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UNI volleyball inks four signees
11/9/2022 9:10:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Lily Dykstra, Cassidy Hartman, Taryn Rice, Kaitlyn Sellner commit to Panthers
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The UNI Panther volleyball team officially announces the signings of Lily Dykstra, Cassidy Hartman, Taryn Rice, and Kaitlyn Sellner to its 2023 recruiting class. These four individuals will start their collegiate careers with UNI next season.
"We are excited to welcome our 2023 recruiting class and look forward to what these young women will bring to our program," head coach Bobbi Petersen said. "These student-athletes are driven, committed, and passionate and have all competed on quality high school teams and nationally-competitive club programs. They have a high commitment to academics, are great teammates, and bring positive personalities to the gym. We are thrilled to have each of them and their families as members of our UNI Panther volleyball family."
Lily Dykstra – 6'0" – Outside Hitter
Urbandale, Iowa – Urbandale High School
Dykstra led the Urbandale J-Hawks to back-to-back Class 5A state quarterfinal appearances to close her prep career. She earned 2022 IGHSAU Class 5A All-Tournament Team honors after recording 25 kills and 17 digs along with errorless receiving across 45 attempts in a quarterfinal loss to Iowa City Liberty. Her other awards include 2021 IGCA Elite All-State and Class 5A First Team All-State recognition, and she was a four-time First Team All-Central Iowa Metropolitan League pick. Dykstra had 1,818 kills for the J-Hawks with class-high totals of 633 terminations as a junior and 555 kills as a senior. She also represented Urbandale in tennis and had an eighth-place finish during the 2021 Class 2A State Tennis Tournament doubles meet. In club competition, Dykstra played for Iowa PowerPlex Volleyball Club and claimed third place in the 17 American Division at the 2022 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship. She is the daughter of Pamela and Scott Dykstra and is currently undecided on a major.
"Lily is an explosive attacker that has the ability to impact the game with her lively arm and block," Petersen said. "She also will add versatility to our pin hitter position being able to attack at multiple areas along the net. Lily has had tremendous growth in her defense and passing skills over the past couple years and will add depth to our six-rotation options. You can feel her great love for the sport, and she is an excellent teammate, a hard worker, and an intense competitor."
Cassidy Hartman – 5'11" – Outside Hitter
North Liberty, Iowa – Iowa City Liberty High School
Hartman is an AVCA All-America First Team, AVCA Best and Brightest Second Team, and AVCA All-Region honoree that helped the Liberty Lightning win their first state volleyball title and averaged 5.58 kills per set and 4.33 digs per set across the final three contests en route to her selection as the IGHSAU Class 5A All-Tournament Team Captain. She will become the latest member of her family to compete at UNI following cousin Chelsea (Hartman) Szczyrbak (2018-12 women's swimming) and uncle Joel Hartman (1985-89 men's track and field). Hartman is a four-time Mississippi Valley Conference champ and a three-time Mississippi Division Athlete of the Year who also garnered two IGCA Elite All-State nods. She also participated in track and field. In her experience with Six Pack Volleyball Club, Hartman made it to the 2019 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship 14 National Division title match. She is the daughter of Marianne and Mike Hartman, and she will major in Biology.
"Cassidy is a student of the game," Petersen said. "She is a high-skill player that can see the game at a high level. As an attacker, she has the ability to score in a variety of ways and sees the court well. Her ball control and defense are strong, and she also has the potential to be a primary passer. Cassidy has a high volleyball IQ and great feel for the game, and we are excited to see her continue to blossom at the next level."
