University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Weber Earns Preseason All-MVC Honors
8/16/2017 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
MVC Preseason Poll Release (PDF)
University of Northern Iowa junior outside hitter Bri Weber has been named to the Missouri Valley Conference's preseason volleyball squad as announced by the league office today.
UNI came in the second on the MVC's preseason coaches poll, behind Missouri State. UNI tallied one first-place vote. Illinois State was picked third, while Loyola came in fourth in the preseason poll.
UNI returns three starters, plus the libero, from a squad that finished 24-10 (14-4 MVC) and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the 20th time in program history. UNI has posted 32-straight NCAA Division I winning seasons, which ranks as the sixth-longest active streak in the nation behind Hawaii (36), Nebraska (36), Penn State (36), Stanford (36) and UCLA (34). Junior outside hitter Bri Weber returns after earning first-team all-conference honors, averaging 2.89 kills and 3.19 digs per set as a sophomore. Senior setter Heather Hook and junior libero Kendyl Sorge were second-team all-conference honorees last fall. Hook led the MVC, averaging 10.99 assists per set, while Sorge ranked third in digs per set (5.09).
The Valley will look to continue to build off the success of another tremendous season in 2016 that saw three teams make the NCAA Tournament. It was the seventh time in league history at least three Valley teams made the NCAA field. The MVC was one of seven leagues to earn three or more bids, joining the Big Ten
(8), Pac 12 (8), Big 12 (6), SEC (4), ACC (3), and Mountain West (3).
The foundation is in place as league teams return 37 starters and eight liberos (64-percent of starters), one AVCA All-American, five first team all-conference selections and another five players who earned second-team accolades.
UNI will open the 2017 season Aug. 26-27 at the Culvers Governors Challenge hosted by Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tennessee. UNI will take on the Missouri Tigers in its season opener on Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. The Panthers will also match up against Middle Tennessee State (Aug. 26, 5:30 p.m.) and Austin Peay (Aug. 27, 12 p.m.).
The Panthers home opener in the McLeod Center is set for Sept. 5, at 7 p.m., against Northern Illinois.
UNI will be under the direction of 18th-year head coach Bobbi Petersen. Petersen ranks No. 12 among the winningest active NCAA Division I head coaches with a .767 winning percentage (434-132).
2017 Preseason All-MVC Team
Bri Weber, UNI
Andrea Estrada, Southern Illinois
Lily Johnson, Missouri State
Jaelyn Keene, Illinois State
Gabi Maciagowski, Loyola
Daniele Messa, Missouri State
Courtney Pence, Illinois State
2017 MVC 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.
University of Northern Iowa junior outside hitter Bri Weber has been named to the Missouri Valley Conference's preseason volleyball squad as announced by the league office today.
UNI came in the second on the MVC's preseason coaches poll, behind Missouri State. UNI tallied one first-place vote. Illinois State was picked third, while Loyola came in fourth in the preseason poll.
UNI returns three starters, plus the libero, from a squad that finished 24-10 (14-4 MVC) and earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the 20th time in program history. UNI has posted 32-straight NCAA Division I winning seasons, which ranks as the sixth-longest active streak in the nation behind Hawaii (36), Nebraska (36), Penn State (36), Stanford (36) and UCLA (34). Junior outside hitter Bri Weber returns after earning first-team all-conference honors, averaging 2.89 kills and 3.19 digs per set as a sophomore. Senior setter Heather Hook and junior libero Kendyl Sorge were second-team all-conference honorees last fall. Hook led the MVC, averaging 10.99 assists per set, while Sorge ranked third in digs per set (5.09).
The Valley will look to continue to build off the success of another tremendous season in 2016 that saw three teams make the NCAA Tournament. It was the seventh time in league history at least three Valley teams made the NCAA field. The MVC was one of seven leagues to earn three or more bids, joining the Big Ten
(8), Pac 12 (8), Big 12 (6), SEC (4), ACC (3), and Mountain West (3).
The foundation is in place as league teams return 37 starters and eight liberos (64-percent of starters), one AVCA All-American, five first team all-conference selections and another five players who earned second-team accolades.
UNI will open the 2017 season Aug. 26-27 at the Culvers Governors Challenge hosted by Austin Peay in Clarksville, Tennessee. UNI will take on the Missouri Tigers in its season opener on Aug. 26 at 10 a.m. The Panthers will also match up against Middle Tennessee State (Aug. 26, 5:30 p.m.) and Austin Peay (Aug. 27, 12 p.m.).
The Panthers home opener in the McLeod Center is set for Sept. 5, at 7 p.m., against Northern Illinois.
UNI will be under the direction of 18th-year head coach Bobbi Petersen. Petersen ranks No. 12 among the winningest active NCAA Division I head coaches with a .767 winning percentage (434-132).
2017 Preseason All-MVC Team
Bri Weber, UNI
Andrea Estrada, Southern Illinois
Lily Johnson, Missouri State
Jaelyn Keene, Illinois State
Gabi Maciagowski, Loyola
Daniele Messa, Missouri State
Courtney Pence, Illinois State
2017 MVC 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.
Players Mentioned
S
/ Women's Volleyball
L/DS
/ Women's Volleyball
UNI Panther Football: The Best Pod of your Day (Episode 13)
Wednesday, November 12
Bobbi Petersen Press Conference - Nov. 10, 2025.
Tuesday, November 11
PST: Lindsay Oldendorf (2025)
Friday, November 07
Bobbi Petersen Postgame vs.UIC, Nov. 7, 2025
Friday, November 07