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Oct. 1, 2004

Box Score

Cedar Falls, Iowa - Sara Younes had a match-high 14 kills and eight service aces to help Wichita State defeat the University of Northern Iowa, 3-0, tonight in volleyball action at the West Gym. Game scores were 30-24, 31-29, 30-28 in favor of the Shockers.

WSU's victory snaps UNI's 74-match home court winning streak. Prior to tonight, the Panthers' last loss was Oct. 31, 1997, when Illinois State posted a 3-1 win over UNI. The Panthers' home streak was the longest active streak in the nation and second longest of all time. Penn State holds the NCAA Division I volleyball record of 87 straight wins from 1995-2000.

WSU took control of game one early, going on a 10-0 run to open up a 21-7 lead. Younes had five consecutive service aces during that run. But UNI battled back, pulling within 28-24 after a 7-1 run of its own, before the Shockers claimed the final two points and the first game.

The second game was close throughout. Neither team had more than a two-point lead after the teams reached double-digits in points, with the Panthers holding the last two-point edge at 25-23. After WSU tied it on back-to-back kills, the teams exchanged points until a Laura Rowen (Hansell, Iowa) kill gave UNI a 29-28 advantage and game point. But WSU scored the last three points on two kills and a service ace to take the second game, 31-29.

Just as in the previous two games, the Shockers started hot in game three, opening up a 12-6 lead. But UNI went on a 13-3 run, helped by four Abby Lemek (Sioux City, Iowa) kills, to open up a 19-15 advantage. After WSU battled back, the teams exchanged points until the score was tied at 28-all. A Shockers' kill followed by a UNI hitting error then sealed the match.

Rachael Tink (Waterloo, Iowa) and Lemek each had 10 kills for the Panthers, with Lemek posting a career-high in that category. WSU hit .274 (54-20-124) for the match, while UNI hit .227 (43-18-110). Each team had eight team blocks.

With the win, Wichita State improves to 9-4 overall and remains a perfect 5-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference. UNI falls to 7-6, 2-2. The Panthers' next action is this Sunday (Oct. 3), when Southwest Missouri State comes to the West Gym. First serve is at 5:00 p.m. and the match will be carried live by College Sports Television.