University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Northern Illinois
Panthers Post Road Win at Northern Illinois
8/27/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 27, 2005
DeKalb, Ill. - Sophomore outside hitter Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) led UNI with 18 kills and a career-high 26 digs, to help lead the University of Northern Iowa volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Northern Illinois University Saturday night at Victor E. Court. Game scores were 28-30, 30-24, 30-23 and 30-25.
Junior co-captain Stephanie May (Dubuque, Iowa) also had a stellar night for the Panthers. After starting her first two years at Libero, she made the shift to outside hitter this season, and posted a career-high 14 kills, while adding 11 digs to post her first career double-double. Also reaching double figures in kills for UNI were Danielle Brazda (Omaha, Neb.) with 11 and Ashten Stelken (Manchester, Iowa) with 10.
Northern Illinois jumped to an early 4-0 lead in game one, as the Panthers opened with three straight hitting errors. UNI was behind throughout, but was able to maintain contact with the Huskies, never trailing by more than four. The Panthers rallied late, taking their first lead of the game, 26-25, after back-to-back Husky ball handling errors. With the score knotted at 28-all, NIU took the final two points to win the game. Rowen had five kills and nine digs in the first game for UNI.
The Panthers came from behind to win game two. The Huskies opened a 16-9 advantage, before UNI went on a 5-0 run to pull within 16-14. Stelken had two kills during that stretch. NIU continued to maintain a slim lead until the Panthers were able to pull even, 24-all, after a Husky hitting error. UNI then scored the last six points of the game to win 30-24, with the deciding point on a block by Stelken and Brazda.
UNI controlled game three, jumping to a quick 5-0 lead and never trailed. Northern Illinois pulled to within two points on several occasions, but could get no closer. Rowen had four kills and nine digs in the game, and the Panthers had five team blocks, as UNI won 30-23.
The Panthers built an early 11-4 lead in game four, and held the lead for much of the game. Northern Illinois rallied, however, pulling even on several occasions, and were within one as late as 24-23. UNI then ran off four straight points to open a 28-23 advantage. The two teams traded side outs until Rowen clinched the match with a kill. The Panthers hit .378 (19-5-37) in the fourth game.
For the match, UNI hit .245 (66-26-163) to just .154 for Northern Illinois (59-32-175). The Panthers also won the battle of the digs, 70-57. Sophomore Kristin Belzung (Ankeny, Iowa) had a career-high 54 assists for UNI.
With the win, UNI improves to 2-0 on the season, while Northern Illinois falls to 0-2. The Panthers are next in action next Friday night (Sept. 2), when they will face 25th-ranked Pepperdine in Malibu, Calif.
