UNI to Face Stiff MVC Road Challenges This Week

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This Week's Action
Fri., Oct. 28 -- Wichita, Kan. (Koch Arena)
UNI at Wichita State, 7 p.m. | ESPN3 | AUDIO | STATS

Sat., Oct. 29 -- Springfield, Mo. (Hammons Center)
UNI at Missouri State, 7 p.m. | AUDIO | STATS

• The University of Northern Iowa women's volleyball team (17-7 overall, 8-3 MVC) has won a season-best seven straight matches heading into a pair of road conference matches against the top two teams in the league standings.

• UNI will travel to Wichita, Kan., to take on the Wichita State Shockers (15-6, 8-2 MVC) on Friday at 7 p.m. The UNI-Wichita State match can be seen live on ESPN3.

• The Panthers will then head to Springfield, Mo., to match up against the Missouri State Bears (17-7, 8-2 MVC) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

• UNI is in the midst of a seven-match win streak and has moved from 1-3 in the MVC standings to 8-3 - only 1/2 game out of first place. UNI has not won eight matches in a row since a 24-match win streak in the 2011 season.

• UNI, Hawaii, Nebraska, Stanford, Penn State and UCLA lead the nation with 36 consecutive non-losing seasons in NCAA Div. I volleyball.

• UNI has also posted 32 straight NCAA Division I winning seasons – the sixth-longest active streak in the nation behind Hawaii (36), Nebraska (36), Penn State (36), Stanford (36) and UCLA (34).

• UNI ranks No. 1 in the nation in digs/set (18.31). The Panthers also rank No. 3 in the nation in team attacks/set (38.95).

• Heather Hook leads the MVC in assists per set (11.18).

• Bri Weber has recorded an ace in 10 straight matches.

UNI LOOKS TO EXTEND SEASON-LONG FIVE-MATCH WIN STREAK
The University of Northern Iowa women's volleyball team (17-7 overall, 8-3 MVC) has won a season-best seven straight matches heading into a pair of road conference matches against the top two teams in the league standings.
   UNI will travel to Wichita, Kan., to take on the Wichita State Shockers (15-6, 8-2 MVC) Friday at 7 p.m.
   The Panthers will then head to Springfield, Mo., to match up against the Missouri State Bears (17-7, 8-2 MVC) Saturday at 7 p.m.

ESPN3 FOR THIS WEEK
Friday's match at Wichita State will be available for viewing 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., Wichita St. - News/Talk 1540 KXEL
Sat., Missouri St. - UNIPanthers.com

ALL-TIME SERIES
UNI is 49-16-1 all-time vs. Wichita State. The Panthers posted a 3-1 win over the Shockers in the McLeod Center on Oct. 1. UNI has won six of its last seven matches in Wichita, Kan.
   UNI holds a 48-23 lead over Missouri State in the all-time series. The Bears scored a 3-2 win over the Panthers in the McLeod Center on Sept. 30.
   Head coach Bobbi Petersen is 25-15 all-time vs. Wichita State. Petersen is 27-11 vs. Missouri State.

HEAD COACH BOBBI PETERSEN
Head coach Bobbi Petersen is in her 17th year as the UNI head coach.
   Petersen has posted an impressive 427-129 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 (.768).
   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 60 of the RPI released by the NCAA on Monday.
   Wichita State (No. 32), Missouri State (No. 51), UNI (No. 53) and Southern Illinois (No. 56) are all ranked in the top 60 of the latest NCAA RPI.

HANELINE HELPS EXTEND WIN STREAK TO SEVEN
Senior middle hitter Kayla Haneline recorded 23 kills and hit .405 in leading UNI to a pair of Missouri Valley Conference victories.
   Haneline secured nine kills and hit .412 in a 3-0 win over Evansville. Haneline added a pair of blocks vs. the Purple Aces.
   Haneline registered 14 kills and hit .400 in a 3-1 win over Southern Illinois on Saturday. Haneline added three blocks and a pair of service aces against the Salukis.

SORGE ADDS TWO MORE GEMS TO DEFENSIVE EFFORT
Sophomore libero Kendyl Sorge posted a team-high 34 digs (4.86 digs/set) in helping the Panthers to two league wins over Evansville and Southern Illinois.
   Sorge began the weekend with 15 digs, six assists and a service ace in a 3-0 win over the Purple Aces.
   Sorge was credited with 19 digs, six assists and a service ace in Saturday's 3-1 triumph over the Salukis.

PANTHERS PUSH STREAK TO 7
UNI is in the midst of a seven-match win streak and has moved from 1-3 in the MVC standings to 8-3 - only 1/2 game out of first place.
   UNI has not won eight matches in a row since a 24-match win streak in the 2011 season.

MORE STREAKS OF NOTE
UNI, Hawaii, Nebraska, Stanford, Penn State and UCLA lead the nation with 36 consecutive non-losing seasons in NCAA Div. I volleyball.
   UNI has also posted 32 straight NCAA Division I winning seasons – the sixth-longest active streak in the nation behind Hawaii (36), Nebraska (36), Penn State (36), Stanford (36) and UCLA (34).

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
UNI ranks No. 1 in the nation in digs per set (18.31).
   UNI ranks No. 3 in the nation in total team attacks per set (38.95).
   The Panthers also rank No. 9 in the nation in kills per set (14.40) and No. 10 in total team kills (1,253).
   UNI's 248 total team attacks is the second-highest single-match total in the nation this season.

HANELINE ECLIPSES 1,000 KILLS
Senior Kayla Haneline ranks No. 21 on UNI's all-time kills list with 1,082.
   Holly VanHofwegen ranks No. 20 on the kills list with 1,088 from 1996-1999.
   Lisa Meeker ranks No. 19 with 1,111 kills from 1983-1986.
   Haneline is one of 25 Panthers to have reached 1,000 career kills.

WEBER, HANELINE AMONG BEST ON UNI KILLS/SET ALL-TIME LISTS
Bri Weber ranks No. 11 on UNI's career kills/set list with a 3.00 average in 212 sets.
   Teammate Kayla Haneline ranks No. 12 on UNI's career kills/set list with a 2.94 average in 368 career sets.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE CLUB
Senior Amie Held took over the team lead in double-doubles by posting her 13th double-double of the season in a 3-1 win over Southern Illinois (Oct. 22).
   Held posted 11 kills and 13 digs against the Salukis to help the Panthers split the season series with SIU.

UNI Double-Doubles
13, Amie Held (27 career)
12, Bri Weber (30 career)
6, Heather Hook (17 career)

HOOK IS TOPS IN THE VALLEY
Junior setter Heather Hook leads the MVC and ranks No. 5 in the nation in total assists (973).
   She ranks No. 17 in the nation in assists per set (11.18/set).

SORGE DIGS INTO TOP 25
Sophomore Kendyl Sorge ranks No. 22 in the nation in total digs (437).

WEBER'S SERVICE STREAK
Sophomore Bri Weber has recorded at least one service ace in 10 consecutive matches heading into Friday's match at Wichita State.
   Weber ranks second on the squad with 22 service aces.

HELD UP TO NO. 2 ON DIGS CHART
Senior Amie Held ranks second on UNI's all-time digs chart with 1,872.
   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.)    1,872
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 2,390.
   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.)   2,390
10.   Katie Crowley (1988-91)   1,895

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

FAN FAVORITES
The Panthers consistently have ranked among the national leaders in attendance, including ranking No. 16 in the nation with an average of 2,062 fans per home match.
   Last season, UNI ranked No. 13 in the nation in average home attendance at 2,277 per 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.

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Kayla Haneline

Amie Held

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Bri Weber

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