UNI Rides 3-Match Win Streak Into Bradley, Loyola

Friday, October 14

Peoria, Ill.

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

Bradley

UNI Rides 3-Match Win Streak Into Bradley, Loyola

10/11/2016 2:56:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Complete Release (PDF)

This Week's Action
Fri., Oct. 14 -- Peoria, Ill.
UNI at Bradley, 7 p.m. | ESPN3 | AUDIO | STATS

Sat., Oct. 15 -- Chicago, Ill.
UNI at Loyola, 7 p.m. | ESPN3 | AUDIO | STATS

• The University of Northern Iowa women's volleyball team (13-7 overall, 4-3 MVC) is riding a three-match winning streak heading into this week's action.

• UNI will travel to Peoria, Ill., to take on the Bradley Braves (6-11, 1-5 MVC) Friday at 7 p.m.

• The Panthers will close the week's action by taking on the Loyola Ramblers (8-11, 3-3 MVC) on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Chicago, Ill.

• Both matches can be viewed live on The Valley on ESPN3.

• UNI ranks No. 1 in the nation in digs/set (18.79). The Panthers also rank No. 1 in the nation in team attacks/set (39.86).

• Two-time reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Week Kendyl Sorge has recorded four consecutive 20-plus dig efforts. Sorge collected 23 digs in Saturday's 3-0 win at Drake. Prior to Saturday, Sorge has notched 29 digs in each of her previous three matches. Sorge leads the Panthers in digs (5.19/set).

• Heather Hook leads the MVC in assists per set (11.28). Hook secured her fourth double-double of the year with 38 assists and 10 digs in UNI's 3-0 win at Drake.

• Bri Weber posted her team-best tying 10th double-double of the season Saturday at Drake. Weber was credited with 16 kills and 15 digs vs. the Bulldogs.

• UNI is among four MVC schools ranked in the NCAA's top-100 RPI. Wichita State is ranked No. 40, Southern Illinois is No. 50, UNI is No. 64 and Missouri State is No. 74.

PANTHERS TAKE 3-MATCH WIN STREAK TO BRADLEY, LOYOLA
UNI (13-7 overall, 4-3 MVC) is riding a three-match winning streak heading into this week's action.
   UNI will travel to Peoria, Ill., to take on the Bradley Braves (6-11, 1-5 MVC) Friday at 7 p.m.
   The Panthers will close the week's action by taking on the Loyola Ramblers (8-11, 3-3 MVC) on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Chicago, Ill.

ESPN3 FOR THIS WEEK
Both of UNI's road matches this week will be made available on The Valley on ESPN3.

RADIO COVERAGE
Live radio coverage of the UNI Panther volleyball team can be found on www.UNIPanthers.com and KXEL (1540-AM). All audio will be free of charge (no subscription service).
   Chris Kleinhans-Schulz is in his fifth season as the play-by-play voice of Panther volleyball.

Live Audio Coverage Schedule
Fri., at Bradley - News/Talk 1540 KXEL
Sat., at Loyola - UNIPanthers.com

ALL-TIME SERIES
UNI owns a 60-9 lead in the all-time series vs. Bradley. The Panthers have defeated the Braves 21 consecutive times. Bradley's last win in the series came Sept. 30, 2005, in Peoria, Ill.
   The Panthers have won all 12 matchups against the Loyola Ramblers in the all-time series between the two schools. UNI is 6-0 in road matches against Loyola.
   UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen is 28-5 vs. Bradley and 8-0 vs. Loyola.

HEAD COACH BOBBI PETERSEN
Head coach Bobbi Petersen is beginning her 17th year as the Panthers head coach.
   Petersen has posted an impressive 423-129 record at the helm of UNI's program, with seven Missouri Valley Conference regular season titles, eight MVC tournament crowns and two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances to her credit. She ranks in the top 10 of active Division I coaches in winning percentage (.766).
   In 2015, Petersen joined the 400-win club allowing her to become only the fourth MVC coach to earn 400 victories. Petersen joined Linda Dollar (758 - Missouri State), Iradge Ahrabi-Fard (503 - UNI) and Melissa Stokes (438 - Missouri State) in that elite class.

