Nov. 30, 2007

Final Stats |  Photo Gallery 

Madison, Wis. - Brittney Dolgner had a match-high 20 kills to lead the eighth-ranked Wisconsin volleyball team to a 3-0 win over the University of Northern Iowa in the first round of the 2007 NCAA Volleyball Tournament, Friday night at UW Field House. Game scores were 30-23, 30-21 and 30-24.

UNI was led by senior Laura Rowen and junior Ashten Stelken, who each had 12 kills. Junior Amy Sampson added 10 kills, and freshman Ellie Blankenship recorded a team-high 15 digs.

Stelken had three early kills for the Panthers as they took a 5-4 lead in game one. Wisconsin pulled in front 9-7, before UNI got a pair of kills each from Shannon Aschoff and Stelken during a 7-3 run that pushed UNI in front, 14-12. Wisconsin responded by scoring four straight to take the lead for good, 16-14. The Badgers held a 23-20 lead and closed with a 7-3 run to earn the game one win, 30-23.

Tied at 6-all in game two, the Badgers went on a 7-1 run to move in front 13-7. UNI was able to get a pair of kills from Rowen and one from Danielle Brazda to pull within 14-10, but that was as close as the Panthers would get, as Wisconsin posted a 30-21 win.

UNI jumped to a 5-2 lead in game three, thanks in part to a kill and two service aces from Rowen. The Panthers held the lead through the first half of the game, until Wisconsin went in front for the first time, 15-14. UNI pulled even at 15-all, but the Badgers then went on a 10-2 run to effectively put the game away, and eventually posted a 30-24 win and the match victory.

The Badgers hit .355 (56-12-124) for the match, while UNI hit .231 (45-17-121). Wisconsin also won the battle of digs (52-39) and blocks (5-2).

With the victory, Wisconsin improved to 26-4 on the season, while UNI's season ended with a record of 22-11. The Badgers face Iowa State in the NCAA second round tomorrow night.