IOWA CITY, Iowa --- Tyra Montour (Kennesaw, Ga.) totaled 20 kills and Kaelyn Dyson (Holly Springs, N.C.) added nine blocks, as Gardner-Webb fell to No. 35 University of Iowa in straight sets before Drake rallied for a 3-1 victory over the Runnin' Bulldogs in the evening session at the Holiday Inn Hawkeye Challenge.
Iowa (7-3) defeated Gardner-Webb (4-10) in straight sets by scores of 25-12, 25-13 and 25-13 in the Runnin' Bulldogs' first match of the day. Drake (8-7) rallied for a 22-25, 26-24, 26-24, 26-24 victory over Gardner-Webb in the first match of the evening session.
Montour led the way for Gardner-Webb with 20 kills on the day, as Dyson added 14 smashes and nine blocks. Sydney Marshall (Norcross, Ga.) and Jene Lee (San Dimas, Calif.) chipped in seven and six blocks, respectively, while Justine Bowers (Dana Point, Calif.) dished out 52 assists. Anna Pashkova (Iowa City, Iowa) posted a team-high 28 digs.
#35 Iowa 3, Gardner-Webb 0 (Box Score)
Iowa The Hawkeyes posted a hitting percentage of .309 in the match, combining for 37 kills on just 81 swings, as Gardner-Webb edged Iowa in blocks by an 8-7 margin.
"This was a fun match," said head coach Leo Sayles. "Kaelyn and Keira were a great lift to our match. They were the two that held us together this morning. We actually played well against an elite program and coaching staff. We did not roll over even when the second set looked like it was over early. To see the team fight and compete against such a quality team made me proud."
Nicole Celarek (Bensenville, Ill.) paced the Runnin' Bulldogs with six kills and two blocks, while Dyson and Montour each added five smashes. Dyson recorded a match-high four blocks, as Marshall and Kiera Moore (Spartanburg, S.C.) both chipped in three stuffs. Bowers dished out 19 assists and Pashkova tallied a team-high 10 digs.
"We gave them some great shots only to discover just how good Iowa is defensively," continued Sayles. "Their offense was almost flawless, so it was encouraging to see our players improving throughout the match defensively. We have some areas in which we need to improve, but if we can get back to winning the serve and pass game, we have great opportunities for victory ahead."
Jess Janota led the way for Iowa with nine kills, as Ashley Mariani and Taylr McNeil added six and five smashes, respectively. Mikaela Gunderson chipped in four kills and a match-high four blocks, while Annika Olsen tallied contest-bests of 12 digs and three aces. Loxley Keala dished out a match-high 28 assists for the Hawkeyes.
Gardner-Webb got off to a strong start in the first set, opening an early 4-2 advantage on a smash from Dyson. Iowa bounced back with a 7-0 run, taking a 9-4 lead before stretching the margin to 18-8 following a Janota kill. The Hawkeyes closed out the set from there, claiming a 1-0 lead in the match on a block by Gunderson and Janota.
Iowa carried the momentum into the second, scoring 16 of the frame's first 20 points to take a 16-4 lead on an ace by Olsen. A late push by Gardner-Webb cut the margin to 22-12 before the Hawkeyes capped the set, 25-13, following a kill from Reghan Coyle.
The Runnin' Bulldogs answered early in the third set, recording five of the first six points to take a 5-1 advantage following a tandem block by Marshall and Moore. Iowa fought back from a 10-8 deficit moments later, opening a 19-11 lead after Janota tallied back-to-back kills to cap an 11-1 surge.
The Hawkeyes closed out the win from there, scoring six of the final eight points to seal the victory on a smash by Emily Radke.
Drake 3, Gardner-Webb 1 (Box Score)
Drake and Gardner-Webb combined for 340 attack attempts, 24 blocks and each accumulated 79 digs in a thrilling back-and-forth battle. Gardner-Webb accounted for a .101 hitting percentage on the night, while Drake hit just .087.
"This was an incredible dogfight," said Sayles. "Both teams had runs and gave up runs. Both teams fought from behind. I give the Drake team credit, they responded well after their player went down injured. I do think the delay from the leaky roof cooled off our first set and allows Drake to settle down but those things happen."
Montour paced the Runnin' Bulldog attack with 15 kills, while Dyson and Lee added nine and seven smashes, respectively. Bowers dished out 33 assists and chipped in six kills, as Pashkova posted 18 digs. Amanda Sahm (Marion, Iowa) tallied a season-high 17 digs to go along with two aces, while Dyson and Lee each recorded five blocks. Marshall contributed four blocks of her own.
"Tyra Montour was huge again for us, and our defensive core of Pashkova, loftin, Sahm, and O'Conoor kept finding ways to keep us in the match," continued Sayles. "I cannot say enough about our players, and hate that we could not find a way to win the sets in extra points. I hope we can return the favor to Drake in the morning."
Grace Schofield led the way for Drake with 13 kills and a match-high 22 digs, as Kyla Inderski and Makena Schoene each added 12 smashes. Inderski and Rachel Goettl chipped in 19 and 17 digs, respectively, while Rebecca Brown dished out 39 assists. Katie Allen recorded a match-high seven blocks.
Gardner-Webb started off strong, opening an early 6-2 lead before pushing the margin to 15-10 following a smash from Lee. Drake battled back, evening the tally at 17-17 with an Inderski kill to cap a 7-2 spurt. The Runnin' Bulldogs would answer once again, closing the set on an 8-5 run to take a 1-0 lead in the match on a Lee smash.
Drake responded in the early moments of the second, storming out of the gates to take a 15-5 advantage following a kill from Brown. The Runnin' Bulldogs quickly answered with a 9-1 surge, closing the gap to 16-14 on a Bowers smash.
The Bulldogs of Drake countered with nine of the next 16 points, reclaiming the lead at 23-21 moments after a Schoene kill. Gardner-Webb would fight off set point at 24-23 with a Marshall smash before Drake answered, scoring back-to-back kills to even the match at 1-1.
Drake carried the momentum into the third, taking an early 15-9 lead on a smash by Schoene before pushing the margin to 21-10 on another kill from Schoene. Gardner-Webb stormed back with a 12-2 surge, cutting the advantage to 23-22 following a Dyson kill. The Runnin' Bulldogs kept pushing, knotting the score at 24-24 before Drake answered with back-to-back points to take a 2-1 lead on a smash by Schoene.
Gardner-Webb fought back early in the fourth, taking an 8-6 lead on a solo stuff from Dyson before Drake responded with a 5-1 spurt to claim an 11-9 advantage. The Runnin' Bulldogs bounced back with an 8-3 run, opening a 17-14 margin following a block by Montour and Lee.
Drake quickly answered with a 7-2 run, retaking the lead at 21-19 before Gardner-Webb countered with five of the next six points, pushing Drake to set point on a kill by Devin Judge (Marietta, Ga.). The Drake Bulldogs would respond with four straight points, rallying to take the set and the match with a tandem block from Schoene and Allen.
Gardner-Webb is back in action on Saturday morning, when the Runnin' Bulldogs close out the weekend with a rematch against Drake at 10:00 am ET on the final day of the Holiday Inn Hawkeye Challenge.
