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University of Northern Iowa
Evansville
Evansville Defeats UNI, 3-1
11/1/2008 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Nov. 1, 2008
Evansville, Ind. - Sally Kulupka had a match-high 17 kills as the University of Evansville volleyball team defeated the University of Northern Iowa, 3-1, this evening at the Carson Center. Set scores were 25-18, 26-24, 20-25 and 25-18 in favor of the Purple Aces.
UNI was led by senior middle blocker Ashten Stelken, who had 13 kills and six blocks. Senior outside hitter Amy Sampson added 10 kills, and junior outside hitter Shannon Aschoff had a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs. Sophomore libero Ellie Blankenship led all players with 26 digs. Evansville hit .242 as a team, while UNI hit .211. The Purple Aces had more digs in the match (80-63), while UNI had more blocks (10-7).
Evansville never trailed in the first set, opening a 10-3 lead to start the match. Aschoff and Michelle Burow each had two kills during a 7-3 run that saw the Panthers get within 13-10, but UE scored four straight to extend its lead to 17-10. UNI didn't get closer than six points the rest of the way, as the Purple Aces won, 25-18.
UE broke a 10-10 tie in the second set, scoring six of the next seven points to move in front 16-11. The Panthers battled back, getting a pair of kills from Sampson, to pull within 17-14. Trailing 23-19, UNI scored four straight to tie the score, before the Purple Aces took the lead 24-23. Stelken had a kill to get UNI even once again at 24-all, but Brooke Maher and Kulupka had back-to-back kills to give Evansville the 26-24 second-set victory.
UNI bounced back in set three, taking a 9-5 lead at the start. The Panthers held the lead the rest of the way, and although the Purple Aces pulled within three as late as 20-17, the Panthers were able to hold UE off and earn the 25-20 win.
The score was tied at 6-6 in set four, before Evansville scored eight of the next nine points to open a 14-7 lead. That run proved to be the difference, as UNI was unable to get closer than four points the rest of the way, as UE won the set 25-18 and earned the match victory.
It was Evansville's first-ever win over UNI in volleyball, with the Panthers all-time record against the Purple Aces now standing at 30-1. With the win, Evansville improved to 13-12 overall and 7-5 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while UNI fell to 20-5, 10-3 in The Valley. The Panthers are next in action a week from tonight (Nov. 8) when they travel to face Bradley in Peoria, Ill.
