Iowa City Today

The University of Iowa women's volleyball team secured a five-set win over Northwestern at Xtream Arena on Thursday night. The Hawkeyes improved their season record to 14-13 overall and 5-10 in the Big Ten Conference.

Iowa took the first set 25-20 but dropped the next two sets, 25-17 and 27-25. The team rallied to win the fourth set, 29-27, and clinched the match with a 15-9 victory in the fifth set. This marks Iowa's first win against Northwestern since spring 2021 and their first home victory over the Wildcats since 2019.

Senior setter Claire Ammeraal recorded her second triple-double of the season, finishing with 55 assists, 17 digs, and 10 kills. She also contributed six blocks and led the team with a .400 hitting percentage. Her previous triple-double was achieved earlier this season against Utah Tech.

“It’s super exciting to get a triple-double,” Ammeraal said. “It feels really good and the cool thing is that a lot of the stats that I get in triple-doubles, I cannot get without my teammates. I’m glad I have my teammates there to set me up and then in return I get to set them up.”

The Hawkeyes posted a season-high 77 kills during the match. Four other players joined Ammeraal in double-digit kills: Carmel Vares and Alyssa Worden each had 16, Hannah Whittingstall had 15, and Chard’e Vanzandt added 14. Seven additional players registered assists as Iowa compiled a season-best total of 71 assists.

On defense, Iowa dug out a season-high 76 attacks. Senior libero Milana Moisio led with 19 digs, followed by Ammeraal with 17 and Jaimie Marquardt with 12. Greta Schlichter added seven digs off the bench.

Statistically, Iowa outhit Northwestern .261 to .253 and finished with more kills (77 to Northwestern’s 68). Both teams were consistent from the service line; Northwestern had seven aces and six errors while Iowa had five aces against five errors. The closely contested match included 30 ties and changed leads on 20 occasions.

Head coach Jim Barnes commented on his team's effort: “I’m proud that we dug in and found a way. We had different players rise up to the occasion and help us at different times, especially Claire. She really controlled the match for us. We passed the ball well in the fifth set. Our libero (Moisio) stabilized the pass and we found ways to get kills. Our defensive effort was all out. Tonight was about who was going to give up first. We were not going to give up.”

Iowa will next face No. 20 Minnesota at Xtream Arena on Sunday at 2 p.m., with coverage available on B1G+ and Hawkeye Radio Network.