University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Panthers Earn AVCA All-Region Recognition
12/4/2018 3:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
LEXINGTON, Kentucky – The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its 2018 All-Region Teams and All-Region Coach of the Year honorees. This season the Panthers had three student-athletes honored while Head Coach Bobbi Petersen earned her third AVCA All-Region Coach of the Year award.
Senior Piper Thomas was selected to her second AVCA All-Region Team. The senior middle hitter finished the season with 465 kills and a .344 attack percentage. Thomas's 1,572 career kills lands her #4 in program history. Thomas has also recorded a UNI record 98 career solo blocks in her four years. One of Thomas's best performances of the year came in the MVC Championship match against Illinois State, finishing with 24 kills and only two errors for a .478 attack percentage.
Junior Karlie Taylor joins Thomas as a two time AVCA All-Region team member. Taylor frequently led the Panthers in kills this season recording ten matches with over 20 kills. Taylors 563 kills in 2018 rank second all-time at UNI. Taylor also finished second on the team with 378 total digs, averaging 3.2 per set this season. Taylor led the Missouri Valley Conference in points this season averaging 5.20 point per set.
Rachel Koop earns her first All-Region honor after her first season of setting the Panthers offense. Behind Koop the Panthers finished second in the country in assists per set with 14.16 and second in kills per set with 15.00. Koop ranked fourth nationally with 11.97 assists per set and regularly finished matches with over 40 assists, recording 23 matches over that mark including two 60 assists matches against Drake and Valparaiso.
Head Coach Bobbi Petersen earns her third AVCA All-Region Coach of the Year Award. Petersen received the same honor after the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Petersen led the Panther program to a 24-10 mark with key victories over Creighton and Kentucky in 2018. The Panthers finished Missouri Valley Conference play with a 16-2 record and a share of the regular season crown. The Panthers earned the #1 seed in the conference tournament and won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Title earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
Senior Piper Thomas was selected to her second AVCA All-Region Team. The senior middle hitter finished the season with 465 kills and a .344 attack percentage. Thomas's 1,572 career kills lands her #4 in program history. Thomas has also recorded a UNI record 98 career solo blocks in her four years. One of Thomas's best performances of the year came in the MVC Championship match against Illinois State, finishing with 24 kills and only two errors for a .478 attack percentage.
Junior Karlie Taylor joins Thomas as a two time AVCA All-Region team member. Taylor frequently led the Panthers in kills this season recording ten matches with over 20 kills. Taylors 563 kills in 2018 rank second all-time at UNI. Taylor also finished second on the team with 378 total digs, averaging 3.2 per set this season. Taylor led the Missouri Valley Conference in points this season averaging 5.20 point per set.
Rachel Koop earns her first All-Region honor after her first season of setting the Panthers offense. Behind Koop the Panthers finished second in the country in assists per set with 14.16 and second in kills per set with 15.00. Koop ranked fourth nationally with 11.97 assists per set and regularly finished matches with over 40 assists, recording 23 matches over that mark including two 60 assists matches against Drake and Valparaiso.
Head Coach Bobbi Petersen earns her third AVCA All-Region Coach of the Year Award. Petersen received the same honor after the 2001 and 2002 seasons. Petersen led the Panther program to a 24-10 mark with key victories over Creighton and Kentucky in 2018. The Panthers finished Missouri Valley Conference play with a 16-2 record and a share of the regular season crown. The Panthers earned the #1 seed in the conference tournament and won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Title earning an automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
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