Hitting the road to take on a UNI squad which hasn't lost an MVC regular season match since 2022, the Valpo volleyball team fell in straight sets (25-15, 25-15, 25-17) to the Panthers Friday evening in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
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How It Happened
- UNI jumped out to a 7-1 lead in the opening set, and while the Beacons rallied to close to within 8-6, the Panthers responded with four straight points on their way to taking the opener.
- The second frame featured six tie scores and five lead changes early as the two sides battled for control. Valpo held a narrow 6-5 lead before UNI scored 11 of the next 12 points to pull away.
- The third set was tied at six apiece before the Panthers scored four in a row to take the lead for good on their way to completing the sweep.
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Inside the Match
- Ava Helming (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston) reached double figures in kills for the 15th time this year with 10 kills. Jordyn Gove (Amarillo, Texas/Randall) added eight kills, but no other Beacon tallied more than four kills.
- Despite playing just two sets, Olivia Wagner (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South) led the Beacons with 14 assists.
- Keira Lucas (Brazil, Ind./Northview) tallied 10 digs, hitting double figures in the category and leading Valpo for the third straight match.
- UNI held a 45-28 advantage in kills and hit .364 to the Beacons' .071 clip.
- The Beacons were able to ace UNI's Jadyn Petersen twice on Friday, with Gove and Maggie Uhwat (Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond Burton Community [Central Michigan]) both delivering aces against the Panther libero. Entering the match, Petersen had been aced just once in 272 serve receptions this season and had 241 consecutive errorless receptions before Gove's ace late in the second set.
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Next Up
Valpo (11-8, 3-4 MVC) continues Valley play Saturday evening at Drake with a 5 p.m. first serve.
