University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
20-10, 14-4MVC
Loyola
9-19, 5-13MVC
UNI Tops Loyola, 3-1; Panthers Nab 20th Win
11/22/2014 1:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
CHICAGO, Ill. – The University of Northern Iowa volleyball squad clinched the No. 2 seed for the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament with a 3-1 victory at Loyola in Gentile Arena on Saturday night.
UNI (20-10 overall, 14-4 MVC) was able to climb out of a one-set deficit and won the final three sets by the score of 22-25, 25-16, 25-15, 25-23. Loyola finished the season with a mark of 9-19 overall and 5-13 in league play.
Loyola took the first set, 25-22. UNI led by scores of 9-7 and 14-12 before Loyola rallied to take the lead. The Ramblers used an 8-2 run to take a 22-17 lead and seize control of the opening set.
UNI bounced back with a 25-16 win in the second set. The Panthers scored the first four points and eventually opened up a 12-5 lead. UNI limited Loyola to an .026 hitting percentage in the set.
UNI used a 13-2 run to cruise to a 25-15 third-set victory. UNI and Loyola were knotted at 2-2, when UNI scored 13 of the next 15 points – including a stretch of seven consecutive points. UNI hit .293 in the third set with 14 kills and only two errors.
Loyola took a 4-1 lead early in the fourth set before UNI battled back to tie it at 9-9. UNI exploded with five straight points to break a 13-13 tie and take an 18-13 lead. Loyola returned the favor and tied the set against 23-23. However, UNI was able to close out the set and the match with two straight points, 25-23.
UNI will be in action next Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the MVC Tournament semifinals against the winner of the Wichita State/Indiana State winner in the McLeod Center.
NOTES: UNI clinched its 17th consecutive 20-win season with the victory over Loyola … Kayla Haneline tied her career-high with 17 kills … Leigh Pudwell also added 16 kills to lead the Panthers to the 3-1 victory … Amie Held registered 20 digs – her 11th 20-plus dig effort of the season … Kinsey Caldwell added 42 assists and 13 digs – her 15th double-double of the year.
