UNI Volleyball Loses MVC Opener to ISU Redbirds

Friday, September 16

Cedar Falls, Iowa

5 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

6-4 (0-1MVC)

Illinois State

6-5 (1-0MVC)

Illinois State

UNI

UNI Volleyball Loses MVC Opener to ISU Redbirds

9/16/2016 7:37:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA - The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team dropped its Missouri Valley Conference opener on Friday against the Illinois State Redbirds, 3-2.

Illinois State won by set scores of 21-25, 25-19, 25-20, 27-29, 15-11. The Redbirds improved 6-5 on the season, while the Panthers fall to 6-5.

UNI sophomore Bri Weber set a career high with 22 kills. Weber also became the 25th Panther to record 20-kill, 20-dig match, as she tallied 23 digs.

Panthers captured the first set 25-21. UNI had 15 kills (.245 hitting percentage). UNI held a 16-9 lead mid-way through the set. Illinois State closed to within 18-16. The Redbirds pulled to within one point 21-20, but the Panthers scored four of the last five points to win the set.

The Redbirds jumped out to a 7-2 advantage forcing the Panthers to take a timeout. UNI trimmed the margin to two points at 13-11, but could not get any closer. Illinois State had 18 kills and had only one attack error for a .425 hitting percentage.

Illinois State took a 2-1 lead in the match with a 25-20 set win. The set was tied 11-11 before the Redbirds went on a 6-1 run to take a 17-12 advantage. UNI clawed back and tied the set 20-20. Illinois State then closed the set on a 5-0 run. The Redbirds had 17 kills and only three errors for a .350 hitting percentage in the set.

UNI evened the match 2-2 with a 29-27 triumph in the fourth set. UNI held off a set point at 25-24. The Panthers finished off the win on their fourth set point.

For the second straight match, UNI found itself in a five-set thriller. The decisive set was tied 9-9 before the Redbirds finished the match on a 6-2 run.

Illinois State's Courtney Pence registered 44 digs, the fifth-highest total in MVC history.

UNI's Kayla Haneline posted 17 kills. Heather Hook added 53 assists. Kendyl Sorge secured 21 digs.

The Panther will be back in action tomorrow at noon against the Northwestern Wildcats.