Taryn Rice – 5'9" – Defensive Specialist/Libero
Northville, Michigan – Northville High School
Rice and the Northville Mustangs are currently in pursuit of the 2022 MHSAA Division 1 state title with an upcoming contest in the regional final round against the Allen Park Jaguars. She will also be the first Michigander to play volleyball for the Panthers since former setter Bobbie Kreple (1987-90). Earlier this year, Rice earned Kensington Lakes Activities Association All-Conference Team accolades for the second time and surpassed 1,000 career digs. Her teams have also secured back-to-back conference and district championships with Rice picking up MIVCA All-Region plaudits in 2021 after helping the Mustangs to the Division 1 quarterfinals. Plus, she previously competed in soccer as a defender in her prep tenure. Rice's club action at Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy features a spot in ninth place in the 16 Open Division at the 2021 AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships. She is the daughter of Debby and Michael Rice and the sister of Rutgers Scarlet Knight Jaden Rice, and she will pursue Pre-Med / Biology studies at UNI.
"Taryn will be a great addition to our back court as she will add speed, quickness, and competitiveness," Petersen said. "She has good technique both on the dig and serve receive, and her agility should adapt to the college game quickly. Taryn has good range and we feel could help us in any of the three backcourt positions. She competes with intensity and will bring a great work ethic to our program."
Kaitlyn Sellner – 6'2" – Middle Blocker
Eagan, Minnesota – Eagan High School
Sellner was a key performer with the Eagan Wildcats while winning Southern Suburban Conference crowns in consecutive years including an undefeated league record for the 2021 season. She qualified for the 2022 MSHSL Section 3AAAA semifinals as a senior after getting to the 2021 MSHSL Section 3AAAA championship tilt as a junior. In addition to her volleyball participation as a middle blocker and outside hitter, Sellner gained varsity experience in track and field as a high jumper. Perhaps her best highlights have come in the club ranks with Northern Lights Volleyball featuring several top-10 finishes between the annual USA Volleyball and AAU national tournaments. She registered 2019 AAU Junior National Volleyball Championship 14 Aspire Division All-Star Team honors and landed in fifth place for team competition in that same year. She is the daughter of Jen and Jeff Sellner and plans on majoring in Construction Management.
"Kaitlyn's biggest strength is her blocking ability, and she will immediately add size and physicality to our front court," Petersen said. "She has good vision and anticipation and moves well laterally - all important to excel at the collegiate level. As a middle, she can attack both in front and behind the setter which makes her versatile on the offensive side. She is high reaching and can work the deep corners well. Kaitlyn's flexibility also gives her the potential to help on the right pin."
"We are excited to welcome our 2023 recruiting class and look forward to what these young women will bring to our program," head coach Bobbi Petersen said. "These student-athletes are driven, committed, and passionate and have all competed on quality high school teams and nationally-competitive club programs. They have a high commitment to academics, are great teammates, and bring positive personalities to the gym. We are thrilled to have each of them and their families as members of our UNI Panther volleyball family."
Lily Dykstra – 6'0" – Outside Hitter
Urbandale, Iowa – Urbandale High School
Dykstra led the Urbandale J-Hawks to back-to-back Class 5A state quarterfinal appearances to close her prep career. She earned 2022 IGHSAU Class 5A All-Tournament Team honors after recording 25 kills and 17 digs along with errorless receiving across 45 attempts in a quarterfinal loss to Iowa City Liberty. Her other awards include 2021 IGCA Elite All-State and Class 5A First Team All-State recognition, and she was a four-time First Team All-Central Iowa Metropolitan League pick. Dykstra had 1,818 kills for the J-Hawks with class-high totals of 633 terminations as a junior and 555 kills as a senior. She also represented Urbandale in tennis and had an eighth-place finish during the 2021 Class 2A State Tennis Tournament doubles meet. In club competition, Dykstra played for Iowa PowerPlex Volleyball Club and claimed third place in the 17 American Division at the 2022 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship. She is the daughter of Pamela and Scott Dykstra and is currently undecided on a major.
"Lily is an explosive attacker that has the ability to impact the game with her lively arm and block," Petersen said. "She also will add versatility to our pin hitter position being able to attack at multiple areas along the net. Lily has had tremendous growth in her defense and passing skills over the past couple years and will add depth to our six-rotation options. You can feel her great love for the sport, and she is an excellent teammate, a hard worker, and an intense competitor."
