Creighton University
Northern Iowa
Volleyball Loses Close Battle at #14 Northern Iowa
10/23/2010 3:27:00 PM | Volleyball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- No. 14 Northern Iowa survived set points in each of the first two games and pulled out a hard-fought 27-25, 27-25, 25-19 victory over Creighton on Saturday in a battle of the top two teams in the Missouri Valley Conference standings.
Northern Iowa improved to 20-2 on the year, extending their streak of 20-win seasons to 13. The Panthers are also a perfect 11-0 in the MVC this season, and have won 29 straight conference tilts dating to a 2008 loss at Creighton. Creighton fell to 13-8 on the season and is tied for second in the Missouri Valley Conference with an 8-3 league mark.
"As a coach you try to focus on did we play well? Even though we got swept you want to walk away disappointed, but I thought we played well," said Creighton coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth. "In the first and second game we had our set points. With that said, I think we saw some things that will better prepare us for the future."
Northern Iowa won a closely contested first set, 27-25, in which both teams wasted set point opportunities. The Bluejays trailed most of the set before a 3-0 run with Megan Bober serving gave CU a 22-20 lead. UNI answered with the next four points, but Creighton stayed alive with an Alicia Runge and Heather Thorson block and Karisa Almgren kill to tie it. Nayka Benitez followed with an ace to give CU its own set point at 25-24. However, Benitez would serve wide to tie the score. UNI then got kills from Shelby Kintzel and Amy Braun to win the first frame.
The second set was nearly identical to the first set, as Northern Iowa survived a Bluejay set point to win another 27-25 set. In a set that featured 12 ties and seven lead changes. With the score tied at 23-all, Allie Oelke had a kill to give CU a set point, but after a Panther timeout Kintzel had a kill and Michelle Burow and Braun stuffed Karisa Almgren to give UNI a 25-24 lead. UNI's Blankenship would serve into the net to knot the score, but CU libero Julianne Mandolfo returned the favor with a sevice error of her own to give the hosts another set point chance. UNI would win the set when Candice Burke floated a serve into the back right corner for the ace.
The third set featured eight ties and six lead changes and was closely contested until UNI pulled away late. The Jays led 14-13 before UNI unleashed a 7-1 run and would end up with a 25-19 victory.
Creighton was led offensively by Alicia Runge's 18 kills. Allie Oelke had a double-double with 10 kills and 10 digs. Julianne Mandolfo led all players in the match with 22 digs.
Creighton out-dug Northern Iowa 69-65 and were even in aces (4-4), but the Panthers hit .294 to CU's .218, had two more kills (50-48) and outblocked the Jays 7-4.
UNI was paced by 13 errorless kills on .342 hitting from Beth Discher, while 2009 MVC Player of the Year Payton had 31 assists, 18 digs and nine kills. Senior libero Ellie Blankenship led UNI with 18 digs.
Creighton will play five of its final seven MVC matches at home, starting with Friday's 7 pm contest against Indiana State. As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the team will wear pink jerseys and is encouraging all fans to show their support for the cause by also wearing pink.
NOTES: Northern Iowa was ranked ninth in Monday's RPI rankings ... Northern Iowa has won 18 straight home matches and 15 straight matches at all sites ... Creighton fell to 0-11 against ranked UNI teams all-time, and is 1-41 all-time against ranked foes.
