WEST POINT, N.Y. — The Iowa volleyball team improved to 2-0 Saturday afternoon with a four-set victory over UAlbany, while head coach Jim Barnes celebrated the 500th win of his coaching career.
The Hawkeyes defeated the Great Danes 25-18, 27-29, 25-16 and 25-13 inside Christl Arena at the Black Knight Invitational.
Barnes became one of just 28 active NCAA Division I head coaches to reach 500 career victories.
Iowa entered Saturday after sweeping Army in straight sets in its season opener Friday night, and the Hawkeyes again received major production from their middle hitters.
Hannah Whittingstall led Iowa with 15 kills on only 20 attacks while committing no errors.
Whittingstall hit a remarkable .750, tying for the seventh-best single-match hitting percentage in Iowa volleyball history.
She has yet to commit an attack error through the Hawkeyes’ first two matches.
Hallie Steponaitis added 12 kills on 19 swings, while Marichka Hoshylyk produced the first double-double of her career with career highs of 11 kills and 17 digs.
Liv Mogridge added 10 kills.
Iowa setter Jenna Meitzler directed the offense with 51 assists while also contributing six digs and a career-high four service aces.
Libero Jaimie Marquardt led the Hawkeyes defensively with 18 digs.
Iowa finished with four players reaching double figures in kills, hit .315 as a team and held UAlbany to a .154 hitting percentage.
The Hawkeyes also dominated from the service line, finishing with 10 aces compared with three for the Great Danes.
Iowa took control quickly in the opening set.
Whittingstall supplied an early kill as the Hawkeyes raced to a 5-0 advantage. Meitzler helped stretch the lead with strong serving, and Iowa eventually pulled away for a 25-18 win.
UAlbany responded with a marathon second set featuring 15 ties and seven lead changes.
Iowa battled back from an early deficit and eventually reached set point at 24-22, but the Great Danes survived. UAlbany fought through several additional set points before taking the frame, 29-27, to even the match.
The Hawkeyes regained control in the third.
After trailing 7-5, Iowa tightened its defense at the net behind blocks from Mogridge, Steponaitis and Whittingstall.
With Iowa ahead 16-13, the Hawkeyes ripped off six consecutive points to blow the set open and rolled to a 25-16 win.
There was considerably less suspense in the fourth.
Iowa jumped ahead 5-1 behind consecutive kills from Rosa Vesty and quickly pushed the lead to 7-2.
The Hawkeyes continued pulling away behind their blocking and serving, and Whittingstall’s late kill helped force a UAlbany timeout with Iowa leading 20-11.
Iowa closed out the match with a 25-13 victory.
The Hawkeyes out-dug UAlbany 61-50 and sided out on all 13 opportunities in the fourth set.
Saturday’s match featured 21 ties and 11 lead changes overall.
For Barnes, the afternoon also brought a major career milestone.
“When it comes to the 500 wins in my coaching career, it’s amazing what God can do with so little,” Barnes said with a laugh.
He also said the match provided an important early-season lesson for a team with several new players.
Barnes said Iowa struggled when it fell out of rhythm during the second set but responded much better over the final two frames.
Iowa will conclude play at the Black Knight Invitational Sunday morning against Sacred Heart.
First serve is scheduled for 10 a.m. Central time at Christl Arena.