University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Minnesota (Border Battle)
Minnesota Takes 3-1 Decision From UNI
9/13/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 13, 2006
Rochester, Minn. - The University of Minnesota posted a 3-1 win over the University of Northern Iowa tonight in the Border Battle played at the Mayo Civic Center. Game scores were 30-16, 30-22, 25-30 and 30-21 in favor of the Golden Gophers.
UNI opened a quick 4-1 lead to start the match, on three straight kills and a block by Trista Humpal (New Hampton, Iowa) and Shannon Achoff (Ankeny, Iowa). The Panthers led 6-4 before Kyla Roehrig got started, rattling off five kills in six points to give Minnesota a 9-7 lead. That was the start of a 21-5 run that gave the Gophers a 25-11 lead, en route to the 30-16 win. Minnesota hit .389 (19-5-36) in the first game to just .091 (9-6-33) for UNI.
Minnesota carried that momentum into the early part of game four, surging to a 6-1 lead. UNI then scored five in a row - including two kills and a block from Aschoff - to pull within 6-5. Minnesota went on an 8-1 run to open a 14-6 lead, before UNI rattled off 11 straight points on the serve of Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa), forcing the Gophers to call two timeouts in the process. Minnesota answered with a 7-1 streak of its own to reclaim the lead at 21-18, and after the Panthers pulled within 21-20, Minnesota ended the game with a 9-2 run to win, 30-22.
UNI led throughout game three, holding leads of 11-6, 14-8 and 18-11 on its way to a 30-25 win. UNI never let the Golden Gophers get closer than five points the last half of the game as they pulled to within two games to one. The Panthers recorded 15 kills and five blocks in the third game.
The Golden Gophers never trailed in game four, opening a 13-6 lead early. The Panthers scored three straight, including a solo block from Amy Sampson, to pull within 13-9. Another Panther block and a kill from Rowen helped UNI pull within 20-15, but Minnesota then went on a 5-1 run to open a 25-16 lead, eventually winning, 30-21, to claim the match.
For the match, Minnesota hit .218 (68-27-188) as a team while UNI hit just .034 (41-35-179). The Panthers had 14.5 total team blocks on the night.
With the win, Minnesota improves to 3-4 on the season, while UNI falls to 7-5. The Panthers open Missouri Valley Conference play this Saturday night (Sept. 16) when they travel to face Bradley in Peoria, Ill.
