Big Ten Network : Iowa Top Stories

Northwestern sends Iowa to season's first loss

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:03:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- With Ricky Stanzi watching from the sideline on crutches, No. 8 Iowa ran out of magic. Dan Persa threw a touchdown pass and Marshall Thomas recovered a fumble for another score, and Northwestern dealt a crushing blow to Iowa's national championship hopes with a 17-10 victory Saturday. Stanzi was knocked out of the game with an ankle injury in the second quarter on the play in which Thomas scored the Wildcats' first touchdown. "Anytime you lose your quarterback, that's not good," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. The Hawkeyes (9-1, 5-1 Big Ten) have been living dangerously all season, making a habit of comebacks and close games. Still, they were good enough to be fourth in the latest BCS standings, hoping that with a slip or two by Florida, Alabama and Texas they could end up in the BCS national championship game in Pasadena, Calif., on Jan. 7. Now that their 13-game winning streak -- second longest in the nation -- has been snapped, the Hawkeyes' focus can shift to the other big game in Pasadena. Iowa can still win the Big Ten and land in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1 for the first time since the 1990 season. It was the first win over a top-10 opponent for the Wildcats (6-4, 3-3 Big Ten) since knocking off No. 6 Ohio State 33-27 in overtime in 2004. It also ended the nation's second-longest winning streak. Ferentz said Stanzi had a "severe" ankle injury. Freshman James Vandenberg was just 9 of 27 for 82 yards and couldn't lead the Hawkeyes to any points after Stanzi left the game. Ferentz said that while preliminary X-rays on Stanzi's ankle were negative, he'll likely be out the next couple of weeks. That's not a good sign for the Hawkeyes heading into next week's game against Ohio State in Columbus. Iowa finishes up at home against Minnesota. "Right now we just have to take the approach that he won't go, and if he does that's a bonus," Ferentz said. Northwestern scored twice off turnovers in the second quarter. Thomas' fumble recovery made it 10-7. Drake Dunsmore caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Persa after another Iowa miscue. Brandon Wegher had 63 yards rushing for Iowa. Stanzi was 4 of 9 for 134 yards with a touchdown, an interception and that costly fumble. Iowa committed four turnovers. "It's hard to win football games against good, competitive teams, and that's basically everybody in our conference, if you're going to turn the ball over," Ferentz said. "If you do that week in, week out, you're not going to win many football games. That's what has allowed us to be successful. We have to get back to that formula." Vandenberg, a native of Keokuk, Iowa, who holds the state high school record for career touchdown passes, had thrown three passes entering the game. His inexperience showed and after the Hawkeyes won four games by three points or fewer this season they finally had a hole too deep to climb out. Northwestern's Stefan Demos hit a 47-yard field goal with 13:29 left to give the Wildcats a 17-10 lead. The Hawkeyes had a chance to tie the game after taking over with 2:04 left on their own 17, but an incomplete pass on fourth down sent the Northwestern bench erupting in celebration. Stanzi watched from the sideline in a warmup suit with crutches. He was taken to the locker room after being drilled in the end zone by Corey Wootton with 11:46 to go in the second quarter. "Obviously it was a big momentum play. Not only get the sack to cause a fumble but you also get the touchdown," Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said of the hit that knocked out Stanzi. "It was greatly important from a momentum standpoint." Vandenberg's first pass was intercepted by Quentin Davie, and Northwestern took advantage. Persa's TD pass to Dunsmore gave the Wildcats their first lead, 14-10. This was a huge win for Northwestern, which just last week got drilled by Penn State 34-13. Starting quarterback Mike Kafka left that game with a hamstring injury, and he and Persa split the snaps before Persa left in the third quarter with an apparent hand injury. Before the injury to Stanzi, it looked like the Hawkeyes might finally have an easy game. They needed three plays for Stanzi to find Marvin McNutt for a 74-yard touchdown catch to make it 7-0, and Murray's 39-yard field goal pushed the lead to 10 midway through the first quarter. But a week after committing six turnovers in a win over Indiana, Iowa turned it over four times in the second quarter against the Wildcats. Northwestern took its 14-10 lead despite gaining just 109 yards of offense in the first half. The Hawkeyes honored former coach Forest Evashevski, who died last week at the age of 91, with a helmet decal and highlights on the scoreboard. Evashevski coached at Iowa from 1952-60, leading the Hawkeyes to three Big Ten titles and two wins in the Rose Bowl. These Hawkeyes still control their Rose Bowl hopes. "There's no time to hang our heads," Vandenberg said. "We're in a race with two other good teams and it's all going to be about getting back to work."

