.png&width=20&height=20&type=webp)
University of Northern Iowa
Illinois State
Volleyball Claims MVC Title With 3-1 Win over Illinois State
11/24/2007 7:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 24, 2007
Springfield, Mo. - Amy Sampson had 19 kills, and four teammates also reached double-digits in kills, as the University of Northern Iowa volleyball team posted a 3-1 win over Illinois State tonight in the championship match of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Championship. Game scores were 27-30, 30-17, 30-27 and 30-25.
UNI (22-10) claimed its 13th MVC tournament title, and eighth in the last 10 years, with the victory over the Redbirds (21-11). With the win, UNI receives the MVC's automatic bid to the 2007 NCAA Volleyball Championship. The Panthers will learn their first round opponent tomorrow night at 7 pm, with the selection show televised live on ESPNU.
Joining Sampson in double figure kills were Laura Rowen with 16, Ashten Stelken and Danielle Brazda with 12 each, and Shannon Aschoff with 11. Aschoff, Rowen and Brazda were each named to the All-Tournament team, with Aschoff earning Most Valuable Player honors. Freshman libero Ellie Blankenship led all players with 26 digs, while Rowen added 19 for a double-double. Brazda also had four block assists in the match, moving her into first place on the UNI and MVC career lists for block assists. She now has 657, which moved her past former Panther All-American Molly O'Brien (653, 2000-03).
Illinois State never trailed in game one. Leading 10-8, ISU scored six of the next eight points to open a 16-10 advantage. ISU maintained a similar advantage the rest of the way, until UNI made a late push. Trailing 28-23, UNI got a kill from Aschoff and a service ace to pull within 28-26, forcing the Redbirds to take timeout. However, ISU was able to side out the rest of the way for the 30-27 win. Both teams were clicking offensively, as Illinois State hit .370 and UNI hit .326.
UNI controlled the second game, opening leads of 7-3, 15-8 and 21-10 en route to a 30-17 win. Rowen had six kills in game two, and the Panthers posted four team blocks, including three block assists from Brazda. UNI held a double-digit lead the last half of the game, and hit .375 in game two to just .125 for ISU.
The score was tied at 8-all in game three, but Illinois State scored five of the next six points to go in front 13-9. The Redbirds were able to maintain their advantage through the bulk of the game, holding a 26-22 lead late. But the Panthers rallied, scoring five straight points to go in front 27-26, with Sampson and Aschoff each having a pair of kills. ISU's Katie Seyller tied the game with a kill, but the Panthers got a kill from Brazda, a service ace from Melissa Schmitz, and the Redbirds had a hitting error, as UNI won 30-27.
Game four was a back-and-forth affair. Illinois State held a 14-12 lead, but consecutive kills by Stelken and Sampson tied the game at 14. The score was even at 16-all when the Panthers ran off three straight points, including a service ace from Belzung and a block from Sampson and Brazda. The Panthers didn't give up the lead again, as after Illinois State pulled within 24-22, UNI ran off five straight points - including a solo block and two kills from Aschoff - to go up 29-22, and eventually posted a 30-25 win and the match victory.
2007 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament Team Jamie Adams, Missouri State Kristie Berwanger, Southern Illinois Kelly Broussard, Wichita State Bianca Rivera, Creighton Erin Lindsey, Illinois State Mallory Leggett, Illinois State Laura Rowen, UNI Danielle Brazda, UNI Shannon Aschoff, UNI - MVP
