By Lucas Quick – Spear Reporter | SJSU volleyball team huddles up after a point. (Photo by Taylor Cowhey – The Spear Guest Photographer)
San Jose State volleyball (3-0) earned its first win over a Big Ten opponent since 2004 with a big 3-1 win over University of Iowa (2-1) at the Hawkeye Invite in Coralville, Iowa.
After struggling early on and losing the first set, the Hawkeyes found their rhythm heading into the second set. They led by a margin of three points throughout most of the second set.
However, SJSU wouldn’t go away. The Spartans went on numerous 3-0 runs to stay alive, eventually knotting the set even at 19-19.
With a kill by senior outside and right-side hitter Blaire Fleming, the Spartans finished on a 6-2 run and won the second set 25-21.
SJSU commandingly led 2-0 after a dominant first set led by junior middle blocker Emma Testi, who had two aces in the first six points.
Fleming headlined the final stat sheet with 18 kills and 13 digs, earning her first career double-double.
Sophomore outside hitter Nayeli Ti’a also earned a double-double, tallying up 18 kills and 11 digs.
Fleming and Ti’a led the game with five kills a piece, along with 10 assists by senior setter Brooke Slusser. She had a total of 38 throughout the game.
“We were aggressive from the end line, but also points. Scored a lot and kept the ball in play,” SJSU head coach Todd Kress said. “I think we had eight aces and five errors and any coach in the country is going to take that.”
The Hawkeyes did not go away, however, as another tight contest went throughout the entire portion of the third set, being a one-point difference throughout most of the set.
A kill by Hawkeyes outside hitter Michelle Urquhart and an error by Ti’a would be the separator, keeping the Hawkeyes alive with a 26-24 victory.
Iowa pursued to push the momentum to even things up at two sets a piece. Despite the Spartans strong 9-5 start, a 5-0 Hawkeyes run would keep the set tight.
The Spartans answered back with a late-set surge, taking the fourth and final set 25-19. They scored six of the last seven points, with a Ti’a kill to add the cherry on top.
“I just look forward to the continued growth with this team as they buy in and really play for one another and play for each other,” Kress said. “It’s an exciting day to be a Spartan and a huge win for our program.”
The Spartans will face the University of Delaware for day two of the Hawkeye Invite. SJSU is scheduled to play at 10 a.m. Saturday at Xtreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa.