POWER CONFERENCE
UNI is among four MVC schools ranked in the top 100 RPI released by the NCAA on Monday.
   Wichita State (No. 40), Southern Illinois (No. 50), UNI (No. 64) and Missouri State (No. 74) are all ranked in the RPI top 100.
   Wichita State has five top-100 victories. SIU has four top-100 wins. UNI has four top-100 RPI wins. Missouri State has five top-100 wins.

SORGE EARNS 2ND STRAIGHT MVC PLAYER OF WEEK HONOR
For the third time this season and the second time in as many weeks, sophomore libero Kendyl Sorge has been named the MVC defensive player of the week.
   Sorge continued her defensive dominance for the Panthers as she averaged 7.43 digs/set and ran her streak of 23 or more dig matches to four straight.
   Sorge delivered 29 digs and two service aces in a 3-1 win over Indiana State on Monday. Sorge posted 23 digs in Saturday's 3-0 win over Drake in the Knapp Center.
   Sorge is averaging a team-best 5.19 digs/set in all matches and has upped that number to 5.79 digs/set in seven MVC matches.

HOOK HELPS UNI TO TWO WINS
UNI junior setter Heather Hook, the MVC leader in assists/set, added to her league lead by averaging 12.43 assists per set in leading UNI to a pair of conference victories.
   Hook dished out 49 assists and added 14 digs in a 3-1 win over Indiana State. She also registered five kills and a .444 hitting percentage against the Sycamores.
   Hook added another double-double on Saturday as she led the Panthers to a 3-0 win at Drake with 38 assists and 10 digs.

HANELINE ECLIPSES 1,000 KILLS
Senior Kayla Haneline became the 25th Panther to accumulate 1,000 career kills.
   Haneline ranks No. 22 on UNI's all-time kills list with 1,035. Chris Less ranks No. 21 on the kills list with 1,061 from 1988-1991.
   Haneline also ranks No. 13 on UNI's career kills/set list with a 2.93 average in 353 career sets.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE CLUB
Sophomore Bri Weber drew even with senior Amie Held for the team lead in double-doubles this season.
   Weber collected her 10th double-double this year in Saturday's 3-0 win at Drake. Weber tallied 16 kills and 14 digs against the Bulldogs.
   Junior setter Heather Hook notched back-to-back double-doubles against Indiana State and Drake to give her four on the season and 15 in her career.

UNI Double-Doubles
10, Bri Weber (28 career)
10, Amie Held (24 career)
4, Heather Hook (15 career)

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
UNI ranks No.1 in the nation in digs per set (18.79).
   UNI ranks No. 1 in the nation in total team attacks per set (39.86).
   UNI's 248 total team attacks is the highest single-match total in the nation this season.
   UNI's 120 digs vs. Iowa State is the fourth-highest single-match dig total in the nation this year.

HOOK IS TOPS IN THE VALLEY
Junior setter Heather Hook leads the MVC and ranks No. 4 in the nation in total assists (812).
   She ranks No. 14 in the nation in assists per set (11.28/set).

HELD UP TO NO. 2 ON DIGS CHART
Senior Amie Held ranks second on UNI's all-time digs chart with 1,827.
   Ellie Blankenship holds the all-time digs mark at UNI with 2,656 from 2007-2010.

UNI's All-Time Digs List
1.   Ellie Blankenship (2007-10)   2,656
2.   Amie Held (2013-pres.)    1,827
3.   Candice Burke (2008-12)    1,737
4.    Amy Braun (2009-12)    1,672
5.    Stephanie May (2003-06)    1,570
6.    Bobbi Becker (1986-89)    1,457
7.    Kate Galer (1993-96)    1,368
8.    Alexandra Auker (1997-00)   1,303
9.    Mary Bernhardt (1984-87)    1,202
10.   Miranda Weber (1999-02)    1,148

HOOK RANKS 9TH ON ASSIST LIST
Junior Heather Hook ranks No. 9 on UNI's all-time assist list with 2,229.
   Jill Arganbright holds the all-time digs mark at UNI with 6,064 from 2000-2003.

