DES MOINES – The UNI volleyball team opened its 2021 season at Drake, falling to the MVC rival 3-1 with set scores of 26-24, 25-20, 25-15, 25-19.
1st Set: The Panthers went out to an early 9-4 lead but the Bulldogs rallied back late to take a 18-14 lead forcing a UNI timeout. The Panthers went on their own run to tie the set at 21-21 and pushed the Bulldogs into extra points but fell 26-24. The Panthers recorded 13 kills on 49 attacks with 2 aces and 2 blocks.
2nd Set: The Panthers and Bulldogs traded leads throughout the set. The Bulldogs led 15-13 midway through the second set, at that point the set had seen 8 lead changes. The Panthers rallied to lead the Bulldogs 19-17 late and would hold off the Bulldogs for a 25-20 set victory. The Panthers finished with 15 kills, 3 aces and 2 blocks.
3rd Set: The Bulldogs got out to an early lead, going up 12-6 on the Panthers. UNI rallied back to get within 2 after a Yagmur Cinel kill. The Bulldogs pulled away midway through he set and ran way with a 25-15 set victory. The Panthers finished with 7 kills, 1 ace and 1 block.
4th Set: UNI scores the first 3 points of the set. The Panthers went up 7-5 following a Kaylissa Arndorfer tip for a point, pushing Drake to call timeout and regroup. The Bulldogs rallied and took the 4th set 25-19. The Panthers finished with 11 kills and 2 aces.
THE PANTHERS
UNI finished with 46 kills on 163 total attacks for a .110 hitting parentage.
UNI totaled 71 digs and 44 assists with 7 solo blocks and 2 block assists.
Emily Holterhaus recorded a team high 12 kills and 14 digs.
Freshman setter Tayler Alden finished with 26 assists, 11 digs, 9 kills and 1 block assists.
THE BULLDOGS
Drake finished with 52 kills on 165 total attacks for a .206 hitting percentage.
Only 5 Bulldogs recorded a kill, led by Emily Plock with 19 kills and a .326 hitting percentage.
Caitlyn Smith finished with 44 assists and 22 digs.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will hit the road for their second road match in as many days, traveling to Omaha, Nebraska for a 4 pm match with the Mavericks of Omaha. The match will be broadcast on the Omaha Athletics website and can be found by going to omavs.com.