Cassidy Hartman – 5'11" – Outside Hitter
North Liberty, Iowa – Iowa City Liberty High School
Hartman is an AVCA All-America First Team, AVCA Best and Brightest Second Team, and AVCA All-Region honoree that helped the Liberty Lightning win their first state volleyball title and averaged 5.58 kills per set and 4.33 digs per set across the final three contests en route to her selection as the IGHSAU Class 5A All-Tournament Team Captain. She will become the latest member of her family to compete at UNI following cousin Chelsea (Hartman) Szczyrbak (2018-12 women's swimming) and uncle Joel Hartman (1985-89 men's track and field). Hartman is a four-time Mississippi Valley Conference champ and a three-time Mississippi Division Athlete of the Year who also garnered two IGCA Elite All-State nods. She also participated in track and field. In her experience with Six Pack Volleyball Club, Hartman made it to the 2019 USA Volleyball Girls Junior National Championship 14 National Division title match. She is the daughter of Marianne and Mike Hartman, and she will major in Biology.
"Cassidy is a student of the game," Petersen said. "She is a high-skill player that can see the game at a high level. As an attacker, she has the ability to score in a variety of ways and sees the court well. Her ball control and defense are strong, and she also has the potential to be a primary passer. Cassidy has a high volleyball IQ and great feel for the game, and we are excited to see her continue to blossom at the next level."
Taryn Rice – 5'9" – Defensive Specialist/Libero
Northville, Michigan – Northville High School
Rice and the Northville Mustangs are currently in pursuit of the 2022 MHSAA Division 1 state title with an upcoming contest in the regional final round against the Allen Park Jaguars. She will also be the first Michigander to play volleyball for the Panthers since former setter Bobbie Kreple (1987-90). Earlier this year, Rice earned Kensington Lakes Activities Association All-Conference Team accolades for the second time and surpassed 1,000 career digs. Her teams have also secured back-to-back conference and district championships with Rice picking up MIVCA All-Region plaudits in 2021 after helping the Mustangs to the Division 1 quarterfinals. Plus, she previously competed in soccer as a defender in her prep tenure. Rice's club action at Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy features a spot in ninth place in the 16 Open Division at the 2021 AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships. She is the daughter of Debby and Michael Rice and the sister of Rutgers Scarlet Knight Jaden Rice, and she will pursue Pre-Med / Biology studies at UNI.
"Taryn will be a great addition to our back court as she will add speed, quickness, and competitiveness," Petersen said. "She has good technique both on the dig and serve receive, and her agility should adapt to the college game quickly. Taryn has good range and we feel could help us in any of the three backcourt positions. She competes with intensity and will bring a great work ethic to our program."
Kaitlyn Sellner – 6'2" – Middle Blocker
Eagan, Minnesota – Eagan High School
Sellner was a key performer with the Eagan Wildcats while winning Southern Suburban Conference crowns in consecutive years including an undefeated league record for the 2021 season. She qualified for the 2022 MSHSL Section 3AAAA semifinals as a senior after getting to the 2021 MSHSL Section 3AAAA championship tilt as a junior. In addition to her volleyball participation as a middle blocker and outside hitter, Sellner gained varsity experience in track and field as a high jumper. Perhaps her best highlights have come in the club ranks with Northern Lights Volleyball featuring several top-10 finishes between the annual USA Volleyball and AAU national tournaments. She registered 2019 AAU Junior National Volleyball Championship 14 Aspire Division All-Star Team honors and landed in fifth place for team competition in that same year. She is the daughter of Jen and Jeff Sellner and plans on majoring in Construction Management.
"Kaitlyn's biggest strength is her blocking ability, and she will immediately add size and physicality to our front court," Petersen said. "She has good vision and anticipation and moves well laterally - all important to excel at the collegiate level. As a middle, she can attack both in front and behind the setter which makes her versatile on the offensive side. She is high reaching and can work the deep corners well. Kaitlyn's flexibility also gives her the potential to help on the right pin."
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