UNI's All-Time Assists List
1.   Jill Arganbright (2000-03)   6,064
2.   Shannon Perry (1996-99)   4,881
3.   Bre Payton (2008-11)   4,752
4.   Kara Galer (1992-95)   4,265
5.   Kristin Belzung (2003-07)   4,256
6.   Mary Bernhardt (1984-87)   3,977
7.   Bobbie Kreple (1987-90)   2,780
8.   Kinsey Caldwell (2013-14)   2,549
9.   Heather Hook (2014-pres.)   2,229
10.   Katie Crowley (1988-91)   1,895

GOING THE DISTANCE
All three of UNI's league losses this season have come in five-set matches (vs. Illinois State, at Southern Illinois and vs. Missouri State).
   The Panthers did collect a five-set win over Iowa State in non-conference play.

TRIO MAKES FIRST APPEARANCES
UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen had three players make their collegiate debuts Sept. 24 in the 3-0 win at Evansville.
   Sophomore Lexi Astor, redshirt freshman Maddie McNeil and fellow redshirt freshman Rachel Koop all saw their first action in the sweep of the Purple Aces. Koop was the only one of the three to record a stat as she posted two assists and a digs.

SEASON-HIGH KILLS AT SIU
UNI notched a season-best 74 kills in last Friday's 3-2 loss at Southern Illinois. It marks the second time this season that UNI heas reached 70-plus kills (70 at UMKC).

HIGH PERCENTAGE PLAY
UNI secured its highest hitting percentage in a match (.403 against Evansville) since a .471 effort against George Washington on Aug, 25, 2012.

GETTING DEFENSIVE
UNI gave up a program-low 28 total points its 3-0 victory at Evansville on Sept. 24 (25-14, 25-9, 25-5). The five points allowed in the third set is the fewest points allowed by a Panther team since going to rally scoring in 2001.

100 WINS IN MCLEOD CENTER
UNI recorded the program's 100th victory in the McLeod Center with its 3-0 win over Northwestern (Sept. 17).

RARE 20-20 PERFORMANCES
Prior to this season, the last time a UNI volleyball player recorded at least 20 kills and 20 digs in a match came all the way back in 2006 (Laura Rowen vs. Clemson - Aug. 26, 2006).
   However, within the span of three days a pair of Panthers churned out a pair of 20-20 efforts.
   Senior Amie Held tallied 25 kills and 23 digs in helping UNI to a 3-2 win over the Cyclones (Sept. 13).
   Sophomore Bri Weber then followed that performance with 22 kills and 23 digs against Illinois State (Sept. 16) at the UNI Tournament.

WEBER TO ALL-TOURNEY TEAM
Sophomore Bri Weber earned a slot on the all-tournament team at the UNI Tournament.
   Weber averaged 3.71 kills/set and 4.57 digs/set in the four matches. She posted a .288 hitting percentage over the 14 sets.
RARE LOSS IN MVC OPENER
UNI dropped a 3-2 decision to Illinois State (Sept. 16) in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both schools.
   It marks the first time UNI has been 0-1 in MVC play since the 2007 season.
   UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen is now 15-2 in MVC opening matches. The Panthers are 23-2 all-time in MVC-opening matches.

5TH-HIGHEST MCLEOD CENTER ATTENDANCE MARK
The UNI Panther volleyball program drew 5,240 fans to the McLeod Center on Sept. 13 in its 3-2 win over the Iowa State Cyclones.
   It is the fifth-highest attended match in the 11-year McLeod Center's history.

Top McLeod Center VB Attendance
1. 6,621 (Sept. 4, 2013 vs. Iowa State)
2. 6,490 (Sept. 3, 2011 vs. Iowa State)
3. 6,126 (Sept. 2, 2009 vs. Iowa State)
4. 6,012 (Sept. 24, 2014 vs. Iowa State)
5. 5,240 (Sept. 13, 2016 vs. Iowa State)
6. 5,124 (Sept. 5, 2007 vs. Iowa State)

2ND-MOST DIGS IN PANTHER
RECORD BOOK
UNI notched 120 total digs against Iowa State (Sept. 13) - ranking as the second-most digs in a single-match in Panther program history.

UNI Most Digs (Single Match)
1. 125 vs. Washington State (9/11/87)
2. 120 vs. Iowa State (9/13/16)
3. 118 at Illinois State (10/27/90)
4. 117 vs. Baylor (12/5/93)
117 vs. Wichita State (10/17/08)

4TH-MOST TOTAL ATTACKS
UNI posted 248 total attacks in the five-set match vs. Iowa State to rank as the fourth-most in single-match in school history.
   It was the most attacks for a Panther squad since posting 221 total attacks vs. North Dakota State on Oct. 17, 2011.

