Nov. 6, 2009
Box Score
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -
Illinois State (10-15, 5-9 MVC) lost in straight-sets to No. 25 Northern Iowa (23-2, 13-0 MVC) Friday night (16-25, 16-25, 11-25). The Redbirds had a reduced lineup due to illness and couldn't produce enough offense to keep up with the Panthers.
Junior Mallory Leggett led the Redbirds with seven kills, all coming in the final two sets. Sophomore Tabitha Visk added six kills. Freshman Emileah Manahan had three kills and a career-high five blocks in her third-consecutive start. Freshman Jenny Menendez led the `Birds with 11 digs and senior Kasey Mollerus and sophomore Laura Wakefield each added 10.
Northern Iowa doubled up Illinois State in kills, 43-26. The Panthers had four players account for 40 of their 46 kills, including two in double-digits. Northern Iowa has won 20-straight matches.
UNI stormed out to a 9-3 lead in the opening set with six kills and a block. A 5-1 run brought the Redbirds within two points, 16-14, but the Panthers closed out the set with a 9-2 run for the win. UNI hit .355 in the set with 17 kills and six errors. ISU had just six kills and seven errors.
Manahan was in on three blocks that helped the Redbirds take a 7-5 lead in the second set. After that, the Redbirds took two-point leads three times, only to have the Panthers tie the score each time. With the score tied at 12, UNI went on a 13-4 run to claim the second set, 25-16. The Panthers had 11 kills during that run and another 17 in the set.
The Panther offense stayed strong in the third set with 12 kills and just two errors. UNI took a 10-4 lead early on and a 7-1 run stretched that lead to double-figures, 20-9. A kill, three-straight aces and a block finished off the set and the match, 25-11.
Illinois State visits Bradley Saturday at 7 p.m. The match will be played at Ramsey Gymnasium on the campus of Illinois Central College in East Peoria.
