UNI Volleyball Falls to Illinois Sate

Saturday, November 3

Normal, Illinois

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

19-8, 13-1MVC

Illinois State

22-5, 14-1MVC

Northern Iowa

Illinois State

UNI Volleyball Falls to Illinois Sate

11/3/2018 9:45:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

NORMAL, Illinois – The UNI volleyball team suffered their first conference loss Saturday night, dropping a hard fought five set match to the Redbirds of Illinois State.

After a back and forth start to the first set, the Panthers failed to close out the set in the final points, falling 25-20. The Redbirds went out to an 8-0 lead to start the second set before the Panthers rallied back to take the set 26-24.

The momentum didn't last long as the Redbirds fired back in the third, leading the majority of the match, the Redbirds coasted to a 25-14 set victory. The Panthers responded in the fourth, leading the entire set and forcing a fifth with a 25-22 set win. Falling behind early on, the Panthers could not overcome the early five point deficit and fell 15-11.

The Panthers saw three players earn double digit kill totals Saturday night in Piper Thomas (21), Jaydlin Seehase (14), and Karlie Taylor (13).

Piper Thomas showed why she is considered one of the best in the conference, recording 21 kills on 39 total attacks and only three errors for a team leading .462 attack percentage. The senior middle hitter also recorded a solo block and seven block assists.

The Panthers had an uncharacteristic night offensively, recording 33 attack errors and a team attack percentage of just .158.

Setter Rachel Koop finished the night with 51 assists while adding four kills on four total attacks. Kendyl Sorge and Karlie Taylor led the team in digs with 29 and 21 respectively.

With the Panthers loss the Missouri Valley Conference has a new leader atop the volleyball standings, with the Redbird's 21-5 record and 13-1 conference mark, Illinois State slips past UNI in the standings.

Up Next

The Panthers will get back to action on Friday, November 9 when the Bears of Missouri State make their way to the McLeod Center. The Panthers and Bears had a tight five set match the last time the two teams battled in Springfield back on October 13. Tickets to the match are only $6.00 and can be purchased here.