Iowa City Today

The University of Iowa women's volleyball team secured a five-set victory over Utah Tech on Saturday night at Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas. The win brings the Hawkeyes to a 2-0 record for the season.

Senior setter Claire Ammeraal achieved her second career triple-double with 41 assists, 18 digs, and 11 kills. She previously recorded a triple-double against Providence last season. Sophomore Aleksandra Stojanovic and freshman Carmel Vares led the team with 13 kills each. Stojanovic also posted a .524 hitting percentage and added two blocks in her second collegiate match.

Senior libero Milana Moisio set a personal best with 16 digs during the match. Junior Hannah Whittingstall matched her career high by recording 10 blocks.

Four Hawkeyes finished with double-digit kills, including Ammeraal, who was one kill away from matching her career high, and redshirt sophomore Alyssa Worden, who tallied 10 kills. As a team, Iowa hit .178 while limiting Utah Tech to .162. The Hawkeyes registered 68 digs and totaled 13 blocks in the contest.

The victory marks the second consecutive season that Iowa has started with a 2-0 record. It is also their fifth straight win in matches that have gone to five sets.

Head coach Jim Barnes commented on the team's performance: “In the first weekend of competition, we expected the unexpected. Utah Tech, especially with that many returners, played us really well, and we had to step it up. We found a way tonight. My favorite part of the match was seeing our response in the third set. I took a couple of our starters out and then started them in the third. Claire (Ammeraal) was on fire in that third set. That changed the momentum back to us. But we need to learn to not put ourselves in that position. Early in the season, sometimes we have to find a way to gut it out. Sashka (Stojanovic) really came alive in the fifth set. I am really proud of her.”

The match summary highlighted competitive play throughout all five sets:

- In set one, Iowa overcame an early deficit before pulling ahead for a 25-18 win.

- Utah Tech controlled set two from start to finish for a 25-14 result.

- Iowa rebounded strongly in set three behind key contributions from Ammeraal and Vares for a 25-15 victory.

- Set four featured numerous ties and lead changes before Utah Tech forced a deciding fifth set by winning 25-22.

- In set five, both teams traded leads until Iowa closed out the match at 15-11 behind crucial plays from several players.

Iowa will complete its participation at the Rebel Challenge against CSU Bakersfield at 4:00 p.m (CT). The game will be available via stream on UNLV Athletics’ YouTube channel and broadcast on Hawkeye Radio Network.