University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
*Bradley
Panthers Open MVC Play With Sweep
9/16/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 16, 2006
Peoria, Ill. - The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team got Missouri Valley Conference play off to the right start, posting a 3-0 win over Bradley in Peoria, Ill, tonight. Game scores were 30-22, 30-24, 30-20. UNI improved to 8-5 overall, 1-0 in the MVC, while Bradley fell to 3-7, 0-1.
Sophomore middle blocker Ashten Stelken (Manchester, Iowa) had a season-high 13 kills and hit .556 (13-3-18) for the Panthers, while adding a season-best eight blocks. Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) had a double-double with 11 kills and 10 digs, while Danielle Brazda (Omaha, Neb.) had nine kills and tied a season-high with 11 blocks.
UNI held a 20-19 lead in game one, but ended on a 10-3 run to win, 30-22. Rowen had two kills during that late decisive stretch, and the Panthers were helped by four Bradley attack errors during that span.
In game two, it was another late Panthers' run that put them up two games to none. Tied at 22-all, UNI got kills from Rowen and Brazda, along with a service ace from Trista Humpal (New Hampton, Iowa) to go up 25-22. After trading the next four points, the Panthers scored the final three, punctuated by a Rowen and Brazda block, to win 30-24.
The Panthers jumped to a 13-9 lead in game three and controlled things from there, as the Braves got no closer than five points the rest of the way. After Bradley pulled to within 25-20, UNI scored the last five points, three on blocks, to win 30-20 and clinch the match.
UNI hit .234 (48-18-128) on the evening, with 15 total team blocks and 65 digs. Bradley hit .096 (37-24-136) with nine blocks and 56 digs.
The Panthers return to the West Gym tomorrow afternoon (Sept. 17), hosting North Dakota State at 3:00 p.m.
