Iowa volleyball downed by Wolverines

Iowa volleyball’s trip to Ann Arbor proved to be quite unsuccessful. The Hawkeyes fell in three sets, despite the return of team captain Brie Orr.

Nichole Harris

Middle blocker Grace Tubbs follows the ball during the Iowa and Nebraska volleyball game. The Huskers defeated the Hawkeyes in three sets on November 9, 2019, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Austin Hanson, Sports Reporter

A trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan, ended poorly for the Hawkeyes on Wednesday. Iowa volleyball was swept in three sets by the Wolverines.

The Hawkeyes could not contend with the might of Michigan, losing 16-25, 20-25 and 18-25 in the first, second and third sets, respectively.

The rematch with the Wolverines may not have gone the way Iowa would’ve liked. However, the evening was not all bad for the Hawkeyes.

Team captain Brie Orr made a prominent return to the court. Orr competed in her first game action since sustaining a concussion on Oct. 25. The junior did not disappoint yesterday evening, posting 16 assists on the night.

Courtney Buzzerio also chipped in at setter, putting up 12 assists. The sophomore continued to show her versatility, adding seven kills to her stat line as well.

Juniors Griere Hughes and Halle Johnston also played a large role for Iowa. Hughes lead the team with eight kills. Johnston recorded a team-high 18 digs.

Freshman Grace Tubbs and Kyndra Hansen also had career nights. Tubbs accrued three kills and two blocks. Hansen put down seven kills and blocked two shots.

Impressive individual showings from multiple Hawkeyes were not enough to slow Michigan’s vaunted attack. Sophomore Paige Jones and freshman May Pertofsky collected a combined 23 kills.

The road does not get any easier for the Hawkeyes going forward. On Saturday, they will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, for a rematch with the Cornhuskers at the Devaney Center. Iowa is 0-31 all-time in matches against Nebraska.