UNI Most Total Attacks (Single Match)
1. 275 vs. Baylor (12/5/93)
2. 260 at Illinois State (10/27/90)
3. 255 vs. Bradley (9/22/84)
4. 248 vs. Iowa State (9/13/16)
5. 247 vs. Drake (10/18/97)

SORGE IS STILL DIGGING IT
Sophomore Kendyl Sorge tied for the fourth-best single-match dig total in UNI history with 35 digs against the Iowa State Cyclones.

UNI Individual Digs (Single Match)
1. 45, Patricia Dietz (Iowa - 9/27/05)
2. 39, Mary Bernhardt (Wash. St. - 9/11/87)
3. 38, Ellie Blankenship (Illinois St. - 10/25/08)
4. 35, Candice Burke (Long Beach St. - 9/15/12)
35, Candice Burke (Evansville - 10/12/12)
35, Kendyl Sorge (Iowa State - 9/13/16)

TAYLOR MAKES FIRST START
Freshman Karlie Taylor made the most of her first career start by posting a career-best 13 kills (.367 hitting percentage) in a 3-0 win over Omaha (Sept. 9).
   Taylor added 12 kills and a block in UNI's 3-1 win over UMKC. Taylor completed her week's action with eight kills at No. 4-ranked Kansas.
   Taylor secured 33 kills in the three matches to rank second on the squad.

DIGGING SORGE'S PLAY; MVC's DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore libero Kendyl has been honored as the MVC defensive player of the week (Sept. 12).
   Sorge put on a defensive display with a team-best 49 digs (4.90/set) in UNI's three matches against Omaha, UMKC and Kansas.
   Sorge had 11 digs in a 3-0 win over Omaha.
   Sorge then notched a season-high 25 digs in UNI's 3-1 victory at UMKC.
   She completed her weekend with 13 digs at No. 4-ranked Kansas.

PANTHERS TAKE DOWN NO. 23 KENTUCKY
UNI scored the program's first win over a ranked opponent since Sept. 7, 2013, when the Panthers knocked off No. 17 Louisville in Fargo, N.D., 3-0.

HOOK NAMED TO USC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Junior setter Heather Hook earned a spot on the USC Radisson Classic All-Tournament squad.
   Hook averaged 10.20 assists per set as UNI went 1-2 against the field. Hook tallied 12 kills, hit .526 and collected six blocks in the three matches.

FIRST SET WIN OVER USC
UNI also recorded the program's first-ever set victory over the USC Trojans (Sept. 3).
   UNI rallied from a 20-11 deficit in the third set with a 15-4 run to take the set, 26-24. It was the first set dropped by USC against UNI, Creighton or Kentucky in the three years that the four teams have been competing in this rotating tournament.

HELD NAMED MVC DEF POW
For the fifth time in her collegiate career, Amie Held has been named the Missouri Valley Conference's defensive player of the week in volleyball (Aug. 29).
   Held (Festus, Mo.) was honored for her play over the weekend with a spot on the Michigan Invitational All-Tournament team. Held posted 33 digs (3.67/set), 24 kills (2.67/set), three blocks and service aces in helping UNI to a 2-1 mark with wins over Miami (Ohio) and Saint Louis. Held secured a double-double with 10 digs and 10 kills against the Billikens.

UNI's Multiple Def. POW Selections
Ellie Blankenship - Nine Times
Amie Held - Five Times
Candice Burke - Four Times
Kendyl Sorge - Three Times

MICHIGAN INVITE ALL-TOURNEY
UNI was represented by seniors Kayla Haneline and Amie Held on the 2016 Michigan Invitational All-Tournament team.
   Haneline led the Panthers with 34 kills (3.78/set) and hit .475 over the three matches.
   Held added 24 kills (2.67/set) and posted 33 digs (3.67/set).

11 CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF APR RECOGNITION, PERFECTION
For the past 11 years the NCAA has recognized teams in the top-10 percent of the Academic Progress Report and the UNI volleyball team has been on the list all 11 years.
   In fact, the UNI volleyball team has had a perfect score of 1,000 in each of the 11 years.
   UNI volleyball is one of 110 programs in the nation to have earned the recognition in each of the 11 years teams have been honored.

