The Iowa volleyball team traveled to Ohio State on Wednesday night for a date with the Buckeyes. After being swept in the first matchup, the Hawkeyes made a match of it but were ultimately unable to alter the result, falling in straight sets.

Iowa began the match strong, as it often does, and after a 4-point run captured a 5-3 advantage. The set was closely contested, however, and was tied at 8.

Iowa took the lead, 9-8, just before surrendering a 5-point run by the Buckeyes that proved to be lethal. Going up 13-9, Ohio State established a cushion and cruised to a 25-20 victory.

The second set saw Bond Shymansky’s squad start slowly, going down, 6-3, early in the set. To their credit, after the Hawkeyes fell behind, they responded and didn’t let Ohio State run away with it.

A 5-1 stretch by Ohio State gave it a 23-22 lead and stalled the momentum gained by Shymansky’s team.

The set went on to be tied at 24, 25, and 26, but Ohio State finished the set and delivered a deflating 28-26 loss to the Hawkeyes to take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Iowa lost the last set, 25-19.

Freshman Taylin Alm led the Hawkeyes with 10 kills on a .571 hitting percentage, and Alyssa Klostermann led with 16 assists. Michelle Fugarino had 9 digs.

The loss drops Iowa to 13-15 on the season, 5-12 in the Big Ten, and also makes three losses in a row. The Hawkeyes will play again on Saturday, visiting Northwestern.

— by Kyle Mann