UNI Volleyball Win MVC Tournament Title

Saturday, November 24

Springfield, Mo.

4 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

24-9

Illinois State University

25-7

Illinois State

UNI

UNI Volleyball Win MVC Tournament Title

11/24/2018 7:58:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri - The UNI volleyball team has finished the 2018 season as Missouri Valley Conference Tournament champions. The Panthers defeated the Illinois State Redbirds in four sets in the championship match to claim their 17^th MVC Tournament title.

The Panthers started the first set slow but erupted after tying the match at 14, scoring 11 points to take the first set, 25-16. The second set was a tough back-and-forth scoring that the Panthers managed to close out, defeating the Redbirds by three.

The Panthers looked to finish the match in the third set and managed an eight-point lead, but the Redbirds had other plans. Leading 16-8, the Redbirds fought their way back in into the set, pushing the Panthers into extra points and came out on top 28-26 to force a fourth set.

The Panthers never gave up the lead in the fourth set, but the Redbirds managed to tie the set six separate times. With the set tied 22-22, the Panthers rattled off three straight kills to give them their first MVC Tournament title since 2011.

The Panthers managed three All-Tournament selections in Piper Thomas, Kendyl Sorge and Karlie Taylor, with senior Thomas also being named MVC tournament MVP.

The Panthers had three players record double digit kills with Thomas leading the way with 24. Thomas played one of her best matches in her career in the finals, finishing with 24 kills and only two errors for a .478 attack percentage.

Karlie Taylor finished with another double-double, her 20^th double-double of the season, recording 15 kills and 16 digs on the night. Jaydlin Seehase ended the night with 16 kills and delivered the final point of the night to secure the win.

Sorge finished with 32 digs, the highest mark she has recorded this season. Taylor Hedges finished the match with 13 digs and Rachel Koop finished with seven. Koop had yet another fantastic match for the Panthers, finishing with 56 assist and two block assists.

Up Next

Winning the MVC Tournament gives the Panthers an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament which begins next week. The team will know who they play after the NCAA Selection Show taking place on ESPNU at 7:30 p.m. CT Nov. 25. Further details on the NCAA selection show will be released shortly.