Volleyball Set for Busy Weekend Road Trip

Saturday, November 11

Springfield, Missouri

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

Missouri State

Volleyball Set for Busy Weekend Road Trip

11/6/2017 4:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

UNI-vb-notes-MSU-SIU-2017-2

This Week's Action

Sat., Nov. 11 -- Springfield, Mo.
UNI at Missouri State, 12 p.m. | ESPN3 | AUDIO | STATS

Sun., Nov. 12 -- Carbondale, Ill.
UNI at Southern Illinois, 2 p.m. | ESPN3 | AUDIO | STATS

COMPLETE RELEASE (PDF)

• The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team (23-6, 13-2 MVC) will hit the road for a couple of Missouri Valley Conference matches at Missouri State (Sat., 12 p.m.) and at Southern Illinois (Sun., 2 p.m.).

• Saturday's matchup will feature the top two teams in the MVC standings and the top two ranked NCAA RPI schools in the league. UNI owns a No. 46 RPI, while Missouri State is No. 51 in the RPI.

• UNI is one of 19 teams to have recorded at least three wins against the NCAA RPI top 25 teams.

• UNI has six top-100 RPI wins this season (No. 5 Nebraska, No. 13 Iowa State, No. 18 USC, No. 36 Missouri, No. 57 Austin Peay and No. 96 Illinois State).

• UNI is ranked No. 2 in the nation in team digs (2,082), team kills (1,636) and team assists (1,519).

• UNI senior setter Heather Hook became only the sixth UNI Panther to reach 4,000 career assists. Hook also became the 23rd MVC player with 4,000 or more assists.

• UNI junior middle hitter Piper Thomas became the 27th Panther to surpass 1,000 career kills. Thomas has tallied 1,008 career kills. She leads in the Panthers in kills (425) and hitting percentage (.356).

• Missouri State, UNI, Drake and Illinois State have clinched four of the six spots available for the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.

UNI TRAVELS TO MISSOURI ST., SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team (23-6, 13-2 MVC) will hit the road for a couple of Missouri Valley Conference matches at Missouri State (Sat., 12 p.m.) and at Southern Illinois (Sun., 2 p.m.).
   Saturday's matchup will feature the top two teams in the MVC standings and the top two ranked NCAA RPI schools in the league. UNI owns a No. 46 RPI, while Missouri State is No. 51 in the RPI.

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.
   Chris Kleinhans-Schulz is in his sixth season as the play-by-play voice of Panther volleyball. Chris Mahi will serve as the analyst for home matches.

Live Audio Coverage Schedule
Sat., at Missouri St. - UNIPanthers.com
Sun., at Southern Ill. - KXEL (1540-AM)

THE VALLEY ON ESPN3
Both matches will be streamed live on The Valley on ESPN3.

SERIES NOTES
UNI owns a 48-25 lead over Missouri State in the all-time series between the two programs. The Bears have won four consecutive matchups in the series, including a 3-1 victory in the McLeod Center on Oct. 14.
   UNI holds a 54-13 all-time lead in the series vs. Southern Illinois. UNI is looking to snap a two-match losing skid in Carbondale after the Salukis scored wins over the Panthers in 2015 and 2016.
UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen 27-13 vs. Missouri State. She is 32-5 vs. Southern Illinois.

HEAD COACH BOBBI PETERSEN
Head coach Bobbi Petersen is in her 18th year as the Panthers head coach.
   Petersen has posted an impressive 457-138 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. UNI has taken part in 12 NCAA Tournaments under Petersen's direction. She ranks No. 10 of active Division I coaches in winning percentage (.768).
   Petersen is one of four MVC coaches to have eclipsed the 400-win mark joining Linda Dollar (758 - Missouri State), Iradge Ahrabi-Fard (503 - UNI) and Melissa Stokes (486 - Missouri State) in that elite class.

4,000 CAREER ASSISTS FOR HOOK
UNI senior setter Heather Hook became only the sixth UNI Panther to reach 4,000 career assists.
   Hook also became the 23rd MVC player with 4,000 or more assists.
   Hook ranks No. 2 in the nation in total assists (1,256) this season.
   Hook has tallied 4,014 career assists and is one of 22 active NCAA Division I players with 4,000 or more assists.

