University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Panthers Win MVC Opener Against Loyola
9/20/2013 1:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
CHICAGO, Ill.- The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team defeated Loyola 3-1 in their MVC opener Friday night in Chicago, Illinois. This is the seventh consecutive win for the Panthers.
Courtney Kintzel led the Panthers with 13 kills, and Shelby Kintzel had a .350 hitting percentage. Kinsey Caldwell tallied 45 assists and Macy Ubben recorded 18 digs for the Panthers.
UNI jumped out to an early 8-3 lead in the first set. Loyola brought it back to within four at 17-13, but that was as close as the Ramblers got. The Panthers cruised through the remainder of the set and won it 25-16.
With the score tied at 7-7 in the second set, Loyola went on a 4-0 run to take the lead at 11-7. The Panthers answered with a 7-3 run to tie the set up at 14-14. A kill by Loyola gave them the lead at 15-14, but UNI answered with a kill by Ubben to tie it again at 15-15. The set went back and forth until it was tied at 20-20. An attack error by UNI and a kill by Loyola gave the Ramblers the 22-20 lead. Loyola held the lead and won the set 25-22 to tie the match up at 1-1.
The Panthers took early control of the third set and at the first timeout they had the lead at 12-8. A service ace by Caldwell helped UNI go on a 3-0 run to increase their lead to 15-8. The Panthers maintained control of the rest of the set and won it 25-17 to take the 2-1 match lead.
The score was tied at 4-4 in the fourth set when an attack error by Loyola sparked a 6-1 run by the Panthers to give them the 10-5 lead. Kills by Courtney Kintzel and Leigh Pudwill helped increase UNI's lead to six at 15-9. Loyola couldn't catch the Panthers, and UNI won the set 25-16 and the set 3-1.
The Panthers return to the court on Friday against Wichita State at 7 p.m. at the McLeod Center.