Top-ranked Penn State sweeps Iowa

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 21:54:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa - In front of a record volleyball crowd of 2,802 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, the No. 1 Penn State women's volleyball team defeated Iowa, 3-0 (25-17, 25-22, 25-13). The Nittany Lions are now in sole possession of third place in the NCAA record books for consecutive wins with 90. Senior Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) led the Nittany Lions with 12 kills and junior Blair Brown (Purcellville, Va.) was the only other Penn Stater with double-digit kils with 11. Junior Arielle Wilson (Broadview, Ill.) finished third on the team with nine kills, but had a team-best .533 attack percentage. She also led the squad with five total blocks. Junior Alyssa D'Errico (Byron, N.Y.) registered 15 digs in the match and senior setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) paced the Penn State offense with 35 assists. The Nittany Lions led the way in all statistical categories finishing the night with 42 kills, 40 assists, six aces, 48 digs and 10.0 total team blocks. Penn State posted a .319 hitting percentage against the Hawkeyes. Iowa totaled 35 kills, 29 assists, 32 digs and just 4.0 total team blocks. Hodge opened the match for Penn State with a kill and a PSU block gave the Nittany Lions an early 2-0 lead. The Hawkeyes answered back with two kills to tie the set, but Hodge tallied another to put the Nittany Lions back in the lead. After Iowa tied Penn State a second time at 3-3, Brown gave PSU the lead for good with a back row kill. The Hawkeyes remained close until a kill from junior Fatima Balza (Merida, Venezuela) and a PSU block followed by an ace put Penn State ahead, 8-4. Despite a Penn State error, a Dorton kill kept the Nittany Lions up by four, 9-5. By midpoint of the set Penn State led by seven, 15-8. The Hawkeyes came within five, 17-12, thanks to a kill by Mallory Husz. However, the Nittany Lions were soon within four points of a first set win after back-to-back kills from Wilson. A Hodge kill and an Iowa error put Penn State two points closer to a win, 23-13. Two kills by Iowa's Becky Walters and one each from Megan Schipper and Tiffany Nilges had the Hawkeyes within six, but Penn State closed out the set with a kill and a block for a 25-17 victory. The Hawkeyes took a 4-1 lead in the second set, but soon after Penn State was within one, 5-4, thanks to a Balza kill. The Nittany Lions did not take the lead until a D'Errico ace gave them a slim 7-6 edge. Penn State increased its lead to three, 11-8, after two Wilson kills and one from Brown. Iowa setter Mara Hilgenberg answered with a kill to bring the Hawkeyes within two, 11-9, but an Iowa error and a PSU ace put the Nittany Lions up by four, 13-9. The Hawkeyes soon found themselves within one, 13-12, courtesy of two PSU errors and another Walters kill. Brown kept Iowa at bay with a kill and Schipper registered an attack error to give the Nittany Lions some room to breathe. The breathing room was short-lived as Iowa tied the set, 16-16, after a Husz kill and a Penn State attack error. The score tied twice more, but Penn State was soon ahead by two, 20-18, with a Hodge kill straight down the line. After a Hawkeye timeout, a PSU kill and an error by Nilges gave Penn State a four-point lead, 23-19. Iowa came within two, 24-22, thanks to a kill by Aimee Huffman. Brown secured the set for Penn State with a kill, 25-22. Wilson opened the third set with a kill before an Iowa error had Penn State leading 2-0 early. A Penn State error put the Hawkeyes on the board, but the Nittany Lions notched two points on a kill and a block for a 4-1 advantage. Penn State increased its lead to five, 7-2, on a monster kill by Hodge, but two Schipper kills and a Nittany Lions error had the Hawkeyes within two, 8-6. A block by Husz and Hilgenberg brought the Hawkeyes within one, 8-7, but Brown put one away to put Penn State back ahead by two, 9-7. Penn State went on to tally seven straight points for a 16-7 advantage and Iowa took a timeout. After the timeout, Emma Kittle and Husz teamed up for a block to make it 16-8. Brown answered with a kill to keep Penn State ahead by nine, 17-8. Penn State's lead grew to double-digits, 18-8, on a triple block, but two PSU errors had Iowa within seven, 18-11. Errors began to plague the Hawkeyes as the set began to come to a close giving Penn State a 23-12 lead. One kill each by Wilson and Hodge gave Penn State a 25-13 third set triumph. The Nittany Lions are back in action Friday, Nov. 13 versus nationally-ranked Illinois. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. in Rec Hall. Penn State welcomes Northwestern to Rec Hall on Saturday, Nov. 14 for a 7 p.m. matchup. Live stats and live audio will be available for both matches via a link at GoPSUsports.com. For more information on the Penn State women's volleyball team, please visit www.GoPSUsports.com. The Penn State women's volleyball 2009 season is presented by Rockvale Outlets and The Outlets At Hershey.

No. 23 Purdue tops Iowa in double overtime, 3-2

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 16:37:00 +0000

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The 23rd-ranked Purdue women's soccer team earned its second overtime win in five days Saturday with a 3-2 victory over Iowa at the Varsity Soccer Complex. "We're very happy with the result," head coach Robert Klatte said. "I think it certainly was a learning-lesson game for us. I think we can grow and get better from it. To go up 2-0 and rest on our laurels a bit in the second half and have Iowa find their way back into the match and equalize at the death is not only gut-wrenching, but it's disappointing. However, we are happy with the way the team responded and came back. Once we were determined to go back forward again we had opportunities. Liz Secue is someone who has played forward plenty in her club days and made a nice play to turn the corner and get a deflection." Purdue (12-5-3, 5-3-2) jumped on the board first when freshman Jessica Warren found the back of the net in the 40th minute. The Avon, Ind., native intercepted the ball at the top of the penalty box and unleashed a shot across the box and into the left side of the net. The goal was her third this season and second this week after scoring the game-tying goal in Purdue's 2-1 win in double overtime at Indiana on Tuesday. The Boilermakers took their one-goal lead to the locker room at halftime and wasted little time adding to the advantage. Freshman Remi Gibba scored her first collegiate goal at 46:20 when she took a serve from the right side off the foot of senior Katie Seeger and popped it over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net. Freshman Vanessa Ibewuike earned her team-leading fifth assist of the season by playing the ball wide to Seeger. Iowa (9-11-0, 1-9-0) refused to give up and continued to push forward. Twelve minutes after Gibba's goal, the Boilermakers were called for a foul in the box to give the Hawkeyes a penalty kick. Alex Seydel stepped up and made the kick to cut the deficit to one. Iowa then tied the game at 87:56 when Nicole Selvin crossed a ball from deep on the right side to Morgan Showalter, who was able to head the ball into the open net and knot the score. Purdue went on the attack immediately in the extra frame. The Boilermakers took five shots and were awarded one corner kick in overtime. The game-winning goal came with less than four minutes to play in the first overtime. Defender Liz Secue secured the ball at midfield after Iowa cleared away Purdue's corner kick and ran all the way down the right side of the field. As the junior from Bath, Ohio, neared the end line, she turned the corner and played a ball into the front of the net that deflected off a Hawkeye defender and rolled across the goal line. Goalkeeper Jenny Bradfisch made four saves while earning her 42nd career win, which ties her with Lauren Mason for the Purdue record. In addition to Secue and Bradfisch, Sylvia Forbes, Lauren Montenegro and Brookley Rogers all played the entire 96 minutes. All five athletes also were on the field for all 110 minutes played at Indiana. "I think it's important that we had this win to make it to the NCAA Tournament," Bradfisch said. "Hopefully, we will be in next weekend and continue to do well. Tying the record is awesome. I didn't know, and it's pretty cool. Mason was a great goalie, and to be up there with her is definitely an honor." Saturday marked the final home game for Bradfisch, Forbes, Jessica Okoroafo, Loredana Riverso and Seeger. The seniors garnered the 58th win of their Purdue career, which makes them the winningest senior class in program history. The quintet's .711 winning percentage also is the highest of any class to ever come through the Purdue women's soccer program. "I'm very proud of the effort and intensity and consistency that the five young women have brought us," Klatte said. "To find them all out on the field today is fantastic. We're hoping that we can get Oak back and be able to contribute even more over this next weekend if we are so blessed to keep playing. I think the importance and competitiveness that the five young women have brought to the program in the past four to five seasons cannot be overstated." The Boilermakers wrapped up their home schedule with an 8-1-2 mark at the Varsity Soccer Complex, making them the fourth Purdue team to drop just one game at home. Purdue outscored its opponents 27-8 at home in 2009, and its plus-17 home goal differential is the second-highest mark in program history. The record of plus-34 home goal differential was set in 2007. The Boilermakers have played two consecutive overtime games for just the sixth time in program history and had both games in a seven-day span for the fourth time. Purdue improved to 9-8-24 all-time in overtime games with the victory. The NCAA Tournament bracket is set to be announced Monday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNews. The 64 teams selected begin competition at 16 campus sites Friday.

