Iowa City Today

The University of Iowa women's volleyball team faced a tough challenge against 18th-ranked Indiana, ultimately falling in a five-set match at Wilkinson Hall on Friday night. The loss brings the Hawkeyes' season record to 13-12 overall and 4-9 in Big Ten Conference play.

The match was closely contested, with both teams alternating set victories. Indiana took the first (25-18) and third sets (25-23), while Iowa responded by winning the second (25-18) and fourth sets (25-21). In the decisive fifth set, Indiana secured the win with a 15-10 score.

Four Iowa players recorded double-digit kills during the match. Graduate student Chard’e Vanzandt led with 21 kills, marking her third game this season with over 20 kills. She also contributed six digs and one block. Junior Hannah Whittingstall added 11 kills and achieved a team-high .429 hitting percentage along with six total blocks. Freshman Carmel Vares and redshirt sophomore Alyssa Worden each tallied 10 kills; Vares also had three blocks while Worden collected seven digs.

Defensively, Iowa outperformed Indiana in digs, finishing with 71 compared to Indiana's 65. Senior Milana Moisio led all players with 20 digs and added two assists. Sophomore Jaimie Marquardt reached double digits as well, posting 11 digs alongside two service aces.

Senior Claire Ammeraal registered her eighth double-double of the season by recording 48 assists and collecting 13 digs. She also contributed two kills for Iowa.

Reflecting on his team's performance, head coach Jim Barnes said: “Their best hitter got really hot in the fifth set. We didn’t do enough to slow her down. For us, if we continue to pass and have Claire run the offense well, we can compete with anybody. I am really proud of the effort. I thought that we had such a determined mindset and that gave us a shot. We’re driven and I felt that we could pull it off tonight with the way we were so focused and playing so tough. Indiana found a way to break us, but I am proud of our team.”

This contest marked Iowa’s eleventh five-set match of their current campaign.

Next up for Iowa is an away match against No. 9 Purdue on Saturday evening at Holloway Gymnasium in West Lafayette, scheduled for a 6 p.m. Central Time start.