University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
*Wichita State
Wichita State Defeats UNI, 3-1
10/21/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 21, 2006
Cedar Falls, Iowa - Wichita State volleyball snapped the University of Northern Iowa's eight-match winning streak by recording a 3-1 win tonight at the West Gym. Game scores were 31-29, 28-30, 30-22 and 30-20 in favor of the Shockers.
UNI was led by Shannon Achoff (Ankeny, Iowa) who had 14 kills. Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) had a double-double with 11 kills and 16 digs, while Ashten Stelken (Manchester, Iowa) also had 11 kills for the Panthers. Libero Stephanie May (Dubuque, Iowa) had a team-high 17 digs.
The first game was tight throughout. Wichita State held a three-point lead, 22-19, but UNI scored five of the next six points to go up 24-23. Neither team held more than a one point lead until the score was 29-all, when WSU scored two straight points on a kill and service ace to win, 31-29.
The Panthers evened the match at one game all with a 30-28 win in game two. The Panthers held a 21-15 edge, but the Shockers rattled off five straight to pull within 21-20. UNI maintained a slight lead, however, until WSU finally pulled even at 28-all. But the Shockers gave UNI the lead right back with a service error, and Rowen finished the game off with a blistering cross court kill. UNI hit .310 (18-5-42) in the second game.
Trista Humpal (New Hampton, Iowa) and Stelken helped UNI jump out to a 16-9 lead in the third game, as they each had a pair of kills during that stretch. But Wichita State then scored seven straight points to pull even at 16-all, and carried that momentum through the rest of the game, posting a 30-22 win.
The Shockers never trailed in game four, opening leads of 8-4 and 14-8 early. Trailing 19-13, UNI made a hard run at the Shockers, reeling off four straight points, including a pair of service aces by Brittany Bakker (Dike, Iowa). But 19-17 was as close as UNI would get, as WSU scored the next nine points to go up 28-17, eventually winning 30-20.
Wichita State hit .283 in the match (73-22-180), while UNI hit .176 (57-26-176). UNI had more total team blocks (11-10), while WSU won the battle of digs, 86-65.
With the win, Wichita State improves to 18-4 overall, 9-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while UNI falls to 17-7 overall, 9-2 in league matches. After tonight's action, WSU, UNI and Missouri State are locked in a three-way tie for first place.
