Panther volleyball opens 2022 season at Webb-Burbridge Classic

UNI volleyball vs. Toledo (Webb-Burbridge Classic)

11 a.m. CT | Aug. 26
Tempe, Ariz. | Desert Financial Arena (14,000)
1540 KXEL: Panther Sports Radio Network (Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play)
Live Stats (via Stat Broadcast)

UNI volleyball at Arizona State (Webb-Burbridge Classic)

9:30 p.m. CT | Aug. 26
Tempe, Ariz. | Desert Financial Arena (14,000)
ASU Livestream
UNIPanthers.com (Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play)
Live Stats (via Stat Broadcast)

UNI volleyball vs. CSU Bakersfield (Webb-Burbridge Classic)

1 p.m. CT | Aug. 27
Tempe, Ariz. | Desert Financial Arena (14,000)
1540 KXEL: Panther Sports Radio Network (Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play)
Live Stats (via Stat Broadcast)

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI volleyball team will begin the 2022 season on Friday morning as the Panthers open play at the Webb-Burbridge Classic on the Arizona State University campus in Tempe. UNI will face off against Toledo and Arizona State on Friday, with a matchup against CSU Bakersfield slated for Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers open the 48th season of play in program history looking to improve on a 12-19 campaign in 2021. UNI returns 13 players from last season's roster, including five starters and two All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) honorees in Carly Spies (Second Team) and Kira Fallert (Honorable Mention). The purple and gold also welcome five new faces to the roster with the addition of four freshmen and one transfer.

TOLEDO ROCKETS

UNI meets Toledo for only the second time in program history, and first time since 2005. The Panthers swept the Rockets in straight sets in the only other meeting on Sept. 10, 2005 in Milwaukee, Wisc.
The Panthers are 31-16 all-time in the first match of the season. Head coach Bobbi Petersen is 16-6 in her career in season-opening matches.
Toledo enters the season following a 20-13 campaign last year and 10-8 mark in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play. The Rockets were eliminated in the opening round of the MAC Tournament, but competed in the NIVC Tournament reaching the second round.

ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS

UNI seeks its first win against Arizona State in the first meeting between the programs in 26 years. The Sun Devils are 2-0 against the Panthers from previous meetings in 1985 and 1996.
The Panthers have won three matches against Pac-12 opponents under Bobbi Petersen, most recently against USC on Sept. 1, 2017.
Arizona State finished the 2021 season with a 14-17 record and 7-13 mark in Pac-12 play, finishing eighth in the league.

CSU BAKERSFIELD ROADRUNNERS

UNI faces off against CSU Bakersfield for the first time in program history on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers are 154-71-7 all-time when playing an opponent for the first time.
CSU Bakersfield finished last season with an 18-11 mark and 11-9 record in the Big West Conference. The Roadrunners reached the NIVC Tournament, but lost to Weber State in the first round.

PANTHER NOTES

UNI was selected sixth in the MVC's preseason poll for the second consecutive season with 94 total points and one first place vote. Defending MVC Tournament champion Illinois State was chosen as the favorite to win the league's regular season title.
13 of UNI's scheduled opponents this season participated in a national postseason tournament in 2021, including six NCAA Tournament teams (Creighton, Kentucky, Iowa State, Illinois State, SEMO and UIC). Seven teams also competed in the 2021 NIVC Tournament (Valparaiso, Evansville, North Florida, Bradley, Toledo, CSU Bakersfield and Indiana State).
The Panthers ranked 34th in the nation last season in total assists (1,378), third most in the MVC.
Setter Tayler Alden recorded four triple-doubles last season, the most in the MVC and fifth most in the nation. She ranks fifth all-time in career triple-doubles in program history.
Defensive specialists Baylee and Sydney Petersen are both inching closer to career milestones. Baylee is 55 digs shy of reaching 900 as a Panther, while Sydney is 18 service aces away from 100 on her career.

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