Jim Barnes Head Coach | University of Iowa Athletics
Jim Barnes Head Coach | University of Iowa Athletics
The University of Iowa women's volleyball team lost a close five-set match to Michigan on Saturday night at Cliff Keen Arena in Ann Arbor. Despite mounting a comeback and seeking a reverse sweep for the second consecutive night, the Hawkeyes were unable to secure the win, falling to 10-8 overall and 1-5 in Big Ten play.
Several players achieved personal milestones during the match. Freshman Carmel Vares recorded a career-high 24 kills, while senior Claire Ammeraal set a new personal best with 58 assists and notched her fifth double-double of the season by adding 13 digs. Senior Milana Moisio also posted a career-high with 26 digs.
Four Iowa players finished with double-digit kills: graduate Chard’e Vanzandt had 14, junior Hannah Whittingstall contributed 12 with a .480 hitting percentage, and redshirt freshman Hallie Steponaitis added 11. Whittingstall and Ammeraal led Iowa's blocking efforts with six and five blocks respectively, helping the team tally nine total blocks.
Defensively, Moisio was supported in the back row by Allison Berent, Jaimie Marquardt, and Greta Schlichter. The Hawkeyes outperformed Michigan in kills (74-73) and hitting percentage (.314 to .294), but Michigan held an advantage in service aces (nine to three) and committed fewer service errors (five compared to Iowa's eleven). Both teams finished with 69 digs each, while Michigan edged Iowa in blocks (10-9).
Head coach Jim Barnes commented on his team's performance: "Our team never gives up. We talked about coming out and having that aggressive mentality. As soon as we do that more consistently, we will win Big Ten matches. We showed incredible toughness. We would make it easier on ourselves if we could execute at the start of the match. Claire (Ammeraal), Mo (Moisio) and Carmel (Vares) all had special nights. I told Mo earlier in the week that she would have a shot to hit her career high sometime this weekend. Claire did a great job setting to her pins and then backsetting to Hannah (Whittingstall)."
The match summary details how both teams traded runs throughout each set. Michigan took the first two sets before Iowa responded by winning sets three and four, forcing a decisive fifth set where Michigan ultimately prevailed.
Iowa will return home for its next match against USC at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on October 17 at 6:00 p.m.
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