UNI Volleyball to Wrap Up Home Schedule

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This Week's Action

Fri., Nov. 3 -- Cedar Falls, Iowa (McLeod Center)
Evansville at UNI, 7 p.m. | ESPN3 | AUDIO | STATS

Sat., Nov. 4 -- Cedar Falls, Iowa (McLeod Center)
Indiana State at UNI, 7 p.m. | ESPN3 | AUDIO | STATS

• The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team (21-6, 11-2 MVC) will play its final two home regular season matches of the 2017 season. The Panthers will play host to Evansville (10-14, 4-8) on Friday at 7 p.m. and Indiana State (7-17, 5-7) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

• UNI has produced a perfect home record against both MVC foes it will face this week. UNI is 23-0 all-time at home against Evansville. The Panthers are 30-0 all-time in Cedar Falls against Indiana State.

• UNI will honor its lone senior Heather Hook on Saturday night prior to the start of its home match vs. Indiana State. Hook ranks No. 7 in school history in assists and needs only 54 more assists to become the sixth UNI Panther to reach 4,000 career assists.

• Piper Thomas, three-time MVC Player of the Week, is the MVC leader in hitting percentage (.355 - all matches; .418 in conference only matches).

• Thomas has posted 984 career kills entering this week's set of matches vs. Evansville and Indiana State. Thomas is looking to become the 27th UNI player to reach the 1,000 career kill mark.

• UNI is one of 16 teams to have recorded at least three wins against the NCAA RPI top 25 teams.

• UNI is ranked No. 1 in the nation in team digs (1,959) and team kills (1,541).

UNI TO WRAP UP HOME PORTION OF SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team (21-6, 11-2 MVC) will play its final two home regular season matches of the 2017 season.
   The Panthers will play host to Evansville (10-14, 4-8) on Friday and Indiana State (7-17, 5-7) on Saturday. Both matches will begin at 7 p.m. in the McLeod Center.

PROMOTIONS
Friday's match against Evansville will be Tattoo Night, while Saturday's match vs. Indiana State will be Senior Night and Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night.

TICKETS
Fans can purchase single-game tickets to UNI volleyball home games through UNITIX.
   Fans with tickets to the UNI football game vs. South Dakota on Saturday at 1 p.m., can gain free admission to the volleyball match by showing their football game ticket.
   Call 319-273-4849 or visit www.unipanthers.com/tickets.

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
Fri., vs. Evansville - KXEL (1540-AM)
Sat., vs. Indiana St. - KXEL (1540-AM)

THE VALLEY ON ESPN3
Both matches will be streamed live on The Valley on ESPN3.
   Brad Wells (play-by-play) and Barb Randall (analyst) will call the action courtside in the McLeod Center.

SERIES NOTES
The Panthers own a 48-1 lead in the all-time series vs. Evansville. UNI is a perfect 23-0 vs. the Purple Aces in matches held in Cedar Falls. The Panthers recorded a 3-0 win over the Purple Aces when the teams met in Evansville, Indiana, on Oct. 7.
   UNI holds a 59-4 all-time lead in the series vs. Indiana State. UNI is a perfect 30-0 vs. Indiana State in matches held in Cedar Falls. The Panthers notched a 3-0 win over the Sycamores in Terre Haute, Indiana, on Oct. 6.
   UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen is 34-1 vs. Evansville and 32-3 vs. Indiana State.

HEAD COACH BOBBI PETERSEN
Head coach Bobbi Petersen is in her 18th year as the Panthers head coach.
   Petersen has posted an impressive 455-138 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 (.767).
   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 (484 - Missouri State) in that elite class.

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
UNI is ranked No. 1 in the nation in team kills (1,541) and team digs (1,959).
   The Panthers rank No. 2 in the nation in team assists (1,432).
   Senior setter Heather Hook ranks No. 2 in the nation in total assists (1,188).

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 2,417 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.

THOMAS EARNS MVC PLAYER OF WEEK HONORS FOR THIRD TIME
For the third time this season, University of Northern Iowa junior Piper Thomas has been named the Missouri Valley Conference's volleyball player of the week.
   Thomas averaged 5.00 kills per set and hit .447 over this week's set of matches for the Panthers. Thomas set a career-high with 24 kills (.385) in a five-set match at Illinois State on Friday. Thomas came back on Sunday and delivered a team-high 16 kills (.583) in a 3-0 sweep at Bradley. Thomas notched 40 kills against six attack errors in 76 total swings in the two league matches. Thomas is the MVC leader in hitting percentage (.355 - all matches; .418 in conference only matches).
   The last time UNI had a player earn MVC player of the week honors three times in the same season came in 2011 when Bre Payton tallied the league's top weekly honor on three occasions.

