UNI Downs Wichita State, 3-1; Panthers Reach MVC Title Match

The University of Northern Iowa volleyball squad advanced to its 22nd Missouri Valley Conference Tournament final with a 3-1 win over No. 3-seeded Wichita State on Friday, November 28, 2014 at the McLeod Center.

UNI (21-10 overall) won by set scores of 21-25, 25-23, 25-23, 25-18. Wichita State falls to 20-10 on the year following the setback.

Wichita State opened the match with a 25-21 victory in the first set. UNI had a 10-8 lead but saw it evaporate as Wichita State scored seven consecutive points to take a 15-10 lead. UNI would claw to within two points at 20-18, 21-19 and 22-20 but could not tie the set. The Shockers benefitted from four service aces in the opening stanza, including three from Ashlyn Driskill.

The Panthers rallied from a four-point deficit to take the second set, 25-23. Wichita State took its first lead in the second set at 8-7 following a 6-2 run. Wichita State pushed the lead to four at 18-14. UNI then began its rally and tied the set at 22-22 following a kill by Kayla Haneline. Haneline added another kill on the next point to give UNI a 23-22 lead. Haneline would also score the set-winner to give the Panthers the victory, 25-23.

UNI took control of the third set from the beginning as the Panthers opened up an 11-2 lead. The Shockers but the lead to six, but the Panthers re-upped the margin to nine at 17-8. UNI’s 19-10 lead was cut to four when the Shockers ran off five in a row. UNI’s Leigh Pudwill stopped the run with a kill and the Panthers a 20-15 lead. WSU would get as close as 24-23, but UNI’s Autumn Alitz and Lindsey Schulz teamed up for a block to give UNI a 25-23 set win.

The Panthers had a 12-9 lead in the fourth set, but the Shockers knotted it at 12-12. Following a 15-15 deadlock, UNI scored four in a row to take a 19-15 lead. UNI closed the match on a 5-1 run for the 25-18 victory.

UNI will take on top-seeded Illinois State in the MVC Tournament final on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the McLeod Center.