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Oct. 20, 2006

Final Stats

Cedar Falls, Iowa - In front of a sellout crowd of 2,052, the University of Northern Iowa volleyball team moved into sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 3-1 win over Missouri State Friday night at the West Gym. Game scores were 30-16, 30-26, 18-30 and 30-19. With the win - its eighth straight - UNI improved to 17-6 overall, 9-1 in the MVC, while Missouri State fell to 16-5, 8-2.

The Panthers had a balanced offensive attack, with four players reaching double figures in kills. Sophomore Ashten Stelken (Manchester, Iowa) led the way with 11 kills and a .348 hitting percentage (11-3-23), while Trista Humpal (New Hampton, Iowa), Shannon Aschoff (Ankeny, Iowa) and Danielle Brazda (Omaha, Neb.) each had 10 kills for UNI. Brazda, who ranks 11th in the NCAA in blocking, had seven blocks on the night, while Humpal added six, four of them solos.

Leading 11-8 in the first game, UNI went on a 7-1 run to extend its advantage to 18-9. Brazda had a kill and teamed up on a pair of blocks during that stretch, effectively sealing the opening game. MSU got no closer than eight points the rest of the way, as the Panthers won, 30-16. UNI hit a whopping .500 (15-1-28) in the first game, while Missouri State hit just .051 (12-10-39).

In a back-and-forth second game, the Panthers used a late run to go up two games to none. Missouri State led by as many as three, 14-11, and maintained its advantage as late as 18-17. UNI rallied to take a 22-20 lead, but MSU scored two straight to pull even. The teams then traded points until the score was 26-all, at which point UNI scored the final four points, two on blocks. Aschoff and Brazda teamed up on game point, giving UNI a 30-26 win.

Helped by three Ashley Kell service aces, Missouri State jumped out to an 8-0 lead in game three and never looked back, cruising to a 30-18 win. The Bears hit .360 (12-3-25) and had eight blocks in the game, while the Panthers hit -.194 (7-13-31).

The Panthers took control midway through the fourth game to seal the match. Leading 15-13 in game four, UNI went on a 9-1 to go up 24-14. Humpal had a service ace, and Kristin Belzung (Ankeny, Iowa) and Brazda teamed up for a pair of blocks during that decisive run. UNI held its lead the rest of the way, winning 30-19.

UNI concludes its season-long four match homestand tomorrow night, when Wichita State comes to the West Gym. After their 3-0 win over Bradley tonight, the Shockers are 17-4 overall, 8-2 in the MVC. First serve is set for 7:00 p.m., and the match can be heard on KWLO 1330 AM.