Iowa's Stanzi taken to locker room with injury

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:06:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa(AP) Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi was taken to the locker room after being hit in the end zone in the second quarter of the No. 8 Hawkeyes' game against Northwestern. Stanzi was drilled by Corey Wootton, and his fumble was recovered by Marshall Thomas for a touchdown that brought Northwestern within 10-7. Stanzi was limping as he was helped off the field. He was replaced by redshirt freshman James Vandenberg, whose first pass was intercepted. Stanzi was 4 of 9 for 134 yards with a touchdown and an interception before leaving the game. He came into the game 17-3 as the starter since taking over the middle of last season.

Buckeyes stop Iowa in four sets

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 22:23:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, IA – The University of Iowa volleyball team dropped a four-set match to the Ohio State Buckeyes tonight at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Junior Aimee Huffman led Iowa with a team-high 12 kills, junior Mara Hilgenberg dished a match-high 36 assists and senior Christina Meister picked up 14 digs. Sophomore Tiffany Nilges recorded a career-best seven kills in the effort. ""We started out tonight defending very well,"" said Head Coach Sharon Dingman, ""but we didn't have the effort we needed near the end. It comes down and to effort and execution and we have to sustain both throughout the entire match. We weren't able to do that tonight."" Iowa (3-10, 11-14) controlled the net in the opening set. Six different Hawkeyes picked up a block in the frame and Iowa attacked at a .310 clip to win the set, 25-20, and take a 1-0 match advantage. Leading 15-14, Iowa closed the set with a 10-6 run behind three team blocks and a pair of kills from Nilges. Junior Aimee Huffman and Nilges led the Hawkeyes with three kills apiece in the winning effort. Hilgenberg handed out 10 assists and Meister recorded a set-high four digs. Ohio State evened the match with a 25-19 win in set two. Nilges picked up another three kills to match junior Becky Walters offensive efforts. Hilgenberg led Iowa with eight assists and Huffman recorded four digs. Iowa took a 7-6 lead in the frame following a kill from sophomore Mallory Husz, but Ohio State rallied with a 5-1 run to take an 11-8 advantage. Later in the frame, senior Megan Schipper attacked with a kill to tie the set, 15-15, but the Buckeyes answered Iowa's rally with a 6-1 run to take a five-point edge, 21-16. Nilges and Walters followed the Buckeye run with a pair of kills, but OSU's Betsy Hone finished the set with a kill to tie the match, 1-1. Ohio State (7-6, 19-7) rode its second set momentum into the third frame, building a 15-10 lead before Iowa stormed back with a 7-3 run. Schipper picked up a service ace and a kill as Iowa battled back to within one point, 18-17. The Buckeyes then answered with the next two points before Schipper and Huffman recorded a kill apiece to pull Iowa within striking distance, 21-19. Iowa was able to force one more OSU attack error, but the Buckeyes scored four of the final five points to record the 25-20 set three victory. Ohio State finished the match with a 25-17 win in the fourth frame. Buckeye junior Katie Dull attacked with seven of her match-high 18 kills in the fourth and decisive set. Iowa freshman Emma Krieger Kittle came off the bench for Iowa and led the Hawkeyes with four kills in the final frame. Hilgenberg dished 13 assists and Meister picked up seven digs. Ohio State never trailed in the fourth set, jumping out to leads of 3-0 and 10-5 in the early going. Iowa battled back within four points, 14-10, behind two kills from Krieger Kittle before the Buckeyes pulled away with a 6-2 run to take command of the set and eventually capture the 3-1 match victory.

Gophers earn second-straight Big Ten win of the season

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 21:51:00 +0000

The University of Minnesota women's swimming and diving team won 10 events en route to a 176-118 win over the Iowa Hawkeyes, tonight in Iowa City, Iowa. With the win the Gophers improve to 2-0 on the dual season. Minnesota started the night with a win in the 200 medley relay. The foursome of Hannah Whitehead, Jillian Tyler, Kaylee Jamison and Alison Eggers combined for a time of 1:44.23 and 11 points. Minnesota's B relay of Castina Wabke, Paige Bradley, Kelsey Ridder and Marissa Davies added a third-place showing with a time of 1:46.57. Kristen Steenvoorden won the 1000 free in 9:54.62, while Loren Brandon finished second (9:57.02) and Lissa Tommerdahl was third (10:02.63). Like the 1000 free, Minnesota went 1,2,3 in the 200 free. Ashley Steenvoorden won event in 1:51.30, while Lauren Weis added a time of 1:52.68 for second, followed by Whitehead in third (1:53.00). After Iowa won the 100 back, the Gophers returned to a win in the 100 breaststroke as they took the top three spots. Emma Jackson won her first collegiate event of her short Gopher career when she touched the wall in 1:05.08. Bradley came in second with a time of 1:05.47, while Molly Belk added a time of 1:05.48. The Gophers added another top-three finish in the 200 fly. Annalise Colton won her first Gopher event in 2:04.87, followed by Megan Braun in second (2:06.78) and Elizabeth Weitz in third (2:07.06). Although Iowa's Christine Kuczek won the 50 free (24.09), Minnesota took the next three four spots and recorded scores for three. Jamison and Davies tied for second (24.14), while Eggers followed in fourth (24.34). Abigail Staats was fifth (24.39) but did not record points for the Gophers. Eggers led the Gophers led the Gophers in the 100 free when she clocked a time of 52.87. Staats added a time of 52.96, followed by Weis in 53.39. Jackson accomplished her second win of the evening when she also won the 200 breaststroke. Jackson chipped in a time of 2:20.67 for the win, while Belk placed third in 2:22.66. Davies won the 500 free in a time of 4:58.22. Jamison won the 100 fly in 56.47 and led the Gophers in the 200 IM with a second-place finish in 2:08.38. Minnesota closed the night with a second-place finish in the 400 free relay. Davies, Staats, Weis and Eggers added four points to the Gophers' total with a time of 3:28.29. In diving action, Kelci Bryant earned to wins in the 1- and 3-meter events. Bryant posted a score of 314.85 in the 1-meter, while adding a score of 366.60 in the 3-meter. Katie Grunawalt followed Bryant when she finished second. Grunawalt held scores of 278.17 in the 3-meter and 264.00 in the 1-meter. Minnesota hosts its only home meet of the first half of the season with the Grand Prix, Nov. 13-15 at the University Aquatic Center. Action begins every day at 9 a.m.