1,000 CAREER KILLS FOR PIPER
UNI junior middle hitter Piper Thomas became the 27th Panther to surpass 1,000 career kills.
   Thomas has tallied 1,008 career kills. She leads in the Panthers in kills (425) and hitting percentage (.356).

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
UNI is ranked No.2 in the nation in team assists (1,519), team kills (1,636) and team digs (2,082).
   The Panthers rank No. 2 in the nation in team assists (1,519).

FAN FAVORITES
The Panthers consistently have ranked among the national leaders in attendance, and this season is no different with UNI ranked No. 14 in average home attendance at 2,438 per match.
   UNI has ranked in the top 20 in home attandance in 16 of the last 18 seasons, including a stretch of eight straight seasons in the top 20.

TICKETS PUNCHED FOR MVC TOURNAMENT
Missouri State, UNI, Drake and Illinois State have clinched four of the six spots available for the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
   It marks the 33rd straight year that UNI has qualified for the MVC Tournament - the longest streak in the MVC.
   Missouri State holds the second-longest streak of consecutive MVC tournaments made with 19.
   The 2017 MVC Tournament will take place Nov. 23-25 in Normal, Illinois.

YET ANOTHER 20-WIN SEASON
UNI has recorded the program's 35th 20-win season. UNI has won 20 or more matches in 19 of the last 20 seasons.
   It is the 16th 20-win season for Panther head coach Bobbi Petersen.

TOP HITTER IN THE VALLEY
Junior Piper Thomas leads the Missouri Valley Conference in hitting percentage (.414) in league matches only. Thomas has 227 kills (40 errors) in 452 attack attempts.
   Missouri State's Lynsey Wright ranks second in the league with a .347 hitting percentage (182-50-380).

THREE MVC TEAMS IN RPI TOP 100
The Missouri Valley Conference is represented by three teams in the NCAA's RPI top 100 with UNI (No. 46), Missouri State (No. 51) and Illinois State (No. 96).
   UNI has six top-100 RPI wins this season (No. 5 Nebraska, No. 13 Iowa State, No. 18 USC, No. 36 Missouri, No. 57 Austin Peay, No. 96 Illinois State).

UNI AGAINST RPI TOP 25
UNI is one of 19 teams to have recorded at least three wins against the NCAA RPI top 25 teams.
   Among those 19 teams, only 11 have a winning record against the NCAA RPI top 25 - including UNI with a 3-2 mark.
   UNI's RPI top 25 wins have come against No. 4 Nebraska (3-1), No. 14 Iowa State (3-2) and No. 16 USC (3-1).

3 or More Wins vs NCAA RPI Top 25
1. Penn State   9-1
2. Minnesota   6-2
3. Florida   3-1
4.   Kentucky   4-3
5.   Nebraska   8-3
6.   Texas   5-2
7.   Stanford   6-2
8.   Washington   5-5
9.   Oregon   5-5
11. Colorado   5-4
12. Kansas   4-3
13. Iowa State   3-4
14. Creighton   3-4
15. Michigan State   3-4
16. Utah   3-6
18. USC   3-4
20. Baylor   3-2
26. UCLA   3-7
46. UNI   3-2

STREAKS OF NOTE
The Panthers have guaranteed the program will have a .500 or better record for the 37th consecutive season.
   UNI, Hawaii, Nebraska, Stanford, Penn State and UCLA lead the nation with 37 consecutive non-losing seasons in NCAA Division I volleyball.
   UNI has also posted 33 straight NCAA Division I winning seasons – the sixth-longest active streak in the nation behind Hawaii (37), Nebraska (37), Penn State (37), Stanford (37) and UCLA (35).

HOOK HEADS THE LIST
Senior setter Heather Hook leads the MVC in assists/set by a wide margin - 0.97 assists/set.
   Hook has an even wider lead when considering only Missouri Valley Conference matches - 1.17 assists/set.
   Hook is averaging 11.63 assists/set (12.27 in MVC play), while Illinois State's Stef Jankiewicz ranks second in the league at 10.70 assists/set (11.10 in MVC play).
WHO DO YOU STOP?
UNI's offense features three of the top-10 kill leaders in the Missouri Valley Conference.
   Junior Piper Thomas ranks No. 3 in the league in kills per set (3.94). Sophomore Karlie Taylor ranks No. 5 in the MVC in kills per set (3.81). Junior Bri Weber ranks No. 7 in the conference in kills per set (3.31).
   The trio also ranks in the top-10 in points per set. Thomas is No. 4 (4.52), Taylor is No. 5 (4.24) and Bri Weber is No. 6 (3.78) in points per set.

