UNI Volleyball Beats Missouri State, Move to 2nd in MVC

The University of Northern Iowa moved back into second place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings with a 3-1 win over the visiting Missouri State Bears on Friday night at the McLeod Center. UNI won by set scores of 25-16, 17-25, 25-23 and 25-19.

UNI (15-8 overall, 9-2 MVC) saw the return of libero Amie Held to the lineup. Held tied a season high with 28 digs. Missouri State fell to 16-8 overall and 9-3 in league play.

The Panthers gained an early set advantage by scoring a 25-16 win in the first set. The Bears scored the first two points of the set only to see the Panthers race out on an 8-2 run to take an 8-4 lead. UNI extended the lead to five at 10-5 before a Missouri State timeout. The Bears would climb to as close at 15-13 in the set. However, the Panthers would not relinquish the lead behind a strong opening set from Kayla Haneline. Haneline had four first-set kills and hit .571. UNI tallied a 70 percent sideout total in the opening set.

Missouri State evened the match in the second set with a 25-17 victory. The Bears posted 15 kills in the set and limited UNI to a -.037 hitting percentage (six kills, seven errors). The Bears led 15-7 before the Panthers rallied to make it a two-point set 15-13. But the Bears would regain the momentum and close out the set, 25-17.

The Panthers rallied for a thrilling 25-23 win in the third set. It looked as though the Bears were in control taking a 22-19 lead. UNI refused to go away and closed the set on a 6-1 run. Haneline posted five kills and hit .625 in the set. Held added nine digs as well.

UNI was able to finish off Missouri State in the fourth set, 25-19. The Panthers gained a 10-5 advantage and pushed the margin to six at 15-9. The Bears fought back and cut the margin to one on two different occasions at 16-15 and 17-16. UNI was able to win eight of the final 11 points en route to the 25-19 triumph.

UNI will be back in action again on Saturday night in the McLeod Center. UNI will entertain the Wichita State Shockers at 7 p.m.

NOTES: Kayla Haneline tied a career-high with 17 kills ... Haneline hit .536 in the match with 17 kills to go against only two attack errors ... Autumn Alitz also posted a career-high 14 kills ... Kinsey Caldwell tallied a team-high 41 assists ... Leigh Pudwill tied a career-high with six blocks (one solo) ... UNI has defeated Missouri State in 11 of the last 12 meetings between the two schools ... UNI has posted 26 consecutive home victories over Missouri State.