University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Panthers honor October Student-Athletes of the Month
10/11/2023 8:47:00 AM | General
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI Athletics is proud to honor four outstanding student-athletes with Athlete of the Month awards for October 2023. The award recipients, voted on by members of UNI's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for their achievements in the months of August and September, include Theo Day (football), Olivia Knoepfle (soccer), Kira Fallert (volleyball) and Sam Schnee (football).
THEO DAY - Football - Canton, Mich. / Divine Child HS
Day completed 62.2% of his pass attempts for 1,201 yards and eight touchdowns in UNI's first four games of the season, helping the Panthers earn wins over Idaho State and No. 19 Youngstown State. Earning MVFC Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Penguins, Day averaged 300 passing yards per game, the eighth-best average in the nation while setting a new school record with touchdown passes in 26 consecutive games dating back to 2021.
OLIVIA KNOEPFLE - Soccer - Andover, Minn. / Andover HS
Knoepfle played a key role in helping the Panthers record their best start in school history, including the first undefeated non-conference schedule in UNI history. The forward/midfielder recorded a team-high 14 points with five goals and four assists during the first 11 games of the season on 22 shot attempts and 16 shots on goal. Knoepfle earned MVC Offensive Player of the Week recognition after scoring a pair of goals in the Panthers' home win over Southern Illinois on Sept. 24.
KIRA FALLERT - Volleyball - Maplewood, Minn. / Concordia Academy
Fallert tallied a team-high 189 kills (3.44 pert set) as UNI opened the 2023 season with a 6-6 record in non-conference play and opened the defense of its MVC regular season title with an undefeated record. Etching her name into UNI history, Fallert recorded five double-doubles in the first two months of the season, including the 31st 20-20 match in school history with a season-high 20 kills and career-best 23 digs in a five-set victory over TCU.
SAM SCHNEE - Football - Dubuque, Iowa / Dubuque Senior HS
Schnee picked up where he left off a year ago as UNI's top receiver, hauling in an MVFC-high 378 yards and four touchdowns in the Panthers' first four games of the season. The conference leader in all-purpose yardage (116.5), Schnee recorded a career-high 174-yard performance in UNI's 41-17 win at Idaho State with a pair of touchdowns. Schnee also leads the MVFC with 94.5 receiving yards per game.