WEBER FINDS A SPOT IN UNI'S DOUBLE-GRAND CLUB
Junior Bri Weber became the 11th UNI Panther to post a pair of 1,000 career totals (digs, kills or assists).
   Weber is one of eight Panthers to post 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in their careers.
   Weber became the 26th Panther to tally at least 1,000 career kills.
   She is one of 17 Panthers to record at least 1,000 career digs.
   Weber has totaled 1,270 digs and 1,096 kills.

UNI's 1,000/1,000 Club
Jill Arganbright   1,025 digs/6,064 assists
Alexandra Auker   1,303 digs/1,360 kills
Bobbi Becker   1,457 digs/1,611 kills
Mary Bernhardt   1,202 digs/3,977 assists
Amy Braun   1,672 digs/1,202 kills
Kate Galer   1,368 digs/1,720 kills
Kim Kester   1,013 digs/1,439 kills
Kim McCaffrey   1,015 digs/1,272 kills
Bre Payton   1,222 digs/4,752 assists
Laura Rowen   1,145 digs/1,386 kills
Bri Weber   1,270 digs/1,096 kills

SORGE MOVES TO NO. 5, WEBER TO NO. 10 ON UNI'S TOP-10 ALL-TIME DIGS LIST
Junior libero Kendyl Sorge has moved into the No. 5 slot on UNI's all-time digs list with 1,609 digs. Sorge ranks No. 28 on the NCAA's active career digs list.
   Junior Bri Weber has 1,248 career digs to rank No. 10 on UNI's all-time digs list.

UNI's All-Time Digs Chart
1.   Ellie Blankenship (2007-2010)   2,656
2.   Amie Held (2013-2016)   2,002
3.   Candice Burke (2008-2012)   1,737
4.   Amy Braun (2009-2012)   1,672
5.   Kendyl Sorge (2015-pres.)   1,609
6.   Stephanie May (2003-2006)   1,570
7.   Bobbi Becker (1986-1989)   1,457
8.   Kate Galer (1993-1996)   1,368
9.   Alexandra Auker (1997-2000)   1,303
10.   Bri Weber (2015-pres.)   1,270
11.   Bre Payton (2007-2011)   1,222
12.   Mary Bernhardt (1984-1987)   1,202
13.   Miranda Weber (1999-2002)   1,148
14.   Laura Rowen (2004-2007)   1,145
15.   Jill Arganbright (2000-2003)   1,025

HOOK CLIMBS ASSIST LADDER
UNI senior setter Heather Hook ranks No. 6 on the school's all-time assist chart.
   Hook is the sixth UNI Panther to accumulate at least 4,000 assists in her career. Hook has posted 4,014 career assists.
   Hook ranks No. 8 on the NCAA's active career leaders list in assists.

UNI's All-Time Assist Chart
1.   Jill Arganbright (2000-2003)   6,064
2.   Shannon Perry (1996-1999)   4,881
3.   Bre Payton (2008-2011)   4,752
4.   Kara Galer (1992-1995)   4,265
5.   Kristin Belzung (2003-2007)   4,256
6.   Heather Hook (2014-pres.)   4,014
7.   Mary Bernhardt (1984-1987)   3,977
8.   Bobbie Kreple (1987-1990)   2,780
9.   Kinsey Caldwell (2013-2014)   2,549
10.   Katie Crowley (1988-1991)   1,895

THOMAS JOINS UNI'S TOP-10 SOLO BLOCKS LIST
Junior middle hitter Piper Thomas has joined the top-10 list of solo blockers in UNI volleyball history.
   Thomas ranks No. 8 on UNI's solo block list with 67 career solos.