Spartans field hockey eliminates Iowa

Fri, 6 Nov 2009 15:14:00 +0000

EAST LANSING, MI - - The University of Iowa field hockey team lost at Michigan State Friday, 5-1, in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament. The loss ends Iowa's tournament record ten-match winning streak. "We had a good second half but it was not enough,"" said Head Coach Tracey Griesbaum. "We dug ourselves too big of a hole. Meg (Beamesderfer) had a good game and so did Tricia (Dean) and Sarah (Drake). I was proud of how we came out in the second half." The top-seeded and regular season league champions scored four first-half goals and led at the break, 4-0. In the second half, the Black and Gold came out firing and put the pressure on the Spartans. Senior Tricia Dean scored for Iowa off a corner in the 46th minute to make the score 4-1. Junior Sarah Pergine was credited with the assist. The Hawkeyes kept the pressure on and controlled much of the second half but were unable to push across another score. No. 8 Michigan State added a late goal to defeat Iowa, 5-1. Today's match ends Iowa's run of three-straight Big Ten Tournament titles.

No. 8 Iowa not looking past Northwestern

LUKE MEREDITH — Fri, 6 Nov 2009 02:01:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa(AP) Much of the buzz surrounding No. 8 Iowa has been about its resume, and whether the Hawkeyes can truly be considered national title contenders when they keep sneaking past everyone. Throw in a showdown with No. 15 Ohio State in Columbus next week that could determine the Big Ten title and Saturday's home date with Northwestern (5-4, 2-3 Big Ten) has all the makings of the classic trap game. Let's be honest, though. Every week's a trap game for Iowa. The Hawkeyes (9-0, 5-0) have survived them all so far, despite key injuries and fourth-quarter deficits in four of the nine games. ``I think we're getting great leadership,'' Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. ``I think the team overall gets it. I'm not taking anything for granted. But I think they understand we're going to be up against it week in and week out.'' This weekend should be no different, even if the Wildcats' hopes for an upset rest on the tender left hamstring of quarterback Mike Kafka. Kafka tweaked the hamstring last week against No. 11 Penn State with the Wildcats ahead 10-3. Sophomore backup Dan Persa led Northwestern to just a field goal after that as the Nittany Lions rolled to a 34-13 win. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald said he expects Kafka to play, though Persa was listed as the co-starter on a depth chart released this week. Few players in the Big Ten are as important to their team as Kafka is to Northwestern. He leads all Big Ten quarterbacks in passing yardage, completions, completion percentage and total offense, and he leads the Wildcats in rushing with 248 yards and six touchdowns. Despite Kafka's heroics, Northwestern ranks just 74th in the nation with 25.7 points per game and will face a stout Iowa defense Saturday. Iowa allowed Indiana to score just 10 points following six Hawkeyes turnovers in last week's 42-24 win. The Hawkeyes have also forced 26 turnovers this season, including 18 interceptions. ``Iowa is one of those teams you can set your watch by what they're going to do from a schematic standpoint,'' Fitzgerald said. ``They do what they do very well.'' The Hawkeyes offense has been all over the map this season, which in many ways is related to the performance of quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Stanzi had one of the worst quarters an Iowa signal caller has ever had last week, throwing four picks in the third as Indiana jumped ahead 24-14 and seemed poised to end the Hawkeyes dream season. But with the unwavering support of Ferentz, Stanzi bounced back with two quick TD throws and Iowa scored 28 points in the fourth quarter - more than they had scored in all but two games up to that point. The Hawkeyes, who have scored exactly as many points as Northwestern this season, have battled through injuries all season. They are down to their last proven running back, true freshman Brandon Wegher - though he responded with a career-best 118 yards rushing and three TDs last week. ``I think Brandon's pretty comfortable and has been,'' Ferentz said. ``You have to be patient. I think that's offense in general. You have to have patience and a lot of people don't.'' Anyone who believes that Iowa will simply cruise past Northwestern at home clearly hasn't seen the Hawkeyes play this season or doesn't know the series' recent history. Northwestern has won three of the last four in the series, stopping Iowa four times inside the Wildcats 10-yard line late in a 22-17 win in Iowa City in 2008. ``We're doing a good job of focusing on who we've got the next week,'' said Iowa wide receiver Trey Stross. ``Close games definitely make you a little nervous.''

Iowa wins, advances in championship

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:37:00 +0000

EAST LANSING, MI - - The University of Iowa field hockey team defeated Michigan in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament Thursday, 5-3, on the campus of Michigan State University. The win marks the tenth-straight Big Ten Tournament win for the Hawkeyes, breaking Penn State's record of nine-straight wins held from 1995-98. "We played an outstanding first half and followed the game plan,"" said Head Coach Tracey Griesbaum. ""We executed and put the ball in the net. In the second half, we were not as attack-minded and that left some holes open on the defensive end. We have to take it one day at a time and regroup for tomorrow." The Hawkeyes, winners of five of their last six, struck first in the 18th minute of play. Senior Meghan Beamesderfer scored off a rebound to give the Hawkeyes a 1-0 advantage. In the 30th minute, senior Tricia Dean scored off a corner to push the Iowa lead to 2-0 at the break. In the early moments of the second half, Beamesderfer added her second goal of the day off a corner, giving the fourth-seeded Hawkeyes a 3-0 lead. The Wolverines, seeded fifth, then added two goals to make the score 3-2. Iowa kept the pressure on and added two additional goals to seal the victory. Freshman Geena Lesiak recorded her first career postseason goal and Beamesderfer added her third for the hat trick. Iowa has won three-straight tournament titles and will be looking to keep the streak going tomorrow against top-seeded and regular season champion Michigan State. The Hawkeyes and eighth-ranked Spartans will play at 11:15 a.m. (CT) on the Big Ten Network.

