University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Colorado State
UNI Tops 22nd-ranked Colorado State
9/3/2005 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 3, 2005
Malibu, Calif. - Four Panthers reached double figures in kills as the University of Northern Iowa volleyball team defeated 22nd-ranked Colorado State, 3-2, this afternoon at the Pepperdine Classic. Game scores were 21-30, 30-24, 26-30, 30-25 and 16-14 in favor of UNI.
Sophomore outside hitter Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) led UNI with 16 kills, while adding 15 digs for her second double-double of the year. Junior Stephanie May (Dubuque, Iowa) also had a double-double with 15 kills and 10 digs. Freshman right side hitter Ashten Stelken (Manchester, Iowa) had the best match of her young Panther career, with 12 kills and four blocks, while hitting a team-best .407 (12-1-27). Senior middle blocker Stephanie Germann (LeMars, Iowa) had 10 kills and hit .357 (10-0-28), while adding six blocks.
The two teams split the first four games before playing the decisive fifth and final contest, which was close throughout. Both teams were clicking offensively in the fifth game, with UNI hitting .407 (13-2-27) and Colorado State hitting .400 (11-1-25). Late in the game, UNI found itself serving with a 14-12 lead, but CSU won the next two points to even the match at 14. However, Rowen delivered back-to-back kills to give the Panthers a 16-14 win, its first victory over a ranked opponent since defeating #20 UC Santa Barbara, 3-2, in the first round of the 2003 NCAA tournament.
Panthers sophomore setter Kristin Belzung (Ankeny, Iowa) had 39 assists and a career-high 15 digs. Libero Patricia Dietz (Tripoli, Iowa) had 14 digs for the Panthers. In team statistics, Colorado State topped UNI in kills (97-63) and digs (91-66), but UNI won the battle of blocking (12.0-6.5). In addition, the Panthers were helped by 14 Rams service errors, while committing just two service errors of their own.
UNI improves to 3-1 on the season, while Colorado State falls to 1-1. UNI completes play in the Pepperdine Classic tonight at 7:00 p.m., facing Cal State Northridge.
