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University of Northern Iowa
Western Illinois
Panthers Close West Gym in Style
11/7/2006 7:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 7, 2006
Cedar Falls, Iowa - Trista Humpal (New Hampton, Iowa) had 11 kills and Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) added 10 as the University of Northern Iowa volleyball team posted a 3-0 win over Western Illinois Tuesday night. Game scores were 30-17, 30-17 and 30-18.
It was the final volleyball match in the West Gym for the Panthers, who open the McLeod Center Nov. 18 by hosting Bradley. Having played its home matches at the West Gym since 1980, UNI's all-time record in the venerable building ends at an amazing 284-37, including 188-12 since 1990.
Western Illinois scored the first five points of the match - four on UNI hitting errors - before the Panthers regrouped. After a timeout, UNI went on a 17-4 run, with four kills from Humpal, to take control. The Panthers claimed a 30-17 win in the first game, including recording six service aces along the way.
The Panthers jumped to a 7-3 lead in game two, with Ashten Stelken (Manchester, Iowa) having three kills during that stretch. Leading 14-10, the Panthers went on a 6-1 run - including three kills from Rowen - to open a 20-11 advantage. WIU never got closer than eight points the rest of the way as UNI won, 30-17.
Leading 8-5 in game three, Rowen had a kill and a pair of service aces that started a 7-0 run, building UNI's advantage to 15-5. The Panthers held a double-digit lead most of the rest of the way, eventually winning, 30-18.
UNI hit .343 (51-14-108) on the night, marking the fourth time in the last five matches the Panthers have hit better than .300 as a team. Western Illinois hit just .154 (29-15-91). UNI also had more digs (40-37) and blocks (8-5) than the Westerwinds. The Panthers 11 service aces tied a season high.
With the win, UNI improves to 22-7 overall, while Western Illinois falls to 12-14. UNI's next match is this Friday night (Nov. 10), when it travels to face Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind. First serve is 6:00 p.m. (central time).
