Iowa Sweeps Rutgers, Improves to 8-5 in Big Ten Play

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NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. – Freshman Cali Hoye had a personal-best six kills for the University of Iowa volleyball team as the Hawkeyes captured a 3-0 victory over Rutgers on Friday night in College Avenue Gymnasium. Iowa is now 18-7 overall with an 8-5 Big Ten mark.
 
In addition to her six kills, Hoye amassed a career-high .556 attacking percentage. Meghan Buzzerio and Lauren Brobst also chipped in six kills, while Loxley Keala racked up five kills and a .833 hitting percentage.
 
Iowa jumped out to a 6-2 lead to begin set one. Rutgers scored back-to-back points to cut off the run, but the Hawkeyes stopped the Scarlet Knights in their tracks and finished the set with a 20-4 stretch. This run was bolstered by kills from Brobst (3), Ashley Mariani (2), and Jess Janota (1). Annika Olsen, Keala and Janota each added an ace, while Hoye chipped in a block to aid the visitors. Hoye was a force off the bench as she scored the final four points of set one to give Iowa a 25-8 victory.
 
After Rutgers began set two with a 4-2 advantage, the Hawkeyes used a 14-5 run to take the lead. Coyle (2), Mariani (1), Keala (2), Buzzerio (3), Brobst (1) and Janota (1) chipped in kills, while Janota and Olsen each added an ace to give Iowa a 17-8 lead. The Scarlet Knights came charging back with an 8-2 run, but Iowa shut the home team down with a 6-3 stretch to capture a 25-19 second-set win.
 
The Hawkeyes started set three on a 5-1 run before the Scarlet Knights scored three consecutive points to stop the run. Iowa then went on a 12-3 run with kills from Buzzerio (2), Keala (2), Kasey Reuter (1) and Brobst (1) to take a 17-7 lead. Rutgers scored back-to-back points to cut off the stretch, but the Hawkeyes could not be stopped as they concluded the match on a 9-4 run. Taylin Alm (2), Hoye (1) and Reagan Davey (1) each added a point to give Iowa the 25-13 set victory and a 3-0 match win.
 
Iowa takes the court again tomorrow as it faces No. 11 Penn State in State College, Penn. First serve is scheduled for 3 p.m. (CT).