University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Purple & Gold Scrimmage
UNI volleyball hosts Purple & Gold Scrimmage this Sunday
8/11/2023 9:05:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Panthers take to the floor for the first time this preseason for an intrasquad matchup. Event is free and open to the public.
UNI volleyball - Purple and Gold Scrimmage
- 3 p.m. CT | Aug. 13, 2023
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The defending Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) champion UNI volleyball team will take to the floor for the first time this season on Sunday afternoon as the Panthers host their annual Purple and Gold intrasquad scrimmage.
Admission for the match is free to the public with doors to the McLeod Center opening at 2 p.m. CT, one hour before the scheduled 3 p.m. CT start time. While no concession or alcoholic beverage service will be available, fans are permitted to bring outside food and non-alcoholic beverages to the scrimmage. Team gear will also be sold during the match (cash and check only).
UNI returns 13 players from last year's MVC regular season and tournament championship team, including the reigning conference setter of the year in Tayler Alden and MVC Tournament MVP Olivia Tjernagel. Also leading the charge offensively is senior middle hitter Emily Holterhaus, who led the Panthers with 416 kills in 2022. Outside hitter Kira Fallert, the 2022 MVC Elite 17 Award winner also returns, as does opposite/middle blocker Kaylissa Arndorfer and outside hitter Megan Witte.
The Panthers added seven new faces to the 2023 offseason roster with four high school signees and three transfers. Among this year's freshmen class are Northville, Minnesota product Taryn Rice, Iowa City Liberty High School standout Cassidy Hartman, Urbandale outside hitter Lily Dykstra and Eagan, Minnesota middle blocker Kaitlyn Sellner.
UNI's three transfers include the reigning America East Conference Freshman of the Year in Kara Oxenknecht from New Hampshire, former UAB defensive specialist Erin Powers and Illinois State transfer Calia Clubb.
The Panthers posted a 27-8 record and 17-1 mark in league play in 2022, marking the largest single-season turnaround in MVC history from the 2021 campaign. Under the leadership of MVC Coach of the Year Bobbi Petersen, UNI made its 24th NCAA Tournament appearance last December with a first round win over Florida State.
UNI will play another preseason exhibition on Friday, Aug. 18 at Minnesota before opening the regular season, Aug. 25-26 at the Western Michigan Tournament against Villanova, Milwaukee and Western Michigan. The Panthers will play their first home match of the year on Sept. 14, hosting North Dakota in the first match of the UNI Tournament.