Iowa QB Stanzi inconsistent but wins

LUKE MEREDITH — Tue, 3 Nov 2009 16:04:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa(AP) Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi's inconsistent play has inspired a pair of nicknames. "Bad Ricky'' is the one who threw four interceptions in the third quarter against Indiana last week to help put the 8th-ranked Hawkeyes in a 10-point hole. "Good Ricky'' is the guy who bailed them out, tossing two long TDs on consecutive throws to give Iowa (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten) a lead it would not relinquish in beating the Hoosiers 42-24. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has long since tired of defending Stanzi and he never considered pulling him against Indiana despite all those picks. Ferentz views Stanzi as the resilient leader of a team that keeps finding ways to win, and though Stanzi's individual numbers aren't pretty - like the Hawkeyes - it's tough to dispute Ferentz's belief in him. Stanzi, a 6-4 junior from Mentor, Ohio, is 17-3 as a starter and has led the Hawkeyes to 13 straight wins, the second-longest streak in the country, heading into Saturday's game against Northwestern (5-4, 2-3). "He does have a rare ability, when he struggles, to come right back and just keep pushing forward, much like a relief pitcher,'' Ferentz said. "If you're in a high-risk position, you have to have that capability.'' There's no Heisman Trophy talk around Stanzi, not with all the close games, a 56.4 percent completion rate and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 14-to-13. But he has shown composure leading the Hawkeyes to the best start in school history. Stanzi suffered through his fair share of criticism this season and has yet to blink. He was much derided during the early portion of the season for throwing three interceptions that were brought back for touchdowns - he was called ``Rick-Six'' for a while - but he bounced back with pick-free games in wins over Wisconsin and Michigan State. Then came the third quarter against the Hoosiers. Every possession Iowa had in the quarter ended with a Stanzi interception, as pass after pass was battered by a stiff and swirling wind. But Iowa's defense picked Stanzi up by allowing the Hoosiers to score just three points off those four picks, and his teammates made it a point to encourage him on the sidelines. Once the fourth quarter began, Stanzi responded like he has all season. On his first pass of the final quarter, Stanzi calmly rolled out on a play-action rollout and hit Marvin McNutt in stride. McNutt dashed 92 yards for a touchdown. On his next snap, Stanzi again went to the play action before stepping up in the pocket and floating a perfect pass downfield to Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, who cut through Indiana's secondary for a 66-yard score to put Iowa ahead 28-24. "When you look at your team, you don't want to let them down. Any time a guy makes a mistake, he knows that the team is behind him to go back and correct that mistake,'' Stanzi said. Stanzi, who also threw a TD pass to McNutt on the game's final play to beat Michigan State 15-13 on Oct. 24, is a big reason why Iowa has outscored opponents 100-38 in the fourth quarter. "Rick is very resilient and he always finds a way to come back,'' McNutt said. "He's a guy that, he's never got negative energy inside the huddle.'' Ferentz has often said that Stanzi's toughness has rubbed off on his teammates. "We all make mistakes. Rick's had his fair share, I've had my fair share,'' wide receiver Trey Stross said. "One of my favorite quotes growing up is, 'Adversity causes some to break, and others to break records.' Rick's the guy that, when adversity is in his way he kind of buckles down more, focuses in, tunes in a little more. He's a great leader.''

Sash named semifinalist for Thorpe Award

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:15:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- University of Iowa defensive back Tyler Sash has been named a semi-finalist for The Jim Thorpe Award. The Award's screening committee has announced 12 semi-finalists for the honor given annually to the nation's best college defensive back. Sash, a 6-1, 210-pounder, is a sophomore strong safety from Oskaloosa, IA. He's got 64 tackles in nine games this season. He has intercepted six passes with 203 return yards this year. He's also forced two fumbles and has 5.5 tackles for loss. He has 11 career interceptions. His 350 career interception return yards are an Iowa record. This semi-final list will be narrowed to three finalists on November 23rd. Those finalists will be invited to the nationally televised Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on December 10. The winner will be announced on the show and the official presentation will be at a formal banquet in Oklahoma City on February 9, 2010. The 2009 award marks the 24th presentation of the trophy, first won in 1986 by Baylor's Thomas Everett. Last year's winner was Ohio State University's Malcolm Jenkins, now playing for the New Orleans Saints.

