University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Minnesota
Fifth-Ranked Minnesots Defeats UNI
9/13/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 13, 2005
Rochester, Minn. - UNI sophomore outside hitter Laura Rowen had a match-high 14 kills, but it was not enough as the fifth-ranked University of Minnesota defeated the University of Northern Iowa volleyball team, 3-0, tonight in the Border Battle played at the Regional Sports Center. Game scores were 30-21, 31-29 and 30-25.
Rowen added a team-high 17 digs on the evening for her fifth double-double of the season. UNI sophomore middle blocker Danielle Brazda had a match-high nine blocks on the night.
UNI maintained contact with Minnesota throughout the first game, but the Gophers were able to win 30-21. It was 17-14 in favor of Minnesota, before the Gophers went on a 6-1 run to take a 23-15 advantage. However, the Panthers responded with a run of their own to pull within 25-21. Minnesota ran off the final five points to claim the first-game win.
The Panthers, helped by four early service aces, jumped out to a quick 8-1 advantage in game two. But the Golden Gophers answered with a run of their own, taking a 14-12 edge. The game was close from then on out, as neither team held more than a two-point lead the rest of the way. With the score even at 27, the Gophers scored two straight points to take a 29-27 lead. But UNI's Stephanie Germann and Stephanie May had back-to-back kills to even the score at 29-all. A Minnesota kill followed by a UNI hitting error on game point gave the second game to the Gophers, 31-29.
In game three, UNI built another early lead, 8-4, with three kills by Rowen during that run. Minnesota answered with a 7-2 run and took the lead for good, 11-10. The Panthers battled hard, maintaining contact with the Gophers, pulling within three as late as 24-21. But three straight Golden Gopher kills gave them a 27-21 lead and they were able to eventually earn the match victory, 30-25 in the third game.
With the win, Minnesota improves to 7-1, while UNI falls to 6-4. The Panthers are next in action on this Friday night, when they open Missouri Valley Conference play at Drake.
