Box Score

Cedar Falls, Iowa - Host UNI used late runs in both the first and third sets to knock off Loyola tonight, 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-23) in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams at McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Ramblers slide to 4-6 (0-1 MVC) while the Panthers improve to 6-5 (1-0).

Kills from Maureen Carls, Morgan Reardon and Kathleen Vogel helped the Ramblers get off to a great start as the visitors scored seven of the first 10 points of the match. Loyola led 11-6 after a Vogel ace before UNI rallied. A 9-3 UNI spurt gave the home team a 15-14 lead and the teams essentially traded points to 19-18. However, the Panthers closed with a flourish, rattling off the final six points to claim a 25-18 win. Carls was the pace-setter for the Loyola offense, slamming five kills in the opening frame.

UNI carried that momentum into the second set, jumping out to an 11-4 lead after consecutive kills from Eryca Hingtgen. Loyola was still within striking distance (15-10) after a solo block from Sami Hansen but the Panthers scored the next three to gain some more separation and they cruised to a 25-15 lead that gave them a 2-0 lead in the match.

Some erratic Loyola hitting early in the third set helped stake UNI to a 14-10 lead but the Ramblers showed their fight. Two kills from Laura Purcell and another solo stuff from Hansen keyed a 7-1 LU run that gave the visitors a 17-15 lead. The Panthers scored three of the next four to forge an 18-18 deadlock and the Ramblers hung tough, grabbing a 23-22 lead on a Hansen ace. Kills from Kayla Haneline and Autumn Alitz gave the Panthers a match point and Amie Held cashed it in, firing an ace to give UNI the match with a 25-23 win.

Carls led Loyola with 10 kills with Reardon pitching in with eight kills and six digs. Stephanie Kinane keyed a stout Rambler defense with a season-high 23 digs. Haneline led a balanced UNI attack with 10 kills.

Loyola returns to action tomorrow night when it takes on Drake. First serve from Des Moines is scheduled for 7 p.m.