AVCA Team Academic Award
The UNI volleyball team compiled a 3.40 cumulative GPA during the 2015-16 season.
   It marks the fifth consecutive season that the Panthers have earned the AVCA Team Academic Award.

POLLING NUMBERS
UNI has been ranked in the AVCA Top 25 110 times in program history - the most in the Missouri Valley Conference.
   By comparison, the rest of the current teams in the MVC have been ranked 52 times (Wichita St. - 35; Illinois St. - 14; Missouri St. - 3).
   In the state of Iowa, UNI's 110 poll rankings puts it on top. Iowa State has been ranked in 77 polls, while Iowa has been ranked in one.
   UNI has been ranked in the top 10 in the AVCA poll on 25 occasions. Wichita State has twice been ranked in the top 10 for the second-best number in the MVC.
   UNI's highest ranking in the AVCA Top 25 is No. 6 (Sept. 15, 2003).

AMONG ELITE COMPANY
The Panthers rank No. 6 all-time in NCAA Division I winning percentage (.776). UNI trails only Penn State (.865), Hawaii (.856), Nebraska (.841), Florida (.829) and Stanford (.812) in NCAA Division I winning percentage totals.

MORE STREAKS OF NOTE
UNI, Hawaii, Nebraska, Stanford, Penn State and UCLA lead the nation with 35 consecutive non-losing seasons in NCAA Div. I volleyball.
   UNI has posted 31 straight NCAA Division I winning seasons – the sixth-longest active streak in the nation behind Hawaii (35), Nebraska (35), Penn State (35), Stanford (35) and UCLA (33).

17 MVC REGULAR SEASON TITLES
The Panthers have tallied 17 MVC regular season titles through the years.
   UNI won the regular season title in 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013.

19 NCAA APPEARANCES
In its 19 trips to the NCAA tournament, UNI has posted 14 wins, advancing to at least the second round 11 times.
   UNI has advanced as far as the NCAA's Sweet 16 three times since 1999. In 2002, the Panthers went into the NCAA tournament as the No. 1 seed in the East Region.

HANELINE, HELD COMPETED FOR USA VOLLEYBALL OVER SUMMER
USA Volleyball selected 36 athletes, including UNI's Kayla Haneline and Amie Held, to participate in the U.S. Collegiate National Team-Indianapolis.
   The squad, which is part of USA Volleyball's High Performance pipeline and is considered a second tryout for the U.S. Women's National Team, trained and competed from June 21-30 in Indianapolis.

PANTHER VOLLEYBALL CLINIC
The UNI volleyball team will be hosting a one day clinic for young athletes to improve their skills.
   The 2016 Panther Volleyball Academy Clinic will be held Sun., Oct. 30, from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. at the Wellness and Recreation Center on the UNI campus.
   The cost of the clinic is $35 and is available for children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade. All campers will receive a T-shirt.
   For questions call Kim Davis at 319-273-3880 or email at kim.davis@uni.edu
   Campers may register online at http://www.panthervolleyballcamps.com/index.cfm

PANTHERS TABBED FOURTH IN MVC PRESEASON POLL
The Panthers earned one first-place vote in the preseason Missouri Valley Conference coaches poll.
   UNI is projected to finish fourth behind Wichita State, Missouri State and Southern Illinois.

2016 PRESEASON POLL
1.   Wichita State (7)   97
2.    Missouri State (1)   85
3.   Southern Illinois (1)   82
4.   UNI (1)   72
5.   Illinois State   57
6.   Loyola     50
7.   Indiana State    41
8.    Drake    33
9.   Bradley     18
10.     Evansville     15

HANELINE EARNS PRESEASON ALL-MVC STATUS
Senior Kayla Haneline (Plattsmouth, Neb.) has been named to the preseason all-MVC squad for the second straight year.
   Haneline led UNI in kills (3.16/set) and blocks (1.02/set) last year.

FAN FAVORITES
The Panthers consistently have ranked among the national leaders in attendance, including ranking No. 13 in the nation in 2015 with an average of 2,277 fans per home match.

WEEKLY PRESS LUNCHEONS
UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen will be available at the weekly Press Luncheons held each Monday beginning at noon in the back room of Pepper's Grill and Sports Pub located on 18th Street in Cedar Falls.