UNI's All-Time Solo Blocks Chart
1.   Denis Cuttell (1987-1990)   90
2.   Holly VanHofwegen (1996-1999)   86
3.   Kari Warren (1983-1986)   83
4.   Lisa Meeker (1986-1986)   74
5.   Carrie Shurr (1991-1994)   73
6.   Jill Sprague (1985-1988)   71
   Danielle Brazda (2003-20070   71
8.   Piper Thomas (2015-pres.)   67
9.   Tricia Mills (1990-1993)   65
10.   Krista DeGeest (2008-2012)   64

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TALK
Karlie Taylor leads the Panthers in double-doubles this season with 19.
   Bri Weber ranks second on the team in double-doubles with 14, while Heather Hook has posted 10 double-doubles this year.
   Weber has recorded 48 career double-doubles. Hook has tallied 34 career double doubles.

Career Double-Doubles
Bri Weber - 48
Heather Hook - 34
Karlie Taylor - 19

UNI KNOCKED OFF FIVE RANKED TEAMS IN 2002
UNI is 4-2 against ranked foes in 2017 with wins over No. 10 Nebraska, No. 18 USC, No. 19 Iowa State and No. 19 Missouri.
   With its next win against a ranked opponent, it would equal the school record for victories over ranked teams in a single season.
   UNI defeated five ranked opponents in 2002 (No. 8 Pepperdine, No. 7 UCLA, No. 20 Minnesota, No. 3 Florida, No. 20 Missouri) and three ranked teams in 2003 (No. 11 Notre Dame, No. 23 Missouri State, No. 20 UC Santa Barbara).

PANTHERS NEARLY AUTOMATIC WHEN UP 2-0
UNI jumped out to a 2-0 lead vs. Indiana State on Saturday and finished off the advantage with a 3-0 sweep.
   UNI improved to 684-9 all-time when winning the first two sets of a match.

EARLY ADVANTAGE
UNI has won the opening set in 24 of its 29 matches this season. The Panthers are 22-2 when winning the first set.

12 CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF APR RECOGNITION, PERFECTION
For the past 12 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 12 years.
   UNI volleyball is one of 93 programs in the nation to have earned the recognition in each of the 12 years teams have been honored.

AVCA TEAM ACADEMIC AWARD
The UNI volleyball team compiled a 3.42 cumulative GPA during the 2016-17 season.
   It marks the sixth consecutive season that the Panthers have earned the AVCA Team Academic Award.

AMONG ELITE COMPANY
The Panthers rank No. 8 all-time in NCAA Division I winning percentage (.774). UNI trails only Penn State (.861), Hawaii (.855), Nebraska (.842), Florida (.830), Stanford (.811), UCLA (.776) and BYU (.775) in NCAA Division I winning percentage totals.

MORE STREAKS OF NOTE
UNI, Hawaii, Nebraska, Stanford, Penn State and UCLA lead the nation with 36 consecutive non-losing seasons in NCAA Division I volleyball.
   UNI has 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).

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.

20 NCAA APPEARANCES
In its 20 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.

PANTHERS PICKED SECOND IN MVC PRESEASON POLL
The Panthers earned one first-place vote in the preseason Missouri Valley Conference coaches poll.
   UNI is projected to finish second behind preseason favorite Missouri State.

2017 PRESEASON POLL
1.   Missouri State (9)   99 pts.
2.    UNI (1)    89 pts.
3.    Illinois State    76 pts.
4.    Loyola    67 pts.
5.    Southern Illinois    64 pts.
6.    Drake    48 pts.
7.    Valparaiso    33 pts.
8.    Bradley    32 pts.
9.    Indiana State    26 pts.
10. Evansville    16 pts.

WEBER EARNS PRESEASON ALL-MVC STATUS
Junior Bri Weber (Dike, Iowa) has been named to the preseason all-Missouri Valley Conference squad.

NICARAGUA TRIP
UNI spent 10 days in Nicaragua this past spring as the Panthers were able to make an trip outside the United States.
   UNI was in Nicaragua from May 9-17. The days consisted of playing volleyball, experiencing Nicaragua and doing mission work.
   An extra component of this trip that was different than in the past was the opportunity to give back. The team volunteered at Manos Unidas (cooperative for people with disabilities), Escuela Adelante (preschool) and local schools. The Panthers also hosted a youth volleyball clinic.

WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE
UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen will be available at the weekly press conference held each Monday beginning at noon in the McLeod Center's Alumni Suite. The press conference will be streamed live for the general public and media to view.