Blue Raiders fall 3-0 to Panthers

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee's five-match win streak to open the 2009 season came to an end Saturday night as the Blue Raiders fell 3-0 (25-18, 25-17, 25-13) to Northern Iowa.

For the first time this season the Blue Raiders hit under .200 as a team as they posted a .078 hitting percentage with just 32 kills.

"We were out of system all night and with UNI's aggressive serving we didn't really have a chance to compete in this match," head coach Matt Peck said. "We are putting this match behind us and looking ahead to tomorrow's match with Ohio to hopefully end the weekend on a positive note."

Junior Izabela Kozon led Middle Tennessee with 12 kills but hit .056 and was the only player with double-digit kills.

Sophomore Stacy Oladinni had nine kills and the only other Blue Raider with more than three kills.

UNI hit .312 in the match with 40 kills with Beth Disher leading the way with 11 kills. Disher hit .455 in the match and was the only Panther with double-digit kills.

The Blue Raiders had five team blocks while the Panthers had eight.

Middle Tennessee trailed 0-2 at the break after posting an attack percentage of .151 with just 25 kills.

Junior Izabela Kozon led the team with 10 kills at the break but had a hitting percentage of just .160.

UNI controlled the match knocking down 28 kills with a .348 hitting percentage. The Panthers were led by Discher who had eight kills while Amy Braun and Michelle Burow each had six.

The Blue Raiders will wrap-up the Blue Raider Bash on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. when it faces Ohio.

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