Sept. 14, 2007
Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa - Emily Nedderman and Liz Curry combined for four service aces each, but it was not enough as UT Arlington dropped its fourth-straight match, 30-21, 28-30, 20-30, 23-30, to the Iowa Hawkeyes Friday evening in the first match of the Hawkeye/Holiday Inn Challenge.
The Mavs (5-6) came out strong in the opening game and set the tone on the opening point on a block from Emily Nedderman and Ellen Murray. The Hawkeyes would battle back to tie the game before Iowa native Gina Kalb gave the Mavs the lead for good and Nedderman followed with two-straight service aces.
UTA continued to push the pace and increased its lead to as many as eight on a kill from Torie Dacus. Iowa was never able to get any closer as a Bianca Sauls kill was followed up by a pair of service aces from Liz Curry to end the game.
Iowa (6-3) rebounded in the second game an opened a 21-15 advantage on an Emily Hiza service ace. The Mavs did not go away without a fight as they battled back and pulled to within one on three different occasions before falling 30-28.
The third game was all Hawkeyes as they used a 13-6 run to turn an early three-point advantage in a 20-10 lead. The run was sparked by the play of Becky Walters and Katie Kennedy as they combined for three blocks during the run. Curry would try to spark a run with a pair of kills, but the Hawkeyes would not all the Mavs to get closer that eight points in taking the game 30-20.
The Mavs looked like they regained the momentum of the match as they stormed out to a 7-3 advantage in the fourth game before the Hawkeyes stormed back to take a 17-14 advantage. The two teams would exchange points until the Hawkeyes rattled off seven-straight points to break a 23-23 tie to take the game and the match.
Sobczak led the Mavs with 15 kills, while Sauls, Kalb and Curry each added six. Dani Johnson led the defense with a match-high 21 digs.
The Mavs return to the court tomorrow afternoon as they take on the College of Charleston at 12 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
