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University of Northern Iowa
Illinois State
Panthers Defeat Illinois State, 3-2
10/25/2008 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Oct. 25, 2008
Cedar Falls, Iowa - Led by Ellie Blankenship's career-high 38 digs, the University of Northern Iowa volleyball team posted a thrilling 3-2 win over Illinois State in front of 1,672 fans Saturday night at the McLeod Center Set scores were 25-21, 25-19, 25-27, 20-25 and 15-13 in favor of the Panthers.
In a dazzling defensive effort, the Panthers and Redbirds combined for 243 digs - 131 by Illinois State and 112 by UNI. Five ISU players had more than 20 digs, while Blankenship was joined in double-figures by Shannon Aschoff (career-high tying 20), Ashten Stelken having a season-high 11, while Payton added a career-best eight.
Offensively, UNI was led by Amy Sampson's 16 kills, while Stelken added 14 and Aschoff 12. ISU's Mallory Leggett led all players with 21 kills, with teammate Peggy Riessen adding 20.
To start the match, UNI used four straight kills to break a 10-10 tie. The Panthers extended their lead to 19-14, with Michelle Burow getting two kills during the run, before ISU answered. The Redbirds scored six of the next eight points to get within 21-20, but a kill from Stelken stemmed the tide and started a string of three straight Panther points, helping UNI post the 25-21 first-set win.
The Panthers controlled the second set from the beginning, jumping to an 8-2 lead and never looking back. Sampson, Aschoff and Stelken combined for 13 of UNI's 15 kills in the second set, as the Panthers held at least a five-point lead the entire way after their strong start. UNI hit .310 (15-2-42) in the second set to .143 (14-8-42) by ISU as the Panthers won, 25-19.
Illinois State scored five of the first six points in set three, forcing UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen to take timeout. The Redbirds were in front 12-6, before kills from Beth Discher and Aschoff started a 5-1 run that got UNI within 13-11. ISU had a run of its own to extend its lead back to five, 18-14, but the Panthers battled back after their second timeout to pull even at 20. UNI took its first lead of the set, 22-21, on a service ace from Saunders, but Riessen had back-to-back kills to put ISU in front, 23-22, and the Redbirds would not trail again. ISU finally converted on its third set point, posting a 27-25 win.
ISU held an 8-6 lead in the fourth set, but was able to score four of the next points to push its lead to 12-7. The Redbirds were in front 18-12 before the Panthers made a push, getting two kills from Sampson and a pair of blocks during a 6-1 run that got UNI within 19-18. But Illinois State scored the next five points to go up 24-18 and eventually posted a 25-20 win, forcing the decisive fifth set.
Illinois State's momentum continued early in set five, as it opened a 6-3 lead. UNI scored two straight on a Stelken kill and an ISU hitting error, but the Redbirds got those two points right back to open an 8-5 advantage. The Panthers pulled even at eight, but Illinois State scored three of the next four to go back in front 11-9. An ISU hitting error followed by a block from Stelken and Aschoff got UNI even at 11, before a Redbird kill gave them a 12-11 lead. Stelken then went to work, getting two straight kills, followed by a Saunders service ace, to put UNI in front 14-12. After an ISU kill, Stelken put the ball away to give the Panthers the 15-13 win and the match victory.
It was `Dig Pink' night at the McLeod Center. Dig Pink is a national program to raise funds for breast cancer research. College and high school volleyball programs from around the nation are using matches during the month of October (breast cancer awareness month) to promote this important cause.
With the win, UNI improved to 19-4 overall and 9-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Illinois State fell to 12-11, 5-6 in The Valley. The Panthers hit the road next weekend, traveling to face Southern Illinois on Oct. 31.
