Panthers Head West to USC Radisson Classic

UNI Volleyball Notes (PDF)

This Week's Action
Fri., Sept. 2 -- USC Radisson Classic (Los Angeles, Calif.)
UNI vs. Creighton, 7 p.m. (CT) - VIDEO
Sat., Sept. 3 -- USC Radisson Classic (Los Angeles, Calif.)
UNI at Southern California, 12 p.m. (CT) - Pac 12 Network | STATS
UNI vs. Kentucky, 7 p.m. (CT) - VIDEO

• The University of Northern Iowa women's volleyball team will head to the west coast to take part in the 2016 USC Radisson Classic in Los Angeles, Calif.

• UNI will open the tournament against former long-time conference foe Creighton on Friday at 7 p.m. (CT).

• On Saturday, UNI will play the tourney host Southern California Trojans at noon (CT) and then the Kentucky Wildcats at 7 p.m. (CT).

• The Panthers opened the season by going 2-1 at the Michigan Invitational in Ann Arbor, Mich. UNI picked up 3-0 victories over Miami (Ohio) and Saint Louis. Tournament host Michigan notched a 3-0 win over UNI in the title match.

• UNI seniors Kayla Haneline and Amie Held were each named to the Michigan Invitational All-Tournament squad.

• Held moved up to No. 4 on UNI's all-time digs list at the Michigan Invitational. Held has tallied 1,589 career digs.

• For the fifth time in her collegiate career, Held was honored as the Missouri Valley Conference's Defensive Player of the Week for her play at the Michigan Invitational.

• Head coach Bobbi Petersen is in her 17th year at the helm of the Panther program with a record of 412-123.

TOUGH ROAD TRIP AHEAD
UNI will not take the easy road this week as the Panthers are set to take on three teams that were ranked in the preseason AVCA Top 25 poll at the USC Radisson Classic in Los Angeles, Calif.
   UNI will match up against No. 7 Southern California, No. 18 Creighton and No. 24 Kentucky.
   It marks the third straight season that these four schools have taken part in the same tournament.

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
Fri., vs. Creighton - KXEL (1540-AM)
Sat., at USC - KXEL (1540-AM)
Sat., vs. Kentucky - UNIPanthers.com

ALL-TIME SERIES
UNI and Creighton were long-time Missouri Valley Conference foes with the Panthers holding a 41-6 lead in the all-time series. A 3-1 UNI victory last season, snapped a three-game winning streak for Creighton in the series.
   UNI is 0-3 all-time vs. Kentucky. The Wildcats scored a four-set win over the Panthers in the McLeod Center last season.
   UNI is 0-3 all-time vs. Southern California. USC notched a three-set win over UNI last year in Cedar Falls.

HEAD COACH BOBBI PETERSEN
Head coach Bobbi Petersen is beginning her 17th year as the Panthers head coach.
   Petersen has posted an impressive 412-123 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 (.770).
   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.

STIFF SCHEDULE
Head coach Bobbi Petersen has lined up a loaded schedule that will feature 10 matches against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25.

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

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).

HELD AT NO. 4 ON DIGS CHART
Senior Amie Held moved up to No. 4 on UNI's all-time digs list at the Michigan Invitational.
   Held surged past Stephanie May's total of 1,570 set from 2003-2006.
   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.)    1,589
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 NEARS TOP-10 ASSIST LIST
Junior Heather Hook is closing in on the top-10 list for career assists in the UNI volleyball program.
   Hook has tallied 1,521 assists in her career. She needs 34 assists to tie Erin Hirsch, who ranked No. 10 and posted 1,555 assists in her Panther career.
   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.   Erin Hirsch (2000-02, 04)   1,555

$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.

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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