UNI Erases 2-0 Deficit but Falls to Illinois State

Saturday, September 25

Cedar Falls, Iowa

5 pm

University of Northern Iowa

6-9,1-1MVC

Illinois State University

5-9,1-1MVC

Illinois St.

UNI

UNI Erases 2-0 Deficit but Falls to Illinois State

9/25/2021 8:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The UNI Panther volleyball team rallied from a two-set deficit to force a fifth and final frame Saturday in the McLeod Center before the Illinois State Redbirds picked up the 3-2 victory with set scores of 25-21, 25-18, 23-25, 21-25, and 15-12.

UNI led Illinois State in attack percentage, .177 to .154, within its first five-set match this season. The Panthers also tallied five service aces, 73 digs, and nine blocks as a team during the contest.

Emily Holterhaus registered a season-best 17 kills and added 11 digs for her second double-double of the week. Jenna Brandt topped UNI setters with a season-high-tying 25 assists. Tayler Alden had a team-leading two aces. Payton Ahrenstorff's career-high 15 digs and Inga Rotto's season-high-tying five blocks highlighted the defensive effort.

Set 1: Illinois State opened the match on a 5-0 run and never trailed en route to a 25-21 set win. UNI trailed by as many as 10 points but closed the gap to 17-12 on a 6-1 spurt. The Panthers climbed within three points several times including at 24-21 on a Kira Fallert kill before the Redbirds won the frame.

Set 2: The Redbirds also went wire to wire in the second stanza. Illinois State rattled off four consecutive points to begin their 25-18 triumph that secured a 2-0 match lead. The Redbirds broke loose from the Panthers following Kaylee Donner's service ace that temporarily cut the deficit to 6-5.

Set 3: UNI responded with a 7-3 start during the third featuring two kills and one service ace from Tayler Alden. The Panthers pushed their way towards set point at 24-19 and finally converted on an Inga Rotto kill that finished off a 25-23 victory.

Set 4: The Panthers had another strong outburst to begin the fourth with a combined block from Emily Holterhaus and Carly Spies setting the early advantage at 5-1. UNI was ahead for the entire frame and created the 2-2 tie for the contest when a setter dump from Tayler Alden wrapped up a 25-21 win.

Set 5: A back-and-forth start to the decisive set quickly changed when Illinois State's 5-0 run put the Redbirds ahead by a 9-4 margin. UNI answered with a run of its own, and Emily Holterhaus provided the termination that leveled the score at 11-11. However, the Redbirds pulled away from there for the 15-12 triumph.

UP NEXT
The Panthers will be back in the McLeod Center for another Missouri Valley Conference home match Friday against the Drake Bulldogs. First serve is scheduled for 7 pm.