University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Panther Volleyball Open With Texas
8/26/2019 2:43:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Friday's Action:
Friday, August 30 – Austin, Texas (Gregory Gym)
(RV) UNI vs (#4) Texas – 7:00 PM
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THE PANTHERS
 •The Panther volleyball team will start the 2019 season in Austin, Texas for the first ever match-up between the Longhorns and Panthers.
• The Texas match will be a family affair with head coach Bobbi Petersen and UNI's Baylee Petersen facing off against daughter/ sister Sydney Petersen.
• The Panthers return five starters from last years NCAA Tournament team including First Team All-MVC selections Rachel Koop and Karlie Taylor and Second Team All-MVC selections Kate Busswitz and Jaydlin Seehase.
• The Panthers received 13 votes in the AVCA preseason poll, the team's 13 votes rank them 33rd in Division I volleyball.
• Bobbi Petersen enters the season with a career 485-151 record, 15 wins away from 500 and 18 wins away from becoming the UNI all-time wins leader.
• Bobbi Petersen's 485 wins ranks 28th in NCAA Division I coaching victories.
• Petersen's .763 winning percentage is the 8th highest in active Division I coaches.
• The Panthers earned their 10th AVCA Academic Award in the 2018-19 season with a 3.41 team cumulative GPA.
• The Panthers finished 2018 with a MVC Regular Season and Tournament Championship, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
• Rachel Koop returns to set the Panther offense after averaging 11.97 assist per set in 2018, leading the conference and ranking 5th nationally. Rachel Koop ranks 10th in career assists per set with a 9.19 average.
• Karlie Taylor returns for her senior season after recording 4.77 kills per set in 2018, ranking 6th nationally. Karlie Taylor ranks
Friday, August 30 – Austin, Texas (Gregory Gym)
(RV) UNI vs (#4) Texas – 7:00 PM
Â
THE PANTHERS
 •The Panther volleyball team will start the 2019 season in Austin, Texas for the first ever match-up between the Longhorns and Panthers.
• The Texas match will be a family affair with head coach Bobbi Petersen and UNI's Baylee Petersen facing off against daughter/ sister Sydney Petersen.
• The Panthers return five starters from last years NCAA Tournament team including First Team All-MVC selections Rachel Koop and Karlie Taylor and Second Team All-MVC selections Kate Busswitz and Jaydlin Seehase.
• The Panthers received 13 votes in the AVCA preseason poll, the team's 13 votes rank them 33rd in Division I volleyball.
• Bobbi Petersen enters the season with a career 485-151 record, 15 wins away from 500 and 18 wins away from becoming the UNI all-time wins leader.
• Bobbi Petersen's 485 wins ranks 28th in NCAA Division I coaching victories.
• Petersen's .763 winning percentage is the 8th highest in active Division I coaches.
• The Panthers earned their 10th AVCA Academic Award in the 2018-19 season with a 3.41 team cumulative GPA.
• The Panthers finished 2018 with a MVC Regular Season and Tournament Championship, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
• Rachel Koop returns to set the Panther offense after averaging 11.97 assist per set in 2018, leading the conference and ranking 5th nationally. Rachel Koop ranks 10th in career assists per set with a 9.19 average.
• Karlie Taylor returns for her senior season after recording 4.77 kills per set in 2018, ranking 6th nationally. Karlie Taylor ranks
AVCA ACADEMIC SUCCESS
The Panthers earned their 10th AVCA Academic honor after posting a 3.41 cumulative GPA in the 2018-19 academic year. This is the 10th time the team has earned the award and the 9th time in a row.
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PANTHERS PICKED TO WIN MVC
The Panthers earned all ten first-place votes in the 2019 Missouri Valley Conference preseason coaches poll and are projected to finish first ahead of Illinois State, Bradley, and Missouri State.
This is 16th time that UNI enters a season as the coaches' pick to win the league crown. The Panthers have won 11 titles as the MVC favorite and finished in second place during the other four years.
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2018 MVC PRESEASON POLL
# Team (1st-place votes)……………. Points
1. UNI (10)..........................................................100
2. Illinois State ..............................................89
3. Bradley.........................................................68
4. Missouri State.........................................68
5. Loyola............................................................56
6. Drake............................................................54
7. Valparaiso..................................................42
8. Indiana State..........................................28
9. Southern Illinois....................................23
10. Evansville.................................................22
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AVCA PRESEASON COACHES POLL
The Panthers are receiving 13 votes in the AVCA preseason poll, ranking the team 33rd in NCAA Division I volleyball. UNI is the only MVC team receiving votes in the poll.
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TOUGH SCHEDULE
The Panthers will take on the best teams in the nation in 2019, scheduling five top 25 teams and two teams receiving votes in the AVCA Preseason Poll.
NCAA WIN PERCENTAGE
Coach, Team                    Yrs.      W      L             Pct.
1. Russ Rose, Penn St.     40          1,272    206       .861
2. Mary Wise, Florida      32       931       171       .845
3. John Cook, Neb         26       721       149      .829
4. Dan Fisher, Pitt          8       223     49      .820
5. Jerritt Elliott, Texas      20       506       113       .817
6. H.McCutcheon, Minn.    7        189     47      .801
7. Tom Hilbert, CO St.      30       735    206      .781
8. Bobbi Petersen, UNIÂ Â Â 19Â Â Â Â Â Â 485Â Â Â Â 151Â Â Â Â Â Â .763
9. Travis Hudson,West Ky.  24       610    213       .741
10. Kelly Sheffield, Wis.    1 8       433    154      .738
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FAMILY AFFAIR
Head coach Bobbi Petersen and UNI's outside hitter Baylee Petersen will take on daughter/sister Sydney Petersen in the Panthers opening match of the seaÂson. This match marks the first time the Panthers and Longhorns have competed against each other.
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Players Mentioned
Bobbi Petersen Press Conference - Oct. 20, 2025
Monday, October 20
PST: Kaitlyn Sellner (2025)
Friday, October 17
UNI Panther Football: The Best Pod of your Day (Episode 9)
Wednesday, October 15
Bobbi Petersen Press Conference - Oct. 13, 2025
Monday, October 13