Panther volleyball preps for UMKC Spring Tournament

UNI volleyball at UMKC Spring Tournament

10 a.m. CT | April 9
Kansas City, Mo. | Swinney Recreation Center (1,500)

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI's spring volleyball season continues this weekend as the Panthers head to Kansas City for four matches on the campus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC).

The Panthers will open Saturday's action at 10 a.m. against Kansas State at UMKC's Swinney Recreation Center. UNI will face off with Arkansas at 11 a.m., followed by Kansas at 12:45 p.m. and UMKC at 1:45 p.m. All matches are free and open to the public.

This weekend's competition marks the second of four competition dates this month that the Panthers will compete in. UNI finished 1-2 last Saturday at Iowa State's spring competition in Ames, highlighted by a 2-1 win over Drake. The Panthers will battle the defending national champion Wisconsin Badgers next Friday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m. on the University of Dubuque campus before hosting the UNI Spring Tournament on Saturday, April 23.

THE WILDCATS

Kansas State is playing in its third competition of the spring season this weekend, coming off a home match with Wichita State last month and an appearance at the Omaha Spring Tournament last Saturday.
The Wildcats enter the spring after a 15-13 campaign last fall with a 6-10 mark in Big 12 play. K-State qualified as an at-large team for the NCAA Tournament, falling in the first round to Florida State in straight sets.
Head coach Suzie Fritz will begin her 22nd season at the helm of the Wildcat program this coming season. Fritz has led Kansas State to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances and has been named the Big 12 Coach of the Year three time in her career.
The Wildcats return much of its roster core from a season ago, led by leading attacker Aliyah Carter, who notched 431 kills last fall. Teana Adams-Kaonohi notched 1,120 assists for K-State last year, with Loren Hinkle recording 34 service aces. Defensively, Mackenzie Morris notched 423 digs as Kadye Fernholz recorded 106 total blocks.

THE RAZORBACKS

Arkansas returns to the court for the first time in a month following a March 12 spring match at Central Arkansas.
The Razorbacks posted a 20-11 record last season with a 10-8 mark in the SEC. Arkansas reached the quarterfinal round of the NIVC, falling to UNLV, 3-0.
Head coach Jason Watson enters his 7th season with the Razorbacks this coming season. The former head coach at BYU (2005-07) and Arizona State (2008-15), Watson has totaled 284 career wins with 7 NCAA Tournament berths in his first 17 seasons.
Taylor Head leads the Arkansas offense with 411 kills last season. Gracie Ryan notched 1,290 assists for the Razorbacks last fall, while Maggie Cartwright posted 43 service aces. On defense, Courtney Jackson led with 393 digs.

THE JAYHAWKS

Kansas finished the 2021 season with an 18-12 record with an 8-8 mark in Big 12 play. An NCAA Tournament qualifier, the Jayhawks reached the Sweet 16 before falling to Pitt in straight sets.
Ray Bechard enters his 26th season this fall at KU with 440 career wins, 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and one Big 12 regular season championship in 2016.
Caroline Bien returns after leading Kansas with 336 kills last season. Camryn Turner notched 602 assists for the Jayhawks last fall, while Kennedy Farris anchored the KU defense with 296 digs.

THE ROOS

Kansas City recorded a 21-10 season last fall with a 12-6 mark in Summit League play. The Roos fell short in its postseason opener, falling to Oral Robert in the quarterfinal round of the conference tournament in four sets.
Head coach Christi Posey has recorded 169 wins in her 11 seasons leading the UMKC program with one conference regular season title (2014-WAC) and a 2019 NIVC Tournament berth.
Kennedy Schritenthal returns after posting 44 service aces during her junior season last fall.

Calendar

Upcoming Events