University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Illinois-Chicago
Panthers Throw Block Party in Season-Opening Win over UIC
8/27/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 27, 2005
DeKalb, Ill. - The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team nearly set a new school record for blocks in a match, as the Panthers swept the University of Illinois-Chicago this afternoon at Victor E. Court on the campus of Northern Illinois University. It was UNI's season opener, while UIC dropped to 0-2 on the season. Game scores were 30-15, 30-14 and 30-26.
UNI posted 26 total team blocks in the match, just two shy of the school record of 28 set in 1985 against Southern Illinois. UNI also had 42 block assists which were just four short of the school's best of 46, set against Illinois State in 1999. Three Panthers reached double figures in individual blocks, each posting a career-high in that category - Danielle Brazda (Omaha, Neb.) with 13, Stephanie Germann (LeMars, Iowa) with 12 and Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) with 11.
After falling behind early in game one, 7-5, the Panthers went on a 7-0 run on the serve of sophomore setter Kristin Belzung (Ankeny, Iowa), who was making her first career start. UNI outscored UIC, 25-8, the rest of the way to claim the first game, 30-15. Rowen had four kills in the first game, and UNI racked up eight team blocks.
UNI scored blocks on the first two points of the second game, en route to a quick 8-2 lead. UIC never got closer than within five the rest of the way, with UNI holding a double-digit lead most of the way. The Panthers, who racked up nine team blocks in the game overall, also got four kills from Rowen, while Brazda and freshman Ashten Stelken (Manchester, Iowa) each had three.
Neither team held larger than a two-point lead in game three until the midway point of the contest. Trailing 14-12, UNI went on a 7-1 run to open a 21-15 lead. UNI recorded four blocks in a row at one point during the run, eventually winning the game, 30-26, with a Brazda kill providing match point.
UNI's senior co-captain Germann led the way offensively with 10 kills, and had her second career double-double. Brazda added eight kills, while Rowen had seven. UNI hit .312 (34-10-77) for the match, while UIC hit -.018 (35-37-111).
UNI will face Northern Illinois tonight at 7:00 p.m. at Victor E. Court. The Huskies are 1-0 on the season, having defeated UIC last night in Chicago, 3-2.