Stanzi, Iowa look for payback against Northwestern

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 20:07:00 +0000

Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi came up short in a late-game situation against Northwestern last season, but that likely won't be the fourth-quarter performance on the Iowa quarterback's mind in his second career meeting with the Wildcats. After remaining undefeated with a remarkable comeback victory last weekend, Stanzi and the eighth-ranked Hawkeyes look to extend the best start in team history Saturday when they host the Wildcats, who hope their quarterback will be available for their second consecutive meeting with a ranked Big Ten rival. In his sixth career game last Sept. 27, Stanzi completed 21 of 30 for a then-career-high 238 yards against Northwestern. But after guiding the Hawkeyes to the Wildcats' 8-yard line in the final minutes, Stanzi threw three straight incomplete passes before his fourth-down attempt was knocked down. Iowa lost that game 22-17 for its second consecutive defeat against Northwestern at Kinnick Stadium. The Hawkeyes also fell to the visiting Wildcats 21-7 on Nov. 4, 2006. While Stanzi couldn't finish the rally in his first meeting with Northwestern, he and the Hawkeyes (9-0, 5-0) have become masters of the comeback victory in 2009. Iowa has trailed in eight of nine games and four times entering the fourth quarter, but it's still off to the best start in team history. Iowa overcame a slow start to beat Indiana 42-24 last Saturday for its 13th straight victory, the second-longest streak in the nation. Trailing 24-14 heading into the fourth quarter, the Hawkeyes outscored the Hoosiers 28-0 in the final period to improve to 5-0 in the Big Ten for the first time since going undefeated in conference play in 2002. "No matter what happens, we know there's still time left on the clock," Stanzi said after throwing for a career-high 337 yards. "There's a chance to win, so you can't give up." Stanzi, 17-3 as a starter, threw four of his career-high five interceptions in the third quarter last week, but connected with Marvin McNutt for a 92-yard TD and hit Derrell Johnson-Koulianos for a 66-yard score in the fourth to put Iowa up 28-24. "No matter what happens, (Stanzi) keeps on playing," coach Kirk Ferentz said. "If there's one thing I can say about Rick, it's resiliency. He's done a great job of leading our football team." Senior quarterback Mike Kafka has done the same for Northwestern, leading the Big Ten in passing yards and total offense. Kafka, though, was forced to the sideline with a left hamstring injury in the second quarter of last Saturday's 34-13 loss to then-No. 12 Penn State. The Wildcats (5-4, 2-3) led 10-3 when Kafka left the game, but allowed 24 unanswered points in the second half with backup Dan Persa taking the snaps. "No excuses. I made some mistakes," Persa said after getting sacked four times and completing 14 of 23 for 115 yards. "I didn't get it done." Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is expecting Kafka, who was 14 of 18 for 128 yards with a rushing touchdown against the Nittany Lions, to be ready to make his first career start against Iowa. "He's feeling better today than he did yesterday," Fitzgerald said Monday. Whether it is Kafka or Persa, Northwestern will face a Hawkeyes pass defense that is 26th in the Football Bowl Subdivision, allowing 180.1 yards per game. Iowa leads the nation with 18 interceptions. Sophomore defensive back Tyler Sash is tied for third in the FBS with six, including one in the third quarter against Indiana that he returned 86 yards for a touchdown. "I thought Tyler gave us that boost," Ferentz said after the Hawkeyes picked off three passes against the Hoosiers. "Good teams have that." In his first collegiate start last weekend, Iowa freshman Brandon Wegher rushed for a season-high 118 yards with three TDs, two in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats' last two opponents have rushed for six combined TDs and an average of 5.5 yards per carry. Iowa leads the all-time series with Northwestern 46-21-3. The Hawkeyes' last home win over the Wildcats was a 62-10 victory Nov. 9, 2002.

Iowa's comebacks becoming routine Undefeated Hawkeyes are 4th in the BCS thanks to a string of impressive come-from-behind victories.

Tue, 3 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0000

The improbable run started when Northern Iowa grabbed a 13-3 lead on Iowa and seemed ready to burst the Hawkeyes' bubble the first week of the college football season. Little did anyone know at the time that Iowa's 17-16 come-from-behind win would be the beginning of a recurring story for a team that has persevered to reach No. 4 in this week's Bowl Championship Series standings. The Hawkeyes have struggled repeatedly against the best and worst of the Big Ten, not to mention the Missouri Valley and Sun Belt conferences. Yet, here they are 9-0 with games remaining against Northwestern, Ohio State and Minnesota. Only the game against the Buckeyes is on the road. The good fortune continued Saturday when Iowa overcame a 21-7 second-half deficit at home against Indiana for a 42-24 win. "We haven't gotten off to a whole lot of fast starts this year," coach Kirk Ferentz said in his postgame news conference. "But the good news is our guys don't buckle. If they're ever going to buckle, (Saturday) would have been the day. But they just keep playing, believe in each other." The Hawkeyes' win helped them stay alive in the BCS chase along with several other unexpected contenders - No. 5 Cincinnati, No. 6 TCU and No. 7 Boise State. The difference is that those teams keep winning with authority. Included among Iowa's other escapes this season: - Trailing 10-5 entering the fourth quarter at Penn State, the Hawkeyes rallied to win 21-10 thanks largely to a blocked punt returned for a touchdown by former Webster Groves star Adrian Clayborn. - The following week, Iowa was favored by three touchdowns at home against Arkansas State and survived 24-21. - Wisconsin jumped in front 10-0 at Madison, only to see the Hawkeyes rally for a 20-10 win. - And a week before beating Indiana, Iowa scored a touchdown on the game's final play to win 15-13 at Michigan State. The luckiest 9-0 team in the country? "That's OK," receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos said. "They do not understand our mentality. ... Eventually, when the season is over, we are going to have a record and hopefully it's without a loss, and maybe then we might not be the underdogs. But who knows, we still might be." Good fortune was abundant against Indiana. The Hoosiers were on the 2-yard line and on the verge of adding to their 21-7 lead in the third quarter when Tyler Sash came up with a deflected interception that he returned 86 yards for a touchdown. On their next possession, the Hoosiers appeared to score on an 11-yard touchdown pass, but the play was overturned with a disputed decision and Indiana missed a field goal. The Hawkeyes overcame five interceptions thrown by quarterback Ricky Stanzi to score 28 points in the fourth quarter. Ferentz compared this season to 2004, when the Hawkeyes won their final eight games with scores like 6-4, 23-21, 29-27 and 30-25. The last game was a win over LSU in the Capital One Bowl. "You couldn't cut it any closer than that," he said. "But all I know is we won eight straight that year and it felt pretty good. We won the championship, got championship rings, which felt pretty good. So, yeah, it would be wonderful to win by a lot. But I'm not worried about that, and I'm not sure our guys are." Copyright 2009 St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Inc.All Rights Reserved

