UNI Tangles With Iowa State; $1 Tickets Available

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This Week's Action
Tues., Sept. 13 -- McLeod Center (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
Iowa State at UNI, 7 p.m. | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS
TV - Cedar Falls Utilities Ch. 15, KCRG Ch. 9.2, WHO Ch. 13.2, KGCW Ch. 26, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, TimeWarner Cable Kansas City, ESPN3
Radio - News/Talk 1540 KXEL, UNIPanthers.com

Fri., Sept. 16 -- UNI Tournament (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
North Dakota State vs. Northwestern, 1:30 p.m.
Illinois State at UNI, 5 p.m.
Syracuse vs. Northwestern, 7 p.m.

Sat., Sept. 17 -- UNI Tournament (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
Illinois State vs. Syracuse, 10 a.m.
Northwestern at UNI, 12 p.m.
North Dakota State vs. Illinois State, 5 p.m.
Syracuse at UNI, 7 p.m.

Sun., Sept. 18 -- UNI Tournament (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
North Dakota State at UNI, 2:30 p.m.

• The University of Northern Iowa women's volleyball team will look to set the McLeod Center attendance mark Tuesday against Iowa State. The Panthers and Cyclones will get underway at 7 p.m. with tickets available for $1 each.

• The current McLeod Center attendance mark of 6,621 was set on Sept. 4, 2013, in a previous Iowa State-UNI matchup.

• UNI owns a 32-28 lead in the all-time series vs. Iowa State. The Cyclones are 10-14 in matches played in Cedar Falls.

• Senior Amie Held recorded double-doubles in all three matches this past week to extend her streak of double-doubles to four matches in a row. Held has registered a team-best five double-doubles this season.

• Sophomore Kendyl Sorge was named this MVC defensive player of the week after averaging 4.9 digs/set last weekend.

UNI SET FOR HOME OPENER
After nine matches on road/neutral courts, the UNI volleyball squad will open its home season Tuesday in the McLeod Center against the Iowa State Cyclones at 7 p.m.
   UNI will get to enjoy some home cooking throughout the rest of the week by playing host to the UNI Tournament on Friday through Sunday in the McLeod Center.
   Joining the Panthers in the UNI Tournament will be Illinois State, Northwestern, North Dakota State and Syracuse.

TV INFO FOR IOWA STATE-UNI MATCH
Tuesday's match between Iowa State and UNI will be broadcast live statewide on the Panther Sports Television Network.
   The match will be shown on Cedar Falls Utilities Ch. 15, KCRG Ch. 9.2, WHO Ch. 13.2, KGCW Ch. 26, Comcast SportsNet Chicago and TimeWarner Cable SportsChannel in Kansas City.
   Eric Braley (play-by-play) and Barb Randall (analyst) will call the action in the McLeod Center.

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 will return for his fifth season as the play-by-play voice of Panther volleyball.

Live Audio Coverage Schedule
Tues., vs. Iowa State - KXEL (1540-AM)
Fri., vs. Illinois State - UNIPanthers.com
Sat., vs. Northwestern - KXEL (1540-AM)
Sat., vs. Syracuse - UNIPanthers.com
Sun., vs. NDSU - KXEL (1540-AM)

ALL-TIME SERIES
UNI owns a 32-28 lead in the all-time series vs. Iowa State.
   The Cyclones are 10-14 in matches played in Cedar Falls. Iowa State has won 10 of the last 12 meetings between the schools, including five of the last six in the McLeod Center.

HEAD COACH BOBBI PETERSEN
Head coach Bobbi Petersen is beginning her 17th year as the Panthers head coach.
   Petersen has posted an impressive 415-126 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 (.767).
   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.

$1 TICKETS FOR IOWA STATE
The UNI ticket office is offering $1 tickets for the home-opener vs. Iowa State on Sept. 13.
   The Panthers are looking to set the McLeod Center attendance record - set with 6,621 fans on Sept. 4, 2013 for an Iowa State-UNI match.

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. 5,124 (Sept. 5, 2007 vs. Iowa State)

STIFF SCHEDULE
Head coach Bobbi Petersen has lined up a loaded schedule that will feature nine matches against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25.

Ranked or Receiving Votes
#4   Kansas
#21   Southern California
RV   Creighton
RV   Iowa State
RV   Michigan
RV   Missouri State
RV   Wichita State

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 on Friday.
   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.
   Sorge leads the Panthers with 118 digs (4.07/set) on the season.

500-KILL CLUB FOR SCHULZ
Senior Lindsey Schulz joined the 500-kill club against UMKC during UNI's 3-1 win over the Kangaroos.
   Schulz has posted 503 career kills in 85 career matches.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE CLUB
Senior Amie Held recorded double-doubles in all three matches this past week to extend her streak of double-doubles to four matches in a row.
   Held has registered a team-best five double-doubles this season.

UNI Double-Doubles
5, Amie Held
4, Bri Weber

NOT ALWAYS A SWEEP
UNI scored a 3-1 win at UMKC on Friday - marking the first time this season that the Panthers won a match that did not end in a 3-0 sweep.
   UNI is 4-3 in three-set matches and 1-1 in four-set matches.
   UNI has yet to play a five-setter this season.

HELD AT NO. 4 ON DIGS CHART
Senior Amie Held ranks No. 4 on UNI's all-time digs list with 1,665.
   Amy Braun (2009-2012) ranks No. 3 on UNI's digs list with 1,672.
   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.   Candice Burke (2008-12)    1,737
3.    Amy Braun (2009-12)    1,672
4.    Amie Held (2013-pres.)    1,665
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 JOINS TOP-10 ASSIST LIST
Junior Heather Hook joined UNI's top-10 list for career assists in the Panther volleyball program.
   Hook has tallied 1,739 assists in her career, which moved her past Erin Hirsch's total of 1,555.
   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.   Katie Crowley (1988-91)   1,895
10.   Heather Hook (2014-pres.)   1,739

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 this past weekend. 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.

2-0 START
UNI began the season with victories in each of its first two matches vs. Miami (Ohio) and Saint Louis for the first time since the 2011 season.
   It also marked the first time since the 2010 season that UNI began a year with a pair of 3-0 sweeps.

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

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.

VOLLEYBALL GOLF OUTING
The 2016 UNI volleyball golf outing is set for Sun., Oct. 9, at Fox Ridge Golf Course in Dike.
   The four-person best shot will get underway at 12:30 p.m. with the shotgun start. The $45 entry per golfer includes green fees, flight prizes and flag events. For an additional $12 golfers can use a golf cart for the event. Entrants can also add in $8 per golfer for a meal following the golf.
   For questions call Joe Becker at 319-989-2405.
   Send golfer names, addresses, phone numbers along with $45 entry fee per golfer along with cart fee and meal fee (if applicable) to:

UNI Volleyball Golf Outing
P.O. Box 257
Dike, Iowa 50624

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.

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Kayla Haneline

Amie Held

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Lindsey Schulz

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Bri Weber

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