Volleyball Opens MVC Play at Valpo, Loyola

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This Week's Action

Fri., Sept. 22 -- Valparaiso, Indiana
UNI at Valparaiso, 7 p.m. | AUDIO | STATS

Sat., Sept. 23 -- Chicago, Illinois
UNI at Loyola, 7 p.m. | VIDEO | AUDIO | STATS

• The No. 22-ranked University of Northern Iowa volleyball team (10-4 overall) will begin Missouri Valley Conference play this Friday and Saturday with road matchups against the Valparaiso Crusaders (7-5 overall) and the Loyola Ramblers (1-10 overall).

• UNI is tied with Florida for the most wins (4) this season over ranked opponents.

• UNI is 4-2 this season against ranked opponents with wins over No. 10 Nebraska (3-1), No. 18 USC (3-1), No. 19 Missouri (3-2) and No. 19 Iowa State (3-2).

• UNI earned a No. 22 ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 poll. The last time UNI was ranked came when the Panthers appeared at No. 25 in the Sept. 3, 2012, poll.

• The Panthers have been ranked 111 times, which is the 40th highest total among Division I teams.

• Heather Hook was named the co-MVP of the Omaha Challenge. Hook also earned MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week honors.

• Kendyl Sorge earned Most Outstanding Libero honors at the Omaha Challenge.

• Piper Thomas was the third Panther named to the Omaha Challenge All-Tournament team.

• Junior Bri Weber became the 17th UNI Panther to accumulate 1,000 or more digs in her career. Weber ranks No. 14 on UNI's all-time digs list with 1,406. Weber was named the PrepVolleyball.com National Player of the Week.

• Head coach Bobbi Petersen is in her 18th year at the helm of the Panther program with a record of 444-136.

UNI TO OPEN MISSOURI VALLEY PLAY AT VALPO, LOYOLA
The No. 22-ranked University of Northern Iowa volleyball team (10-4 overall) will begin Missouri Valley Conference play this Friday and Saturday with road matchups against the Valparaiso Crusaders (7-5 overall) and the Loyola Ramblers (1-10 overall).
   UNI was picked to finish second in the MVC preseason coaches' poll.

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., at Valpo - KXEL (1540-AM)
Sat., at Loyola - KXEL (1540-AM)

THE VALLEY ON ESPN3
Saturday's match between UNI and Loyola will be streamed live on The Valley on ESPN3.

ALL-TIME SERIES
UNI holds a 6-0 lead in the all-time series vs. Valparaiso. The teams have not met since the 1995 season. This will mark the first time UNI has played a match at Valpo as the previous six encounters occured at home (2) or on neutal floors (4).
   The Panthers own a 15-0 lead in the all-time series vs. Loyola. Since joining the MVC, the Ramblers are 0-9 against the Panthers. The squad met three times last season, which included a UNI sweep of Loyola in the MVC Tournament quarterfinals.

HEAD COACH BOBBI PETERSEN
Head coach Bobbi Petersen is in her 18th year as the Panthers head coach.
   Petersen has posted an impressive 444-136 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. 12 of active Division I coaches in winning percentage (.766).
   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 (472 - Missouri State in that elite class.

UNI ENTERS AVCA TOP 25 POLL
UNI earned a No. 22 ranking in the American Volleyball Coaches Association Top 25 poll.
   The last time UNI was ranked came when the Panthers appeared at No. 25 in the Sept. 3, 2012, top 25 poll.

MORE POLLING NUMBERS
UNI has been ranked in the AVCA Top 25 111 times in program history - the most in the Missouri Valley Conference.
   By comparison, the rest of the current teams in the MVC have been ranked 17 times (Illinois State - 14; Missouri State - 3).
   In the state of Iowa, UNI's 111 poll rankings puts it on top. Iowa State has been ranked in 81 polls, while Iowa has been ranked in one.
   UNI has been ranked in the top 10 in the AVCA poll on 25 occasions - the best mark in the MVC. Illinois State is second with one top-10 appearance.
   UNI's highest ranking in the AVCA Top 25 is No. 6 (Sept. 15, 2003).

FOUR WINS OVER RANKED FOES
UNI wrapped up its non-conference play this past week and captured two more wins over ranked foes to run the Panther season total to four wins over top-25 opposition.
   UNI and Florida are tied for the nation's lead in wins (4) over ranked opponents.
   UNI began last week by going on the road and securing a 3-2 victory at No. 19-ranked Iowa State.
   UNI recorded the program's first win over Nebraska with a 3-1 triumph at the Omaha Challenge. The Panthers entered the match against Nebraska having only won one set against the Cornhuskers and that had occurred all the way back in 1977.

UNI KNOCKED OFF FIVE RANKED TEAMS IN 2002
UNI is 4-2 against ranked foes in 2017. 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 and three in 2003 (No. 11 Notre Dame, No. 23 Missouri State, No. 20 UC Santa Barbara).

ROAD WIN OVER RANKED FOE
UNI's 3-2 win at Iowa State marked the first road victory over a ranked opponent since the Panthers toppled No. 8 Minnesota in a five-set match on Sept. 4, 2010.

