Hawkeyes Swept at No. 21 Indiana

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – University of Iowa volleyball fell in straight sets to No. 21 Indiana 25-17, 25-19, 25-12 on Friday night at Wilkinson Hall. The Hawkeyes moved to 13-14 overall and 2-11 in Big Ten play. 

Nine Hawkeyes picked up a kill, as Carmel Vares led the Iowa offense for the fourth time this season with seven. First-year setter Nikolija Bulatovic saw her longest run of the season after entering towards the end of the first set and posted career highs with 13 assists, four kills and four digs. In the third set, outside hitter Ksenija Tomic recorded her 200th kill of the season. 

Allison Berent made her first start at libero this season, setting a new career high with 17 digs to lead the team. At the net, Jenna Meitzler, Liv Mogridge and Hannah Whittingstall each recorded two blocks.

MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (INDIANA 25-17)
Iowa jumped out to a quick start, capitalizing on early Indiana miscues and kills from Hannah Whittingstall and Liv Mogridge. A kill by Jenna Meitzler capped a 4-0 run to give the Hawkeyes a 10-8 lead, which forced an Indiana timeout. However, Indiana responded with a 7-0 run to take command at 15-10, a surge Iowa was ultimately unable to overcome. The Hawkeyes attempted to climb back late in the set, as Whittingstall ignited a 3-0 push with a kill. The Hoosiers would ultimately close out the set, 25-17. 

SET TWO (INDIANA 25-19)
Iowa led early behind a 3-0 run, highlighted by a Whittingstall ace and a setter dump from Nikolija Bulatovic. The first half of the set featured back-and-forth action. The Hawkeyes remained within a point at 15-14 before Indiana used a 5-0 run to break the set open at 20-14. Kills from Whittingstall, Bulatovic and Mogridge pulled Iowa within 23-19 and forced a Hoosier timeout, but Indiana answered with back-to-back points to close out the set.

SET THREE (INDIANA 25-12)
The Hoosiers surged out to a 9-1 lead, forcing Iowa to use both of its timeouts. The Hawkeyes chipped away behind a Ksenija Tomic kill and a Whittingstall block to cut it to 14-7, but Indiana answered with a 5-0 run to stretch the lead to 19-7. Iowa put together a late 3-0 push capped by a Meitzler and Whittingstall block, but Indiana closed on a 4-1 run to seal the match.

Up Next: Iowa returns home to host #19 Minnesota for a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. inside Xtream Arena.