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University of Northern Iowa
Kansas State
Kansas State Edges UNI
9/8/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Sept. 8, 2006
Cedar Falls, Iowa - Danielle Brazda (Omaha, Neb.) had 16 kills, and Trista Humpal (New Hampton, Iowa) had 13 kills and nine blocks, but it was not enough as Kansas State outlasted the University of Northern Iowa volleyball team, 3-1, in the UNI Invitational. Game scores were 30-27, 30-27, 28-30 and 31-29 in favor of the Wildcats.
Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) was also in double-figure kills for the Panthers with 12, while Stephanie May (Dubuque, Iowa) had a season-high 20 digs. KSU's Jenny Jantsch led all players with 22 kills.
In the first game, Kansas State used a 4-0 run to open a 16-10 lead, and that proved to be the difference. UNI got within two as late as 29-27 after a solo block by Brazda, but KSU responded with a kill to win the opener, 30-27. Both teams were firing on all cylinders offensively, with the Panthers hitting .323 (15-5-31) and the Wildcats .375 (21-6-40). Brazda and Rowen each had four kills in the game for UNI.
The Wildcats went on a late run to go up two games to none. Trailing 25-24, KSU scored five straight points, two on kills from Tiffany Johnson, to take a 29-25 lead. UNI responded with a kill from Ashten Stelken (Manchester, Iowa) and a block from Kristin Belzung (Ankeny, Iowa) and Humpal, but KSU's Ginta Gabruseva put away a cross-court kill for the 30-27 win.
UNI claimed a 30-28 win in the third game, which was a wild back-and-forth affair. The Panthers jumped to a quick 9-4 lead, but the Wildcats rallied to win nine of the next 11 points and lead, 13-11. The match remained tight until the UNI went on a 6-0 run late to open a 28-22 edge, with Rowen sparking the rally with two kills and a block. KSU wouldn't quit, however, rattling off five straight points to pull within 28-27. After the teams traded kills, Humpal gave UNI the win with a put away.
Kansas State went on a 6-0 run to open a 13-7 lead early in game four, forcing UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen to call both of the team's timeouts. The Panthers responded, going on a 14-5 run of their own, to open a 21-18 lead. UNI appeared to be on its way to forcing a fifth and deciding game, leading 25-22, but KSU scored five of the next six points to go up 27-26. The Panthers stood at game point, 29-28, after a hitting error by KSU's Jantsch, but Jantsch recorded kills on the next two points to give the Wildcats a 30-29 lead. They then won the game on a block, claiming the match.
With the win, KSU improves to 7-1 on the season, while UNI falls to 5-4. The UNI Invitational continues tomorrow, with UNI facing Alabama at 12:30 p.m. and 23rd-ranked Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m.
