University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI Volleyball Inks Four Signees for 2018
11/14/2017 5:25:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
University of Northern Iowa head volleyball coach Bobbi Petersen has announced the signing of four student-athletes to become members of the Panther volleyball squad in 2018.
Petersen has added Katherine Barr (6'2", Middle Blocker – Antoich, Illinois/Antioch HS), Carly Spies (6'3", Middle Hitter – Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar HS), Tayah Mahi (5'9", Setter – Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls HS) and Baylee Petersen (5'8", Outside Hitter – Dike, Iowa/Dike-New Hartford HS) to the Panther roster.
Barr is a three-time all-conference performer at Antioch Community High School in Antioch, Illinois. She earned all-area honors in 2016 and 2017. She served as team captain and helped Antioch to the regional championship in 2017. Barr posted 280 blocks in her three-year varsity playing career. She is a member of National Honor Society and an all-academic pick in 2015, 2016 and 2017. She is the daughter of Mike and Kristin Barr.
"Kat is another athletic middle blocker that will add size and quickness to that position," Petersen said. "She jumps well and is a big presence at the net. Offensively, she has a strong arm and can attack many areas of the net. On the defensive side, she moves well laterally and is a gritty hard working blocker. Kat is a competitor and brings good energy to the court."
Spies helped lead Linn-Mar High School to back-to-back trips to the state tournament in 2016 and 2017. Spies earned second-team all-metro honors in 2016 and 2017. She notched second-team all-conference status in 2015 and 2016. Spies posted honorable mention all-conference honors as a freshman in 2014. She was a member of the Iowa Juniors Volleyball Club. She helped Linn-Mar to a state tournament berth in girls basketball in 2015. Spies is a member of National Honor Society and a four-year honor roll student. She is the daughter of Jeff and Lorina Spies.
"Carly is a very athletic middle," Petersen said. "Her strengths are her speed and quickness. She moves easily along the net and in transition which allows her to close the block and be a fast tempo option on offense. She also is a good jumper and has good vision as an attacker. Carly is a hard worker and has played volleyball at a high level throughout her high school and club experiences."
Mahi led Cedar Falls High School to its first-ever volleyball state championship in 2017. Mahi was named the captain of the 5A all-tournament team following the state title. Mahi is a candidate for the PrepVolleyball Iowa Player of the Year award. She tallied more than 4,000 career assists and led the state of Iowa in assists per set as a senior. As a junior in 2016, she earned unanimous first-team all-state honors and was named to the IGCA Elite Volleyball Team. She earned second-team all-state and first-team all-conference accolades in 2015 in leading Cedar Falls to a state semifinal appearance. As a beach volleyball competitor she and her partner won the bronze medal at the USA Junior Beach Tour National Championship. She and her partner placed 10th at the USA HP National Beach Championships in Hermosa Beach. She and her beach partner earned a ninth-place tally at the BVCA 16U National Championships at Hermosa Beach . She is the daughter of Kalani and Chris Mahi.
"Tayah not only has a high level of skill at the setting position, but she also brings a high volleyball I.Q.," Petersen said. "She has great instincts and feel for the game and knows how to compete. Her contact point is high and fast which will allow us to keep our offense fast and effective. Tayah also has the ability to attack multiple areas of the court as an offensive option. As a coach's kid she has been around the game her entire life and we are excited to see what she can do at the next level."
Petersen earned AVCA/Under Armour Honorable Mention All-America honors as a senior. She was a member of three state championship volleyball squads in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Petersen was named to the Class 2A all-tournament team following the state championship in 2017. She earned first-team all-state honors in 2016 after posting second-team all-state status in 2015. Petersen has lettered in five sports at Dike-New Harftford High School in volleyball (4), basketball (2), soccer (2), softball (1) and track (1). She is a two-time all-conference performer in basketball. Petersen is an honor roll student. She is the daughter of Duane and Bobbi Petersen.
"Baylee is a multi-sport athlete with good athleticism that also has good instincts for the game of volleyball," Petersen said. "She has good body control, strong skills, sees the court well and knows how to compete. Baylee has been able to play at a high level through her high school and club teams and will add to our ball control and defense as well as be someone that could compete at the pin hitter position."
