University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Cal State Northridge
Panthers Defeat Cal State Northridge, 3-1
9/3/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2005
Malibu, Calif. - Sophomore outside hitter Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) had a career-high 24 kills and added 11 digs, to lead the University of Northern Iowa volleyball team to a 3-1 win over Cal State Northridge tonight at the Pepperdine Classic. Game scores were 30-24, 30-19, 31-33 and 30-13.
Rowen's 24 kills bettered her previous career-best of 21, set last season against Notre Dame, and she has now posted double-doubles (kills-digs) in three of five matches this season. Senior co-captains Stephanie Germann (LeMars, Iowa) and Stephanie May (Dubuque, Iowa) also reached double-figure kills with 16 and 12, respectively. Junior libero Patricia Dietz (Tripoli, Iowa) posted a career-high 29 digs, and a total of five Panthers reached double-figures in digs in the match.
The Panthers fell behind early in game one, as Cal State Northridge jumped out to a 5-1 lead. The Matadors led 13-8 before UNI went on a 10-0 run to post an 18-13 advantage, with CSUN never getting closer than four points the rest of the way en route to a 30-22 Panther victory. UNI's defense was outstanding, holding Northridge to just .068 hitting (12-9-44) in the game.
UNI jumped on Northridge early in the second game, building a 9-2 edge and forcing a Matador timeout. CSUN went on a 9-2 run of its own to even the score at 11-all. The game remained tight until the midway point, when the Panthers used a 6-1 run to turn a 17-15 lead into a 23-16 advantage and cruise home, 30-19. The Panthers hit .257 (12-3-35) in the second game, while the Matadors hit just .021 (12-11-47).
After Cal State Northridge pulled out a tight 33-31 win in game three, UNI ran away with the fourth game, 30-13, to claim the match. Rowen had seven kills in the final game alone, as the Panthers hit .400 (16-2-35) in the final contest to earn the match victory. Northridge hit -.071 (8-11-42) in the fourth game.
UNI's Kristin Belzung (Ankeny, Iowa) and Germann were named to the All-Tournament team.
UNI improves to 4-1 on the season, while Cal State Northridge falls to 2-4. The Panthers are next in action on Wednesday, Sept. 7 when they host Iowa State at the West Gym in their 2005 home opener. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m.
