University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Central Michigan
Panthers Top Central Michigan 3-0 In Season Opener
8/27/2010 8:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Aug. 27, 2010
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The University of Northern Iowa women's volleyball team opened the 2010 season on a high note, topping Central Michigan 3-0 in the first game of the Mortar Board Premier Tournament hosted by Purdue. Set scores were 25-21, 25-23, 25-14.
Bre Payton led the way for the Panthers on the offensive side, registering eight kills. Megan Lehman and Amy Braun finished with six and five kills, respectively. On the defensive end, Ellie Blankenship recorded her first double-digit dig match of the 2010 season, registering 11 digs. The Panthers held the Chippewas to just a .147 attack percentage for the match.
The Panthers jumped out to a 4-0 lead early in set one and never looked back, leading the entire first set and eventually earning the set by a score of 25-21. Krista DeGeest and Megan Lehman combined to get three of the Panthers first points off consecutive kills. A block by Lehman put the Panthers up 4-0 before the Chippewas managed to get on the board. The Chippewas would get as close as four numerous times, but the Panthers thwarted any hopes of a Chippewa come back with a block from DeGeest and Beth Discher to pick up the final point and take the first set.
Set two saw the Chippewas take a 5-1 lead on the Panthers early, but the Panther offense came charging back and tied the set at 8-8. Neither team managed to build more than a two point lead before Chelsea Saunders delivered back-to-back service aces to put the Panthers up 23-19. Central Michigan closed the gap at 23-22, but a kill by DeGeest gave the Panthers a 24-22 lead. CMU's Jocelyn VerVelde closed the gap again at 24-23, but Amy Braun sealed the win for the Panthers with a kill, giving the Panthers the win in set two, 25-23.
CMU jumped out to an early lead again in the third set, but the Panthers tied it at 5-5 off a Chippewa attack error. The Panthers then went on a 4-0 run to extend their lead at 9-5. The Chippewa's made a run, closing the gap at 11-9, but the Panthers rattled off five straight points to extend their lead to 16-10. CMU would never get any closer than six the rest of the way and UNI claimed the 25-14 win.
Following the match, awards were given to three members of each team based on academic and community service involvement. Shelby Kintzel was named the top scholar on the Panther team while Candice Burke earned the most improved scholar award. The community service award was given to Megan Lehman.
The Panthers return to action tomorrow at the Mortar Board Premier Tournament, facing Western Kentucky at 11 a.m. and host Purdue at 6:30 p.m..