PREPVOLLEYBALL.COM NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD
Junior Bri Weber was named the PrepVolleyball.com National Player of the Week after helping UNI defeat a pair of ranked foes in No. 19 Iowa State and No. 10 Nebraska.
   Weber played a key role in helping UNI knock off two more ranked opponents as the Panthers wrapped up non-conference play.
   Weber totaled a double-double with 14 kills and 13 digs to go with two solo blocks in a five-set win at No. 19 Iowa State.
   Weber registered 15 kills, nine digs, four assists, one solo block and tied a career-high with three service aces in UNI's 3-1 victory over No. 10 Nebraska.
   Weber tied a career-high with 22 kills and secured 17 digs in a five-set match with Kansas State.
   For the week, Weber tallied 65 kills (3.61 kills/set), 62 digs (3.44 digs/set), 11 assists, six blocks and five service aces.

WEBER JOINS 1,000 DIG CLUB
Junior Bri Weber became the 17th UNI Panther to reach 1,000 career digs. Weber surpassed the 1,000 dig mark in UNI's 3-1 win at Omaha (9/15).
   Weber has collected 1,046 career digs to rank No. 14 on UNI's all-time digs list.

SORGE NAMED OUTSTANDING LIBERO AT OMAHA CHALLENGE
Junior Kendyl Sorge was named the Most Outstanding Libero at the Omaha Challenge after leading the Panthers with 67 digs (3.72 digs/set) in the tournament's three matches.
   Sorge posted 15 digs, two assists and a service ace in a 3-1 win over Omaha.
   Sorge then tallied 15 digs and tied her career-high with eight assists in UNI's 3-1 victory over No. 10 Nebraska.
   She tallied 17 digs and six assists in a five-set loss to Kansas State.

THREE NAMED TO OMAHA CHALLENGE ALL-TOURNEY TEAM
Senior setter Heather Hook (Co-MVP), junior libero Kendyl Sorge (Most Outstanding Libero) and junior middle hitter Piper Thomas were all named to the Omaha Challenge All-Tournament team.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE TALK
Karlie Taylor leads the Panthers in double-doubles this season with eight. Taylor is the midst of a three-match string of double-doubles.
   Bri Weber ranks second on the team in double-doubles with seven, while Heather Hook has posted six double-doubles this year.
   Weber has recorded 41 career double-doubles. Hook has tallied 30 career double doubles.

Career Double-Doubles
Bri Weber - 41
Heather Hook - 30
Karlie Taylor - 8

SORGE MOVES TO NO. 8 ON UNI'S TOP-10 ALL-TIME DIGS LIST
Junior libero Kendyl Sorge has moved into the No. 8 slot on UNI's all-time digs list with 1,355 digs.
   Sorge needs 13 more digs to move into No. 7 on the list. Kate Galer recoded 1,368 digs from 1993-1996.

UNI'S All-Time Digs Chart
1.   Ellie Blankenship (2007-10)   2,656
2.   Amie Held (2013-16)       2,002
3.   Candice Burke (2008-12)   1,737
4.   Amy Braun (2009-12)       1,672
5.   Stephanie May (2003-06)   1,570
6.   Bobbi Becker (1986-89)   1,457
7.   Kate Galer (1993-96)       1,368
8.   Kendyl Sorge (2015-pres.)   1,355
9.   Alexandra Auker (1997-2000)   1,303
10.   Bre Payton (2007-2011)   1,222
11.   Mary Bernhardt (1984-87)   1,202
12.   Miranda Weber (1999-2002)   1,148
13.   Laura Rowen (2004-2007)   1,145
14.   Bri Weber (2015-pres.)   1,046
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 3,376 career assists.

UNI'S All-Time Assist Chart
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.   Heather Hook (2014-pres.)   3,376
8.   Bobbie Kreple (1987-90)   2,780
9.   Kinsey Caldwell (2013-14)   2,549
10.   Katie Crowley (1988-91)   1,895

THOMAS CLOSING IN ON TOP-10 SOLO BLOCKS LIST
Junior middle hitter Piper Thomas is one solo block away from joining the top-10 list of solo blockers in UNI volleyball history.
   Thomas is tied with Kayla Hanline for No. 11 on the solo blocks list with 61.

UNI'S All-Time Assist 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.   Tricia Mills (1990-1993)   65
9.   Krista DeGeest (2008-2012)   64
10.   Shelby Kintzel (2009-2013)   62
11.   Kayla Haneline (2012-2016)   61
   Piper Thomas (2015-pres.)   61

ROAD WIN OVER RANKED FOE
UNI's 3-2 win at Iowa State marked the first road victory over a ranked opponent since the Panthers toppled No. 8 Minnesota in a five-set match on Sept. 4, 2010.

ANOTHER WIN IN AMES
UNI recorded its 11th all-time victory over Iowa State in matches played in Ames.
   Iowa State entered the match having not lost a decision to an in-state opponent since 2008 when the Panthers went into Hilton Coliseum and scored a victory over the Cyclones.

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.

VOLLEYBALL GOLF OUTING
The 2017 UNI volleyball golf outing is set for Sun., Oct. 1, at Fox Ridge Golf Course in Dike.
   The four-person best shot will get underway at 12:30 p.m. with the shotgun start. The $45 entry per golfer includes green fees, flight prizes and flag events. For an additional $12 golfers can use a golf cart for the event. Entrants can also add in $8 per golfer for a meal following the golf.
   Send golfer names, addresses, phone numbers along with $45 entry fee per golfer along with cart fee and meal fee (if applicable) to:

UNI Volleyball Golf Outing
P.O. Box 257
Dike, Iowa 50624

   For questions call Joe Becker at 319-989-2405.

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.

FAN FAVORITES
The Panthers consistently have ranked among the national leaders in attendance, including ranking No. 18 in the nation in 2016 with an average of 2,086 fans per home 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.

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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