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Sept. 23, 2006

Final Stats

Springfield, Mo. - The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team dropped the first two games, but was able to rally for a 3-2 win at Missouri State Saturday afternoon. Game scores in favor of UNI were 26-30, 25-30, 30-16, 30-22 and 15-13.

It was the second time this season UNI had dropped the first two games of a match and then win in five. The Panthers also came from two down to win on Sept. 9 against Alabama, and improved their record this year in five-game matches to 4-1. UNI is an impressive 28-7 in five-gamers since the start of the 1997 season.

Three players had double-doubles for the Panthers. Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) led UNI with 14 kills and added 19 digs, for her sixth double-double of the year. Ashten Stelken (Manchester, Iowa) had 10 kills and a career-high 10 blocks, while setter Kristin Belzung (Ankeny, Iowa) had 41 assists and 11 digs. Libero Stephanie May (Dubuque, Iowa) had a team-high 20 digs, the fifth time in her last eight matches she has recorded 20 or more.

Neither team held more than a one-point lead in game five until the Panthers scored two straight, on kills by Danielle Brazda (Omaha, Neb.) and Stelken to go up 8-6. Missouri State stayed within striking distance, but two straight Bears errors gave the Panthers a 12-9 lead. MSU had back-to-back kills to pull within 12-11, but after a UNI timeout, the Panthers scored two straight to open a 14-11 advantage. MSU scored the next two points to make the score 14-13, but after the Panthers' second timeout, freshman Shannon Aschoff (Ankeny, Iowa) recorded the match-winning kill to give UNI the 15-13 victory.

UNI held a 24-20 lead in the first game before Missouri State scored five straight to go in front, 25-24. Amy Sampson (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and Rowen each had kills to pull the Panthers even, 26-all, but the Bears rattled off the final four points to win, 30-26.

The Bears used another four point run in game two to take a 19-15 lead. The Panthers pulled to within three on several occasions after that, but could get no closer as MSU took a 2-0 lead into the 10-minute intermission with the 30-25 win.

The Panthers controlled game three from the outset, jumping to leads of 5-1, 13-6 and 18-7 on their way to a 30-16 win. The Panthers got four kills from Rowen in the third game, and had eight of their 18 total team blocks, as they held the Bears to -.140 hitting (8-14-43).

UNI carried that momentum through the fourth game, as they opened a 10-5 lead, forcing an early Missouri State timeout. The Bears got no closer than five points the rest of the way, however, as the Panthers hit .229 (15-7-35) and held MSU to .073 hitting (14-11-41). UNI posted a 30-22 win, forcing the decisive fifth game.

For the match, UNI hit .156 (57-30-173), while Missouri State hit .102 (63-44-197). The Panthers had 75 digs and 18 total team blocks, while MSU had 70 digs and 13 blocks.

The Panthers are now 10-6 overall, 2-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Missouri State falls to 10-3, 3-1 in conference. UNI's next match is this Friday night when Evansville comes to the West Gym. First serve is 7:00 p.m.