Petersen has added Katherine Barr (6'2", Middle Blocker – Antoich, Illinois/Antioch HS), Carly Spies (6'3", Middle Hitter – Marion, Iowa/Linn-Mar HS), Tayah Mahi (5'9", Setter – Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls HS) and Baylee Petersen (5'8", Outside Hitter – Dike, Iowa/Dike-New Hartford HS) to the Panther roster.
Barr is a three-time all-conference performer at Antioch Community High School in Antioch, Illinois. She earned all-area honors in 2016 and 2017. She served as team captain and helped Antioch to the regional championship in 2017. Barr posted 280 blocks in her three-year varsity playing career. She is a member of National Honor Society and an all-academic pick in 2015, 2016 and 2017. She is the daughter of Mike and Kristin Barr."Kat is another athletic middle blocker that will add size and quickness to that position," Petersen said. "She jumps well and is a big presence at the net. Offensively, she has a strong arm and can attack many areas of the net. On the defensive side, she moves well laterally and is a gritty hard working blocker. Kat is a competitor and brings good energy to the court."
Spies helped lead Linn-Mar High School to back-to-back trips to the state tournament in 2016 and 2017. Spies earned second-team all-metro honors in 2016 and 2017. She notched second-team all-conference status in 2015 and 2016. Spies posted honorable mention all-conference honors as a freshman in 2014. She was a member of the Iowa Juniors Volleyball Club. She helped Linn-Mar to a state tournament berth in girls basketball in 2015. Spies is a member of National Honor Society and a four-year honor roll student. She is the daughter of Jeff and Lorina Spies."Carly is a very athletic middle," Petersen said. "Her strengths are her speed and quickness. She moves easily along the net and in transition which allows her to close the block and be a fast tempo option on offense. She also is a good jumper and has good vision as an attacker. Carly is a hard worker and has played volleyball at a high level throughout her high school and club experiences."
Mahi led Cedar Falls High School to its first-ever volleyball state championship in 2017. Mahi was named the captain of the 5A all-tournament team following the state title. Mahi is a candidate for the PrepVolleyball Iowa Player of the Year award. She tallied more than 4,000 career assists and led the state of Iowa in assists per set as a senior. As a junior in 2016, she earned unanimous first-team all-state honors and was named to the IGCA Elite Volleyball Team. She earned second-team all-state and first-team all-conference accolades in 2015 in leading Cedar Falls to a state semifinal appearance. As a beach volleyball competitor she and her partner won the bronze medal at the USA Junior Beach Tour National Championship. She and her partner placed 10th at the USA HP National Beach Championships in Hermosa Beach. She and her beach partner earned a ninth-place tally at the BVCA 16U National Championships at Hermosa Beach . She is the daughter of Kalani and Chris Mahi."Tayah not only has a high level of skill at the setting position, but she also brings a high volleyball I.Q.," Petersen said. "She has great instincts and feel for the game and knows how to compete. Her contact point is high and fast which will allow us to keep our offense fast and effective. Tayah also has the ability to attack multiple areas of the court as an offensive option. As a coach's kid she has been around the game her entire life and we are excited to see what she can do at the next level."
Petersen earned AVCA/Under Armour Honorable Mention All-America honors as a senior. She was a member of three state championship volleyball squads in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Petersen was named to the Class 2A all-tournament team following the state championship in 2017. She earned first-team all-state honors in 2016 after posting second-team all-state status in 2015. Petersen has lettered in five sports at Dike-New Harftford High School in volleyball (4), basketball (2), soccer (2), softball (1) and track (1). She is a two-time all-conference performer in basketball. Petersen is an honor roll student. She is the daughter of Duane and Bobbi Petersen."Baylee is a multi-sport athlete with good athleticism that also has good instincts for the game of volleyball," Petersen said. "She has good body control, strong skills, sees the court well and knows how to compete. Baylee has been able to play at a high level through her high school and club teams and will add to our ball control and defense as well as be someone that could compete at the pin hitter position."
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