.png&width=20&height=20&type=webp)
University of Northern Iowa
Missouri State
Missouri State Hands UNI 3-1 Loss
10/18/2008 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 18, 2008
Springfield, Mo. - Shannon Aschoff had 16 kills and Amy Sampson added 13, but it was not enough as the Missouri State volleyball team posted a 3-1 win over the University of Northern Iowa tonight at the Hammons Student Center. Set scores were 25-23, 14-25, 25-22, 25-23 in favor of the Bears.
The Panthers tied their season-high with 18 team blocks, which they also had last night it the 3-2 loss to 14th-ranked Wichita State. Ashten Stelken led the way with 11 blocks, including three solos, while setter Bre Payton added six blocks. Missouri State was led by Addie Foley who had 16 kills.
UNI held a 7-5 lead early in set one, but the Bears got four straight kills to take the lead, 9-7. The Panthers got back-to-back kills from Beth Discher to tie the score at 10, but MSU scored four of the next five points to move back in front, 14-11. The Bears built their lead to as many as five, 22-17, before UNI scored two straight to get within 22-19.
MSU held a 24-21 lead, but a Sampson kill and a block from Discher and Michelle Burow got UNI within 24-23. But the Bears were able to record a kill on their third set point, posting the 25-23 win. The Panthers hit an impressive .444 (14-2-27) in the first set, while Missouri State hit .361 (18-5-36).
UNI dominated the second set, and defense at the net was the big reason why. The Panthers racked up five team blocks early - including a solo from Stelken - as they built a 10-6 lead. UNI got kills from Sampson and Aschoff, a block from Burow and Discher, and a service ace from Ellie Blankenship to extend its advantage to 14-8, forcing an MSU timeout.
But UNI kept the pressure on, immediately going on a 9-3 run, and eventually posted a 25-14 second-set victory. The Panthers held the Bears to -.031 hitting (10-11-32), as they racked up nine total team blocks in the second set alone.
Missouri State broke an early tie in the third set with a 5-1 run, opening an 8-4 advantage. The Bears held a 12-8 lead, before Stelken showed her blocking force at the net again. She was a part of five blocks in the next seven points, as UNI went on a 6-1 run to move in front, 14-13.
The Bears were able to tie the score at 15, and then scored three straight to open an 18-15 advantage. Trailing 23-20, UNI scored two straight on kills from Discher and Stelken to get within one, but the Bears had a kill and a block to win the third set, 25-22.
UNI surged to a 7-1 lead to start the fourth set, with Aschoff having a pair of kills and Blankenship a service ace. Missouri State rallied, scoring seven of the next nine points to get within 9-8. With the Panthers in front 11-10, UNI got three kills from Aschoff during a 5-1 run that saw them extend their cushion to 16-11.
The Panthers led 21-15, but Missouri State scored seven of the next eight points to tie the score at 22-all. After an Aschoff kill gave the Panthers a 23-22 lead, Missouri State scored the final three points to earn the 25-23 fourth set win and the match victory.
Two Panthers achieved statistical milestones in the match. Senior outside hitter Amy Sampson recorded her 1,000th career kill, becoming the 19th UNI player to reach that mark. Sophomore libero Ellie Blankenship got her 1,000th career dig, making her the 12th UNI player to hit that number.
Missouri State improves to 15-7 on the season, 6-3 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while UNI falls to 17-4, 7-2 in The Valley. The Panthers are next in action Friday, Oct. 24 when they play host to Indiana State at the McLeod Center. First serve is set for 7 pm.
