service error from Iowa tied the set again at 24-24. Vares had a hitting error that gave Michigan match point at 25-24. Ammeraal went back to Vares to save the match point. Iowa got to set point after a kill from Steponaitis. Iowa closed the set on a block to force a fifth set.

SET FIVE (MICHIGAN 15-11)
Whittingstall was dominant on the slide to give Iowa the first point of the final set. Michigan took control on a 3-0 run. The Hawkeyes responded right away with their own 5-0 run to take a 6-3 lead. Michigan called a timeout to regroup and used a 4-0 run to retake the lead at 7-6. Iowa called its first timeout and Vares sided out to keep the set tied at 7-7. Michigan led at the midway point 8-7. Vares smoked her 23rd kill to bring Iowa within two at 10-8. Iowa trailed 11-8 before a kill from Vares and a block from Ammeraal and Whittingstall brought the Hawkeyes within one. Michigan sided out with a kill to lead 12-10. An ace from the Wolverines caused Iowa to call its second timeout while trailing 13-10. Out of the timeout, Steponaitis found the floor for a side out. Michigan won consecutive points to take the set and the match.

Up Next: Iowa returns home to host USC at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Oct. 17. The match begins at 6:00 p.m. (CT).