Hawkeyes Come Up Clutch in Fifth; #12 Penn State Sweeps Michigan

BIG TEN ROUNDUP

• September 30, 2018

 RESULTS

• #12 Penn State def. #16 Michigan 3-0
• #24 Iowa def.  Northwestern 3-2

Off to a slow 1-2 start in the Big Ten, #12 Penn State delivered a huge victory on the road in Ann Arbor, as the Nittany Lions knocked off #16 Michigan in three sets, handing the Wolverines their first home loss of the season. In Evanston, #24 Iowa survived a five-set test from Northwestern to pick up its second conference win.

*MATCH OF THE DAY*

 #24 IOWA DEF. NORTHWESTERN (22-25, 28-26, 25-11, 23-25, 15-12)

• Iowa moves to 10-5, 2-2; Northwestern falls to 10-6, 0-4 in the Big Ten.
• Evanston Township HS; Evanston, Illinois
• Attendance:659
• Box score
• Iowa Recap/Northwestern Recap
• Outside hitter Taylor Louis led the Hawkeyes offensively with 20 kills. Right side hitter Reghan Coyle was not far behind, tallying 18 and outside hitter Cali Hoye posted 12.
• Iowa defensive specialist Molly Kelly led the defensive effort with a match-high 24 digs.
• For Northwestern, it was outside hitter Nia Robinson that stole the show. Robinson finished with 25 kills for the Wildcats in 66 attacks. Fellow outside hitter Abryanna Cannon added 14 kills for the Wildcats.
• Both teams committed a plethora of attack errors. Iowa made 27 while hitting .224 and Northwestern made 33 and hit .146.
• Net play was key for both teams, but Iowa finished with the advantage, out-blocking Northwestern 23-15.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The #24 Hawkeyes used a late fifth set run to keep the Wildcats winless in Big Ten play.

In the opening set, it was the Wildcats who came out looking strong. Northwestern scored four of the first five points of the set and took control early. Iowa mounted a late rally and took the lead at 20-19. From there, it was a back and forth affair, until Northwestern scored the final three points to grab the first set, 25-22.

The second set belonged to the Hawkeyes as they built an early lead and extended it to as many as six at 19-13. Northwestern charged back, answering with a 6-1 run to tie the set at 20 apiece. The Wildcats managed three set point tries, but it was the Hawkeyes that delivered three straight to even the match at a set apiece with a 28-26 win.

In the third, Iowa used an 6-2 spurt to take control of the set and the Hawkeyes never looked back. Iowa outscored Northwestern 14-4 down the stretch to run away with the set, 25-11.

Down two sets to one, Northwestern did not quit, putting together a 7-2 run midway through the fourth to grab a 15-13 lead. The Wildcats kept the lead until Iowa knotted up the score at 23, forcing a Northwestern timeout. Two plays later, an Iowa error gave Northwestern the set, 25-23, to force a decisive fifth set.

The fifth set was wild and full of runs. Iowa opened the set with a 5-1 run to take control early. Northwestern chipped away and then used a 5-0 surge to turn a 9-5 deficit into a 10-9 lead. But the Hawkeyes had one final rally in them, using a 6-2 spurt to finish the Wildcats, 15-12 in the fifth.

#12 PENN STATE DEF. #16 MICHIGAN 3-0 (25-17, 25-21, 25-23)

• Penn State moves to 11-3, 2-2; Michigan falls to 13-2, 2-2 in the Big Ten.
• Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, Michigan
• Attendance:5,433
• TV: ESPNU
• Box score
• Penn State Recap/Michigan Recap/Full VolleyMob Recap
• Middle blocker Katilyn Hord let a balanced Nittany Lions offensive attack, finishing with 10 kills. Right side hitter Jonni Parker and middle blocker Serena Gray each chipped in with nine kills.
• Outside hitter Carly Skjodt led the Wolverines with a match-high 15 kills. Her teammate, outside hitter Paige Jones tallied 11 kills.
• Libero Jenna Lerg led Michigan on the defensive end, with 19 digs.
• Penn State finished at a .248 clip while holding Michigan to .150.
• The loss is Michigan’s first in Ann Arbor this season as the Wolverines are now 9-1 at Crisler Arena.

UP NEXT

• #12 Penn State hosts Maryland at 7:30 p.m. ET Friday.
• #16 Michigan welcomes #20 Purdue to Ann Arbor at 9:00 p.m. ET Friday.
• #24 Iowa stays on the road to take on #5 Nebraska at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday.
• Northwestern hosts #7 Minnesota at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday.
• Keep up to date on when your program is on TV by checking out VolleyMob’s TV Schedule.

STANDINGS