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University of Northern Iowa
Iowa
Iowa Tops UNI in Five
9/27/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 27, 2005
Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) had 21 kills and five players reached double figures in kills, but it was not enough as the University of Northern Iowa volleyball team fell to Iowa, 3-2, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Game scores were 30-28, 26-30, 30-25, 24-30 and 20-18 in favor of the Hawkeyes.
Panthers libero Patricia Dietz (Tripoli, Iowa) set both a UNI and Missouri Valley Conference record with 45 digs. UNI's previous record was 39 by Mary Bernhardt in 1987, while the previous MVC mark was 41 by Kelly Spisak of Indiana State, set last season. Dietz's dig total was also the most in an NCAA match this season, with the previous high being 43 by Sydney Donahue of Arizona State on Sept. 4 versus Notre Dame.
In addition to Rowen, also in double figure kills for UNI were Stephanie Germann (LeMars, Iowa) with 16, Danielle Brazda (Omaha, Neb.) with 14, Trista Humpal (New Hampton, Iowa) with 13, and Stephanie May (Dubuque, Iowa) with 11. Kristin Belzung (Ankeny, Iowa) had a career-high 20 digs and Rowen added 16. Humpal led the way in blocking with 10, including three solos.
Each team had numerous chances to win the fifth and deciding game. Iowa held a 13-10 advantage before the Panthers rattled off three straight to tie the match. UNI served for match point at 15-14, 16-15, and 17-16, with Iowa having serves for the win at 14-13, 18-17 and 19-18. Finally, on its third match point the Hawks converted a kill off the Panthers' block to earn the 20-18 victory.
With UNI leading, 19-15, in the first game, the Hawkeyes called timeout and proceeded to go on a 9-2 run to open a 24-21 edge. Iowa kept its advantage, leading 29-25, before UNI ran of three straight points to pull within 29-28. However, the Hawks were able to put the ball away to win the first game, 30-28.
UNI held the lead through much of game two and was able to even the match at 1-1. After the Panthers opened up a 20-16 edge, Iowa called timeout and ran off four straight points to tie the game at 20-all. But UNI would never give the lead up, as Germann had three straight kills during a 5-1 run as the Panthers opened up a 27-22 lead. Iowa pulled to within 28-26, and after a Panther timeout, a Humpal kill on an overpass followed by an Iowa hitting error gave UNI the second game, 30-26. Rowen had seven kills in the second game alone, and UNI hit .390 (21-5-41) as a team.
Neither team held more than a two point lead in game three until the midpoint, when Iowa went on an 8-1 run to open a 25-18 lead. The Hawks led 28-20 before UNI made a late push, pulling within 28-24, before Iowa scored two of the game's final three points to win, 30-25.
UNI fell behind early in game four, 5-1, but responded with a 6-0 run to take the lead 7-5. The Panthers led 13-9 before Iowa went on a 6-0 run to take a 15-13 advantage. Brazda and May had back-to-back kills to give the Panthers the lead for good, 18-17, eventually winning 30-24. May had six kills and Germann five during the game.
With the win, Iowa improves to 11-4 overall, while UNI falls to 10-5. The Panthers next match is this Friday night (Sept. 30) when they face Bradley in Peoria, Ill.
