Hawkeyes’ Win Streak Snapped by Buckeyes

CORALVILLE, Iowa – University of Iowa volleyball dropped its Big Ten opener to Ohio State, 3-1, on Friday night in front of 1,068 fans at Xtream Arena. The Hawkeyes (11-4, 0-1 B1G) fell, 25-22, 22-25, 22-25, 23-25 and had their win streak halted at five.

Rosa Vesty led the Hawkeye offense, tallying 15 kills on 24 swings. Hannah Whittingstall recorded 13 kills, while Hallie Steponaitis finished in double-digits with 10. Jenna Meitzler picked up her fifth double-double of the season with 47 assists and 12 digs. Iowa hit .252 on the night, with a total of 58 kills and 10 unforced errors. 

Libero Henlee Moszkowicz anchored the Hawkeye back row with 18 digs. Jaimie Marquardt finished with 12 digs to join Meitzler in double figures. Iowa finished with nine blocks to Ohio State’s seven and was led by Liv Mogridge’s six blocks.

The match was tight from start to finish with 42 ties and 14 lead changes. 

HEAR FROM COACH BARNES
“They played so well in the first set. We were right there with them. I thought that was about as well as they could play and we beat them. It felt like we had that leverage. But in the second set, they did the reverse to us. We had the lead and they flipped it on us. That happened in the next two sets. We had a couple of breakdowns late in each because we were not on the same page down the stretch. We will learn from tonight’s match.”

MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (IOWA 25-22)
Iowa opened the match with momentum, building an early 4-1 lead behind a kill from Rosa Vesty and a service ace by Jaimie Marquardt. Ohio State responded with a 6-0 run to take a 7-4 advantage, prompting an Iowa timeout. The Hawkeyes adjusted as Liv Mogridge and Vesty provided key kills to keep Iowa within striking distance. Jenna Meitzler got involved with a kill and block with Hannah Whittingstall to pull Iowa within two near the technical timeout. The set was neck and neck until Ksenija Tomic and Whittingstall hammered back-to-back kills to put Iowa in front 23-21. Tomic then delivered a service ace to bring up set point at 24-21, and Meitzler tapped the ball over to secure the set 25-22. Iowa's edge at the service line proved to be the deciding factor in an otherwise evenly played set, with the Hawkeyes holding a 3-0 advantage in aces.

SET TWO (OHIO STATE 25-22)
Iowa jumped out to an early lead again behind kills from Steponaitis, Tomic and Whittingstall. Back-to-back Ohio State errors followed by a kill from Meitzler capped a 4-0 Hawkeye run to make it 9-7. The Buckeyes responded with a 4-0 run of their own to take the lead and force an Iowa timeout. Iowa pulled back even at 18-18 following a block by Meitzler and Steponaitis. Ohio State answered late, inching ahead 23-22 to prompt Iowa's final timeout. The Buckeyes then sealed the 25-22 set victory in a set that featured 11 ties. 

SET THREE (OHIO STATE 25-22)
After the Buckeyes opened the set’s scoring, Iowa stayed within striking distance through steady work at the net. Steponaitis delivered a pair of early kills to keep the Hawkeyes in front, and Mogridge was terminal from the middle to push Iowa's lead to 6-4. Iowa went on a 5-0 run, fueled by targeted short serves from Hoshylyk, and led 16-13. But Ohio State battled back to tie the set at 19-19 – one of 13 ties throughout the set. The Buckeyes closed out the set on a 5-1 surge to claim the 25-22 win.

SET FOUR (OHIO STATE 25-23)
Iowa built an early advantage yet again behind kills from Steponaitis, Vesty and Tomic. Meitzler extended the margin, and a Whittingstall kill capped a 3-0 surge to make it 7-4. Ohio State tied the set at 11-11. Iowa answered with a Mogridge kill that sparked a 3-0 response to go back up 14-11. But again, Ohio State leveled the score at 20-20 before Steponaitis halted the run with a sharp kill to tie it at 21-21. Ohio State held firm in the final moments, closing out the set and the match with a kill at 25-23.

NOTABLES

• Rosa Vesty led the team in kills for the second time this season.
• Jenna Meitzler recorded her fifth double-double of the season.
• Three Hawkeyes finished with double-digit digs.
• The Hawkeyes played in front of 1,068 fans – the most in a home match this season.

Up Next: Iowa welcomes Rutgers on Saturday night at 6 p.m. inside Xtream Arena.