Iowa Upended by No. 19 Minnesota

CORALVILLE, Iowa – University of Iowa volleyball was swept by No. 19 Minnesota, 25-19, 25-16, 25-16 on Sunday afternoon at Xtream Arena. The Hawkeyes fell to 13-15 overall and 2-12 in conference play.

Middle hitter Liv Mogridge led the Iowa offense for the first time since Sept. 22, picking up eight kills. She hit .316. A trio of Hawkeyes, Marichka Hoshylyk, Hallie Steponaitis and Hannah Whittingstall, recorded six kills each. 

Setter Jenna Meitzler paced Iowa with 27 assists and added one kill to her stat line.

For the third-straight match, libero Allison Berent anchored the Iowa back row with 15 digs. Steponaitis led at the net with three blocks. 

MATCH SUMMARY
SET ONE (MINNESOTA 25-19)
The Hawkeyes struck first on a Hallie Steponaitis kill. Iowa built an early 8-6 advantage after back and forth play. Minnesota used a 7-1 run to take control of the set. Following an Iowa timeout, the Hawkeyes rallied and used a block and a tip kill from Liv Mogridge to pull within 15-13 at the media break. However, a deciding 4-0 Gopher run extended Minnesota's lead to 19-13. Steponaitis’ fourth kill of the set ignited an Iowa run, trimming the deficit to three and forcing a Gophers timeout. Minnesota regrouped out of the break and scored the final three points to seal the set.

SET TWO (MINNESOTA 25-16)
Minnesota built an early 6-2 cushion. In response, Steponaitis and Marichka Hoshylyk delivered key kills to slow down the Gophers. Henlee Moszkowicz picked up Iowa’s first service ace of the match to bring the Hawkeyes within four at 10-6. Iowa mounted a comeback late, as Carmel Vares sparked a 4-0 run with a tip kill ending a long rally. A Hoshylyk kill then forced a Gopher timeout and a post-timeout strike from Vares pulled Iowa within six at 21-15. Minnesota regrouped and scored three straight points to close out the set. 

SET THREE (MINNESOTA 25-16)
The Hawkeyes took an early 3-1 lead following a Rosa Vesty kill and a Jaimie Marquardt ace. The Gophers responded with a 6-0 surge to go up 11-5. A Mogridge kill, combined with a block from Steponaitis and Whittingstall, trimmed the deficit to 12-9 before Minnesota took control with a 7-0 run. Facing match point at 24-13, Iowa put together a late 3-0 stand before the Gophers closed out the win.

Up Next: Iowa heads into its final road trip of the season with visits to Northwestern on Nov. 12 and No. 1 Nebraska on Nov. 14.