Hawkeyes Push Past Texas Tech

CORALVILLE, Iowa – University of Iowa volleyball pushed past Texas Tech, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon inside Xtream Arena. The Hawkeyes moved to 9-3 with the 25-22, 22-25, 25-20, 25-19 victory.

Iowa’s attack was led by Hallie Steponaitis, who racked up 15 kills. Ksenija Tomic continued her strong weekend with 14 kills against the Red Raiders. Liv Mogridge turned in a solid performance with 11 from the middle. Jenna Meitzler tallied 47 assists and helped Iowa hit .324. She also added seven kills on 10 attempts.

Defensively, libero Henlee Moszkowicz led the back row with 16 digs. Meitzler and Hannah Whittingstall were forces at the net, each picking up six blocks. Iowa's block was impactful with an 11.5-6.0 advantage. Texas Tech hit .254.

MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (IOWA 25-22)
Texas Tech sprinted out to a 3-0 lead. A surprise kill from Jenna Meitzer got Iowa’s scoring started. Both teams sought their rhythms through the first 20 points. The Hawkeyes built separation with an 11-8 lead off the arm of Hallie Steponaitis. Texas Tech tied the set at 14-14 before Rosa Vesty drilled a kill and sent the opening frame to the media timeout. A couple of errors from Iowa put the Red Raiders briefly in the lead at 18-16. Momentum swung to Iowa on a Steponaitis kill, Texas Tech error and Meitzler ace. The set would go back and forth before Iowa won the final two points on a Mogridge kill that found the back line and Red Raider error.

SET TWO (TEXAS TECH 25-22)
Iowa fell behind 6-2 as Texas Tech’s offense livened up and paired with some miscues from the Hawkeye offense. Meitzler used her attack again and caught Texas Tech napping to bring Iowa within four at 11-7. The Red Raiders kept their distance with a five-point lead at the media break. Iowa trailed by a handful most of the set, but pulled within three late on a kill from Carmel Vares. After a Texas Tech timeout with the visitors up 21-18, the Hawkeyes surrendered three of the next four points. A nice serving run from Jaimie Marquardt, highlighted by two aces, kept the set going before a Red Raider kill ultimately won the frame for Texas Tech.

SET THREE (IOWA 25-20)
The Hawkeyes rallied from an early 6-1 deficit as Steponaitis and Ksenija Tomic carried the offense. Prior to reaching the technical timeout, Iowa had tied the score at 13-13 on a swing from Steponaitis. The set was tight through the middle of the frame before the Red Raiders committed three consecutive errors while Marquardt served for Iowa. Two kills by Tomic made it 20-17. A trio of kills – one each from Mogridge, Steponaitis and Tomic – pushed Iowa across the line as the Hawkeyes completed the come-from-behind set win.

SET FOUR (IOWA 25-19)
Momentum finally stuck with Iowa as the Hawkeyes ran out to big leads early in the fourth. Steponaitis served Iowa to a 6-1 advantage as Mogridge and Tomic continued to punish Texas Tech. Iowa got a quick side out and went on another run with Henlee Moszkowicz serving. The Hawkeyes led by as many as 11 after a Hannah Whittingstall kill. Iowa remained in front by about that much until the final moments of the match, when Texas Tech made a last-ditch effort to mount a comeback. Kills from the Red Raiders pulled them to within five at 21-16. Meitzler tallied another kill to stop the run. After a kill from Texas Tech brought the set to 23-19, Iowa sealed the win with kills from Mogridge and Vares.

Up Next: Iowa takes on Central Arkansas on Sunday at 1 p.m. inside Xtream Arena.

KWIK STAR KLASSIC RESULTS
Friday, Sept. 18
Iowa def. West Florida, 3-2
Texas Tech def. Central Arkansas, 3-1
West Florida def. Texas Tech, 3-1

Saturday, Sept. 19
Iowa def. Texas Tech, 3-1
West Florida def. Central Arkansas, 3-1

Sunday, Sept. 20
Iowa vs. Central Arkansas (1 p.m.)

Records Iowa's Match on Day 2
Iowa 2-0
West Florida 1-1
Texas Tech 1-2
Central Arkansas 0-1