USC Hangs On For Win Over UNI, 3-1

Saturday, September 3

Los Angeles, Calif.

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

2-3

USC

2-3

UNI

USC

USC Hangs On For Win Over UNI, 3-1

9/3/2016 2:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team refused to give in Saturday against fellow national powerhouse USC. The Trojans were able to hang on for a 3-1 triumph over the Panthers.

USC (2-3 overall) won by set scores of 25-21, 25-21, 24-26, 25-23. The Panthers fall to 2-3 on the season.

UNI opened the match by scoring the first three points. The set was knotted at 10-10 before USC used a 6-0 run to take a 16-10 lead. UNI closed back to within 22-21, but USC finished the set on a 3-0 run to take it, 25-21.

The second set took on a similar look as it was tied 10-10, and then USC went on another 6-0 run. UNI clawed back to within two points at 21-19 and 22-20 only to see USC close out the set, 25-21.

USC was looking to close out the match with a 3-0 sweep after taking a commanding 20-11 lead. However, the Panthers refused to back down and rattled off a 7-0 to cut the lead to 20-18. UNI would tie the set at 22-22 and eventually took a 23-22 lead on a kill by Piper Thomas. USC scored back-to-back points to give the home squad a match point. Not to be outdone, the Panthers then responded with a 3-0 run to end the set and score a 26-24 win. It marked the first time UNI had won a set all time against the Trojans.

UNI used the momentum it created late in the third set and carried it over into the fourth. The Panthers jumped out to a 5-2 advantage. The Trojans came back and tied the set at 9-9. UNI surged again and took a 21-15 lead and what appeared to be a path to a fifth and deciding set. But USC failed to yield and ended the match on a 10-2 run to take it, 25-23.

UNI was led by Piper Thomas (15 kills, .462 hitting percentage), Kayla Haneline (14 kills) and Bri Weber (13 kills, 16 digs). It marked the third straight double-double this season for Weber.

The Panthers will be back in action later tonight at 7 p.m. against the Kentucky Wildcats to close out the USC Radisson Classic.