Spartans register much-needed win over Iowa

Sun, 1 Nov 2009 16:56:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Michigan State women's soccer team got a much-needed win on Sunday, defeating Iowa, 3-2, in overtime. Just over three minutes into the first overtime, the Spartans got a corner kick that Hannah Peterson sent high into the penalty area. Cara Freeman got a head on the ball and sent it over the hands of Hawkeye keeper Emily Moran for the winning goal and a 3-2 MSU victory. "Coming off of Friday's setback, it was a huge game for us," said Spartan head coach Tom Saxton. "We didn't have our legs today, but we did have our heart and character." With the win, MSU picked up its 10th win of the season and is now 10-4-4 and 2-4-2 in the Big Ten. The Spartans have now won at least 10 games in eight of the last 10 seasons. Freshman Olivia Stander got things going for MSU in the 23rd minute. Her unassisted goal came from the left side and beat Moran in the far right corner of the net. "It was nice to get an early goal," Saxton said. "It was pretty windy and that helped but we needed a break." Lauren Hill picked up her team-leading ninth tally of the year just before halftime to give MSU a 2-0 lead. Hill took a pass from Kelsey Tait and then chipped it into the net from six yards out. "That was a critical goal," said Saxton. "We had a ton of chances on Friday but they just weren't going in. Getting two first-half goals against Iowa was important, we realized good things can happen and we capitalized on our chances." Down 2-0 to start the second half, the Hawkeyes (9-10, 1-7) quickly cut into the MSU lead as Keli McLaughlin scored at the 47:44 mark. Iowa's Alex Seydel tied the game with just over 10 minutes to play in regulation, converting a penalty kick, to send the game into overtime. "You could see the determination in our player's eyes," Saxton said. "Cara has had so many close calls this year so I was happy for her and the whole team. It was their heart and character that got it done." MSU will wrap up the regular season on Friday (Nov. 6) when it hosts Ohio State at 3 p.m.

Stanzi overcomes 5 INTs, rallies Iowa to 42-24 win

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:15:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Of all the holes Iowa has dug itself, this was the deepest. Indiana was leading by 14 in the third quarter and just two yards away from the Hawkeyes' end zone. Given how poorly quarterback Ricky Stanzi was playing, one more touchdown might have brought their charmed season crashing down. Tyler Sash instead returned an interception 86 yards for a touchdown, and Stanzi bounced back from a career-high five interceptions to rally the No. 7 Hawkeyes to a 42-24 victory, yet another improbable finish in a season full of them. Brandon Wegher had a career-high 118 yards rushing and three TDs for the Hawkeyes (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten), who scored 28 points in the fourth quarter to stun the shell-shocked Hoosiers. "No matter what happens, we know there's still time left on the clock," Stanzi said. "There's a chance to win, so you can't give up." Iowa is off to the best start in school history, thanks to four wins by three points or less. And after needing two blocked field goals to beat FCS school Northern Iowa in its opener, the Hawks control their own destiny in the Big Ten -- with a chance to play for the BCS title. "Our guys don't buckle," coach Kirk Ferentz said. "If they were ever going to buckle, I think today would have been the day." Stanzi threw four interceptions in the third quarter alone on a windy day in Iowa City, and Indiana (4-5, 1-4) took a 24-14 lead into the fourth. Stanzi responded by hitting Marvin McNutt for a 92-yard touchdown pass and, moments later, connecting with Derrell Johnson-Koulianos from 66 yards to put Iowa ahead 28-24 with 11:38 left. Wegher made it 35-24 on a 6-yard TD run and added a 27-yard score with 1:12 remaining. Ben Chappell had 227 yards passing and two touchdowns to lead Indiana, which must have felt a case of deja vu. The Hoosiers blew a 25-point lead in a loss at Northwestern last week. "We got into the fourth quarter again and we couldn't fight it off," Indiana coach Bill Lynch said. "We just didn't have enough plays in our arsenal to hang with them." Stanzi's mental toughness has long been defended by Ferentz, and he showed why at the start of the fourth quarter. He hit McNutt on a play-action rollout for what turned out to be the fourth-longest pass play in Iowa history. Johnson-Koulianos did most of the work on the other long touchdown, weaving his way through the Indiana secondary. "No matter what happens, he keeps on playing," Ferentz said of Stanzi, who threw for a career-high 337 yards. "If there's one thing I can say about Rick, it's resiliency. He's done a great job of leading our football team." Stanzi opened the second half throwing interceptions on back-to-back possessions, and the Hoosiers moved to Iowa's 2-yard line already leading 21-7. That's when Iowa's defense made one more spectacular play. Chappell was hit from behind as he dropped back to pass, and Sash gathered the loose ball in the air before racing 86 yards for a touchdown that brought Iowa within 21-14 and woke up a stunned crowd at Kinnick Stadium. "It's just something that jumps start everybody," Iowa kicker Daniel Murray said. "It just kind of gave us confidence that we were back in the game." The Hoosiers appeared to have answered on a TD grab by Terrance Turner in the corner of the end zone, but the call was overturned by video and Nick Freeland missed a 28-yard field goal. The game was strange right from the start -- perfect these cardiac Hawkeyes on Halloween. Iowa deferred on the opening kickoff, a rarity under Ferentz, and the Hoosiers marched 69 yards into the wind for a 7-0 lead on Darius Willis's 4-yard run. Ryan Donahue, one of the most reliable punters in the nation, shanked an 8-yarder into the stands midway through the second quarter, giving the Hoosiers the ball at the Hawkeyes 35. Five plays later, Chappell found Mitchell Evans for a 16-yard TD pass that made it 14-0. The Hawkeyes answered on Wegher's 4-yard TD run with 2:39 left in the first half, but after holding Indiana, Amari Spievey inexplicably picked up a wobbly punt and fumbled it away deep in his own territory. Chappell found Damarlo Belcher for a 9-yard TD with 9 seconds left. It was a brutal end to the first half for Iowa, and a brutal end to the game for Indiana. As a stunned and delighted crowd of Hawkeye fans filed out of Kinnick Stadium, they were serenaded -- quite fittingly -- by Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer." "I've never been in a game like this. I've never seen a game like this," Ferentz said. "I can't say enough about our players."

