Iowa took on two Big Ten opponents over the weekend in matches that demonstrated intensity and how the team is shaping up.
By Anna Kayser
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The Iowa volleyball team split the weekend in Carver-Hawkeye, first sweeping Indiana on Nov. 3, then dropping a five-set match to No. 22 Purdue.
The Sunday afternoon match against Purdue was the biggest of the weekend for Iowa, with its eyes still set on an NCAA Tournament bid.
In the first set, Purdue jumped out to an early lead and only trailed once on its way to a 1-0 match lead.
Iowa was held to a .140 attack percentage in the match, accumulating only 10 kills, with freshman setter Brie Orr recording 8 assists.
The Hawkeyes also dropped the second set. After falling behind 16-11, following the set’s sixth tie, a time-out sparked 10-straight points for Iowa. Purdue never regained the lead, and Iowa went on to win, 25-19, to tie the match going into intermission.
The third set was closer, featuring nine ties and four lead changes. Purdue took the lead early, but a block by freshman outside hitter Claire Sheehan and senior middle blocker Kelsey O’Neill knotted the set at 10. With the score tied again at 12-12, the Hawkeyes took 3-straight points and the lead. Both teams traded points until Purdue tied it again at 20-20. A ball over the net by senior libero Annika Olsen was misplayed on the Purdue side, giving Olsen a kill on the stat sheet and Iowa a set point. The Hawkeyes went on to win, 25-23.
Both teams went head-to-head in the fourth set, with 13 ties and eight lead changes. Iowa was down, 24-22, when an O’Neill kill and a long tip to the corner by Orr tied up the set at 24. Purdue battled and took the set, 26-24, tying the match.
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The Boilermakers took an early lead in the fifth set and ran away, 15-9, taking the match victory.
“I think coming out set two with that intensity is what really helped us win that next game,” junior right side hitter Reghan Coyle said. “We kind of changed our mindset after the first set, and we knew that intensity was going to beat Purdue, and we just didn’t bring it that fifth set.”
On Nov. 3, Iowa started off the weekend facing Indiana. Long runs of points were key for the Hawkeyes in extending the score.
The Hawkeyes won the three sets, 25-13, 25-14, and 25-16, to make quick work of the Hoosiers.
“We didn’t let up the whole match, and we just kind of showed them what Iowa volleyball was,” Orr said.
Senior middle blocker Jess Janota led the Iowa offense with 10 kills and a career-best .833 attack percentage.
The Iowa defense had 11 blocks and 38 digs to hold Indiana’s offense to a -.010 attack percentage in the match.
Blocking has become a big part of the game for the Hawkeyes, who put up 23 on the weekend.
“Our blocking continues to come on for us,” head coach Bond Shymansky said. “Blocking is a thing that I think is going to help us as we get deeper into the season here. Tons of volleyball left here for us, six matches to go, a couple more big ones here at home, and we need to come up with some Ws to keep our dream alive.”