University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Pepperdine
#25 Pepperdine Tops UNI, 3-1
9/2/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 2, 2005
Malibu, Calif. - The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team suffered its first loss of the season tonight, dropping a hard-fought 3-1 decision to 25th-ranked Pepperdine at the Pepperdine Classic. Game scores were 30-25, 30-26, 23-30 and 30-22 in favor of the host Waves.
Sophomore middle blocker Danielle Brazda (Omaha, Neb.) led the way for UNI with 15 kills, and hit .310 (15-6-29) on the evening. Junior outside hitter Stephanie May (Dubuque, Iowa) also reached double-digits in kills with 11, while sophomore Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) added nine kills. Junior libero Patricia Dietz (Tripoli, Iowa) had a career-high 16 digs for UNI.
After Pepperdine defeated UNI in game one, the second game was tied as late at 25-all, but the Waves ended the game on a 5-1 run to go up two games to none. UNI rebounded in the third game, leading from start to finish and posting a 30-23 win, to pull within two games to one. The Panthers hit .400 (19-3-40) in the third game, with setter Kristin Belzung (Ankeny, Iowa) recording 15 assists. Rowen had five kills in the game.
Pepperdine built a 20-15 lead in game four, but UNI rallied, winning five straight points on the serve of sophomore Brittany Bakker (Dike, Iowa), to pull even at 20. After a Waves timeout, however, Pepperdine scored seven straight points to pull away and earn the match victory.
UNI falls to 2-1 on the season, while Pepperdine is now 1-0. UNI plays two more matches tomorrow in the Waves' tournament, squaring off with 22nd-ranked Colorado State at 2:30 p.m. and Cal State Northridge at 7:00 p.m.