No. 13 Michigan rallies, tops Iowa in 4

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:07:00 +0000

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- After dropping the opening set, the No. 13-ranked University of Michigan volleyball team regrouped to take the next three to beat Iowa, 3-1 (16-25, 25-12, 25-20, 25-13), on Saturday night at Cliff Keen Arena. Sophomore Alex Hunt (Granger, Ind./South Bend St. Joseph) paced the Wolverine attack for the second straight night with 18 kills, while senior Juliana Paz (Porto Alegre, Brazil/Iowa Western CC) added 13 terminations and junior setter Lexi Zimmerman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) dished out 41 assists and added a team-high 16 digs. In the fourth and final set, the Wolverines turned a one-point deficit into a 14-6 lead thanks to a run of nine straight points, keyed by three service aces from Hunt and three kills by Paz. The Hawkeyes never mounted a comeback in the 25-13 U-M win as the U-M offense committed just one attack error while hitting a match-high .452. Set one saw a 5-5 tie turn into a 15-8 Iowa lead thanks to a 10-3 run by the Hawkeyes. The Wolverines never recovered, committing 12 attack errors while hitting at a -.043 clip in the 25-16 loss. The Wolverines responded quickly in set two, building an 11-8 lead as Paz contributed three kills in a seven-point stretch. Hunt led the offense with six kills, while Zimmerman added 14 assists in the frame as the Wolverines cruised to a 25-12 victory. Coming out of intermission, U-M used its momentum from the second, racing out to a 10-3 lead. Paz led the opening attack with two kills and back-to-back service aces. Up 24-14, Iowa made one final push, reeling off six straight points before a Hunt termination from the left side ended the frame, 25-20. The Wolverines hit the road for their next contest on Friday night (Nov. 6) at Illinois. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. CST with MGoBlue.com carrying live audio and live game stats.

Former Iowa football coach Evashevski dies at 91

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:33:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) Former Iowa football coach Forest Evashevski, who led the Hawkeyes to two Rose Bowls in the 1950s, has died. He was 91. Evashevski's son, Forest Evashevski Jr., said his father died Friday night from cancer at his home in Petoskey, Mich. His five sons, two daughters and wife Ruth were at his bedside. Evashevski was hired at Iowa in 1952, seven years after its last winning season. He inherited a program that had languished near the bottom of the Big Ten, but by 1956 had the Hawkeyes headed to the Rose Bowl and a win over Oregon State. Two years later, Iowa beat California 38-12 in the Rose Bowl. Evashevski won 52 games in nine seasons and later served as the school's athletics director. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

Iowa takes down American in season finale

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:51:00 +0000

WASHINGTON, D.C. - - The University of Iowa field hockey team won at American University Saturday, 2-1. "Sarah Drake and the seniors played great again," said Head Coach Tracey Griesbaum. "We competed for two complete games this weekend. Both were important performances heading into the Big Ten Tournament." After a scoreless first half, the Hawkeyes took the lead in the 51st minute of play. Freshman Sarah Drake chipped in a score off a deflection. Senior Tricia Dean was credited with the assist. American tied the match in the 67th minute as Savannah Graybill scored off a deflection. Anne-Meike DeWiljes was credited with the assist. With one minute remaining, Iowa was awarded a corner. Moments later, senior Meghan Beamesderfer scored in the final minute, giving the Hawkeyes their second-straight last minute win. Dean and Sarah Pergine assisted the goal. Today's match was the regular season finale. Iowa is 8-9 and will begin competition Thursday in the Big Ten Tournament. The Black and Gold have won the last three conference tournaments and have won nine-straight tournament matches.

Wolverines fall to Hawkeyes

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:49:00 +0000

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Michigan women's soccer team struck back to counter an early deficit but could not hang on, falling at Iowa, 2-1, on Friday evening (Oct. 30) at the Iowa Soccer Complex. Sophomore Kristen Goncalves (Ann Arbor, Mich./Gabriel Richard Catholic) scored her third of the season, moving into a tie for the team lead, while sophomore/freshman Haley Kopmeyer (Troy, Mich./Lahser) made six saves in the effort. Michigan found itself behind early when Iowa jumped on the board in the 11th minute on rebound in the box to go ahead 1-0. Goncalves leveled the score four minutes later, steering around the goalkeeper and depositing a shot from the top of the box to cap a breakaway attempt. Iowa was forced to be selective with its shots, missing the mark on just one shot between goals. Kopmeyer was up to the task, making five saves in the interim. It was not until the 64th minute that the Hawkeyes exacted the deciding goal on a shot from 25 yards out that caught the right corner of the net.

Spartans sweep Hawkeyes

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:25:00 +0000

EAST LANSING, MI – The University of Iowa volleyball team dropped a three-set match to Michigan State tonight at the Jenison Field House. Freshman Emma Krieger Kittle led the Hawkeye offense with 11 kills, one shy of her career high. Junior Mara Hilgenberg dished 29 assists and seniors Christina Meister and Megan Schipper picked up six digs apiece. ""We had trouble serving tonight,"" said Head Coach Sharon Dingman. ""We lost 13 points at the service line and we need to limit those errors. It's been a struggle all season and we need to address it immediately for our match tomorrow night."" The opening set saw seven ties and three lead changes before Michigan State prevailed with a 25-22 win. Krieger Kittle led the Hawkeye attack with four kills. Schipper added three kills and a team-high four digs and Hilgenberg dished 10 assists. The Spartans jumped to an early 7-3 lead in the opener before two kills from Krieger Kittle sparked a 5-1 run to tie the set, 8-8. Michigan State battle back to retake a three point advantage, 14-11, before a pair of kills from Schipper and a block from junior Becky Walters eventually tied the set, 18-18. After MSU regained the lead, 20-21, the Hawkeyes answered a Dingman timeout with a 4-1 run to take a 22-21 lead. The Spartans then ran off four straight points to win the set and take a 1-0 match advantage. Michigan State (3-8, 15-8) took a two-game lead with a 25-17 win in the second set. Krieger Kittle led Iowa with four kills while Hilgenberg dished nine assists and picked up a pair of digs. The Spartans rode their first-set momentum into the second frame, building a 12-9 lead before kills from junior Katie Kennedy, Walters and Schipper pulled Iowa within one point, 13-12. After MSU extended their lead, 21-14, Krieger Kittle answered a Dingman timeout with consecutive points, a block and a kill, before the Spartans finished with a 4-1 run to win the set and take a 2-0 match lead. Iowa dropped the third and final set, 25-20. Sophomore Mallory Husz came off the bench to pick up three kills, three blocks and two digs in limited action. Hilgenberg added 10 assists and junior Samantha Brannigan picked up a team-high three digs. The Hawkeyes (3-8, 11-12) used kills from Walters and Krieger Kittle to take an early 4-2 lead in the third frame, but Michigan Stage continued its roll and battled back to take the lead, 14-10. With help from a Krieger Kittle kill and two blocks from sophomore Mallory Husz, Iowa battled back to take an 18-16 advantage. A pair of kills from Walters eventually gave Iowa a narrow one-point edge, 20-19, but the Spartans scored the final six points to pull out the three-set victory.