Panther Volleyball Ready for Cougar Challenge

Calendar

Women's Volleyball

vs Rice

Sep 12

4:30 p.m.

Omaha, Neb.

Women's Volleyball

vs #4 Louisville

Sep 13

6:30 p.m.

Omaha, Neb.

Women's Volleyball

at #18 Creighton

Sep 14

3:30 p.m.

Omaha, Neb.

Women's Volleyball

vs Tennessee Tech

Sep 18

3 p.m.

Green Bay, Wisc.

Women's Volleyball

vs Western Michigan

Sep 19

3 p.m.

Green Bay, Wisc.

Women's Volleyball

at Green Bay

Sep 20

2 p.m.

Green Bay, Wisc.

Women's Volleyball

at UIC

Sep 26

6 p.m.

Chicago, Ill.

Women's Volleyball

at Valparaiso

Sep 27

5 p.m.

Valparaiso, Ind.

Women's Volleyball

at Drake

Sep 30

6 p.m.

Des Moines, Iowa

Women's Volleyball

vs Murray State

Oct 4

1 p.m.

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Women's Volleyball

vs Evansville

Oct 10

6 p.m.

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Women's Volleyball

vs Bradley

Oct 11

5 p.m.

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Full Calendar

THIS WEEKEND'S ACTION:
Cougar Challenge (Washington State, Gonzaga, Long Beach State, UNI)

UNI vs Gonzaga | Sept. 9 | 6:00 pm
UNI vs Washington State | Sept. 10 | 2:30 pm
UNI vs Long Beach State | Sept. 10 | 8 pm

THE PANTHERS:
- The Panthers head west for the Cougar Challenge to play matches against Gonzaga, tournament host Washington State, and Long Beach State.

- UNI's only previous visit to Pullman, Washington came in 1994 when the Panthers went 4-0 in that year's Cougar Challenge with victories over Gonzaga, Nevada, Temple, and Washington State.

- The Panthers open the tournament by facing Gonzaga. UNI is 2-0 in the all-time series including a 3-1 win at the 1989 Women's Invitational Volleyball Championship for Bobbi (Becker) Petersen's final victory of her illustrious playing career.

- UNI is coming off a tough trip to the Bluegrass Battle that featured three matches against teams that were each receiving at least one vote in the AVCA Top 25 Poll ("RV" USC, No. 3 Kentucky, RV Creighton).

- Inga Rotto made the Bluegrass Battle All-Tournament Team last week. Rotto, who is also on a 97-match playing streak to begin her career, joined Kira Fallert (GBD Invite) and Carly Spies (GBD Invite) on the list of Panthers with all-tournament team recognition so far this season.

- This season started with UNI going 2-1 at the GBD Invite and finishing second to Ball State (4-0). The Panthers posted 3-1 wins over North Dakota State and Green Bay.

- At 2.38 blocks per set, the Panthers have the highest blocking average in the Missouri Valley Conference. Carly Spies is the individual leader (1.33) while carrying a 28-match block streak dating back to last season.

- Kaylissa Arndorfer enters this week with a career total of 498 kills. Current teammates Inga Rotto (568) and Emily Holterhaus (527) have already eclipsed 500 terminations in their tenures.

- The Panthers are back to a regular nonconference slate in terms of size and strength. The Panthers will have 13 matches before Missouri Valley Conference play, and six opponents were ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA Preseason Poll (No. 3 Kentucky, No. 18 Washington State, RV USC, RV Creighton, RV Marquette, RV Wright State).

- UNI returns 13 women that were with the program for the spring season including 2020-21 All-MVC honorees Emily Holterhaus (First Team), Inga Rotto (Second Team), and Tayler Alden (All-Freshman Team).

- Despite the challenges of the delayed 2020 campaign, the Panthers still qualified for the MVC Championship and made it to league semifinals. UNI has earned tournament bids and semifinal berths for a league-record 36 seasons in a row.

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