University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
*Indiana State
UNI Sweeps Indiana State
10/13/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 13, 2006
Cedar Falls, Iowa - Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) had 16 kills and Trista Humpal (New Hampton, Iowa) added 11 to lead the University of Northern Iowa to a 3-0 win over Indiana State Friday night at the West Gym. Game scores were 30-16, 30-16 and 31-29.
The Panthers, who have won six straight matches, hit a season-best .485 (58-9-101) on the night, while holding the Sycamores to .146 hitting (34-20-96). The Panthers had a balanced offensive attack, as Danielle Brazda (Omaha, Neb.) had nine kills, while Shannon Aschoff (Ankeny, Iowa) and Amy Sampson (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) each added eight. Brazda had five blocks on the night, two of them solos.
UNI never trailed in the first game, using a 6-0 run to open a 16-7 advantage. The Sycamores never got closer than eight points the rest of the way, as the Panthers cruised to a 30-16 win. Rowen had seven kills in the first game, and UNI hit .559 (20-1-34).
The Panthers carried that momentum into game two, continuing their torrid offensive pace. UNI trailed, 5-4, before going on a 9-0 run to take control, 13-5. Rowen had three kills and Humpal two during that decisive stretch. The Panthers, who won the game 30-16, hit even better in the second game than they did in the first, connecting at a .630 clip (18-1-27).
Trailing 8-6 in game three, Indiana State scored eight straight points - five on service aces from Stephanie Roof - to open a 14-8 edge. UNI pulled within 15-12, but ISU stretched its lead back to 21-14. The Sycamores kept their advantage, holding leads of 25-16, 28-20 and 29-23, before the Panthers came storming back. Facing match point, the Panthers started their run, helped out by back-to-back ISU ball handling errors.
After a Rowen kill pulled UNI within 29-26, ISU called timeout. But the Sycamores had consecutive hitting errors, followed by another Rowen kill, to even the score at 29-all. After Indiana State called its second and final timeout, Humpal and Rowen teamed up on a block to give UNI a 30-29 lead. Brittany Bakker (Dike, Iowa) then gave UNI the win with a service ace on match point.
UNI improved to 15-6 overall, 7-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Indiana State fell to 4-15, 1-7. The Panthers face Illinois State tomorrow night (Oct. 14) at the West Gym, with first serve set for 7:00 p.m.