All-Time UNI MVC Player of the Week Honors
9 Times
Molly O'Brien

8 Times
Kate Galer

5 Times
Bre Payton

4 Times
Alex Auker
Bobbi Becker
Shannon Perry

3 Times
JIll Arganbright
Shannon Aschoff
Mary Bernhardt
Sylvia Eder
Kara Galer
Kim Kester
Piper Thomas

PUNCH THEIR TICKET
UNI clinched a spot in the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Sunday with a 3-0 win at Bradley.
   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.

PIPER CLOSES IN ON 1,000 KILLS
UNI junior middle hitter Piper Thomas has posted 984 career kills entering this week's set of matches vs. Evansville and Indiana State.
   Thomas is looking to become the 27th UNI player to reach the 1,000 career kill mark. Teammate Bri Weber reached the 1,000 kill mark earlier this season.

SENIOR NIGHT FOR HOOK
UNI will honor its lone senior Heather Hook on Saturday night prior to the start of its home match vs. Indiana State. Hook ranks No. 7 in school history in assists and needs only 54 more assists to become the sixth UNI Panther to reach 4,000 career assists.

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.

TRIPLE-DIGIT DIGS
UNI surpassed the 100-dig mark for the fourth time this season with 106 digs in a 3-2 loss at Illinois State.
   UNI reached triple digits in digs in both matches against Valparaiso with 105 and 104.
   UNI recorded a season-high 107 digs vs. South Dakota on Sept. 8.

TOP HITTER IN THE VALLEY
Junior Piper Thomas leads the Missouri Valley Conference in hitting percentage (.418) in league matches only. Thomas has 203 kills (36 errors) in 400 attack attempts.
   Missouri State's Lynsey Wright ranks second in the league with a .359 hitting percentage (195-43-435).

UNI AGAINST RPI TOP 25
UNI is one of 17 teams to have recorded at least three wins against the NCAA RPI top 25 teams.
   Among those 17 teams, only 10 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   8-1
2.    Minnesota   6-2
3.   Kentucky   4-2
4.   Nebraska   9-3
6.   Texas   4-2
7.   Stanford   6-2
9. Washington   6-4
10. Oregon   5-6
11. Utah   4-5
12. Kansas   3-3
13. Michigan State   3-2
14. Iowa State   3-2
15. Creighton   3-4
16. USC   4-4
17. Colorado   4-5
23. UCLA   3-7
48. UNI   3-2

TWO MVC TEAMS IN TOP 50
No. 48 UNI and No. 50 Missouri State represent the MVC in the NCAA's RPI top 50.

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 - 1.07 assists/set.
   Hook has an even wider lead when considering only Missouri Valley Conference matches - 1.47 assists/set.
   Hook is averaging 11.65 assists/set (12.39 in MVC play), while Illinois State's Stef Jankiewicz ranks second in the league at 10.58 assists/set (10.92 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 (3.93). Sophomore Karlie Taylor ranks No. 4 in the MVC in kills per set (3.82). Junior Bri Weber ranks No. 6 in the conference in kills per set (3.32).
   The trio also ranks in the top-10 in points per set. Thomas is No. 4 (4.53), Taylor is No. 5 (4.25) and Bri Weber is No. 6 (3.81) 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 1,248 digs and 1,078 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   1,248 digs/1,078 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 1,583 digs.
   Sorge surged past Stephanie May's total of 1,570 digs from 2003-2006.
   Junior Bri Weber has 1,248 career digs and she moved past Bre Payton's total of 1,222 digs from 2007-2011.

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.)   1,583
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.)   1,248
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. 7 on the school's all-time assist chart.
   Hook is the seventh UNI Panther to accumulate at least 3,000 assists in her career. Hook has posted 3,946 career 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.   Mary Bernhardt (1984-1987)   3,977
7.   Heather Hook (2014-pres.)   3,946
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 18.
   Bri Weber ranks second on the team in double-doubles with 13, while Heather Hook has posted 10 double-doubles this year.
   Weber has recorded 47 career double-doubles. Hook has tallied 34 career double doubles.

Career Double-Doubles
Bri Weber - 47
Heather Hook - 34
Karlie Taylor - 18

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 at Bradley on Sunday and finished off the advantage with a 3-0 sweep.
   UNI improved to 682-9 all-time when winning the first two sets of a match.

EARLY ADVANTAGE
UNI has won the opening set in 22 of its 27 matches this season. The Panthers are 20-2 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.

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Amie Held

Heather Hook

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Karlie Taylor

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