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Lincoln, Neb. ? Northern Iowa’s Laura Rowen posted a match-high 16 kills to lead the Panthers (28-7) to a 27-30, 30-27, 30-23, 30-28 victory over Winthrop (34-2) Friday in the first round of the NCAA regional tournament at the Nebraska Coliseum in Lincoln, Neb.
The junior also added three assists, 14 digs and 1.5 blocks to lead UNI to the second round of regionals in the NCAA Volleyball Tournament.
UNI’s power outside hitter was additionally just one of three Panthers to post kills in the double digits, as she was joined by sophomore middle blocker Ashten Stelken and senior middle blocker Trista Humpal in the offensive attack.
Stelken snagged 12 kills, as well as three assists, two digs and four block assists, while Humpal gathered 14 kills on just 26 attacks for a team-best .423 hitting percentage. Humpal also gathered a team-high nine block assists and added a dig, an assist and a service ace.
Winthrop used a double attack from senior middle hitters Taryn Surbaugh and Shannon Sitzmann, who each posted five kills to lead the Eagles to a 30-27 win out of the gates. Winthrop hit .250 while also out-blocking Northern Iowa 4-2 to hold the Panthers to .125 hitting. Pohai Nu’Uhiwa also kept the Eagles’ offense alive with nine digs.
In game two, Winthrop jumped out to a 4-0 lead before Northern Iowa answered right back, posting a 30-27 victory to tie the match heading into the locker room. UNI hit .238 as Stelken posted five kills on just seven attacks while adding one assists, one dig and one block assist.
The Panthers rolled on to a 30-23 victory in game three with by posting four kills each from Rowen, Stelken and Humpal. Both teams returned from the locker room playing on all cylinders, posting five ties to start the game before Northern Iowa was able to escape on a 6-1 run led by two kills from Humpal that put the Eagles ahead 15-10.
Northern Iowa advanced to the second round with a 30-28 win in the fourth game.
The Northern Iowa Eagles will face the winner of the Nebraska-American game on Saturday at the Nebraska Coliseum at 5 p.m. CST.