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University of Northern Iowa
Minnesota (Exhibition)
Panther volleyball wraps preseason at Minnesota
8/16/2023 1:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UNI volleyball at Minnesota (Exhibition)
- 6 p.m. CT | Aug. 18, 2023
- Minneapolis, Minn. | Maturi Pavilion
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI volleyball returns to the site of its most recent NCAA Tournament appearance late Friday afternoon as the Panthers face off against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in their final preseason exhibition.
The Panthers return to Minneapolis for the first time since December after falling to the then eighth-ranked Gophers in the second round of last season's NCAA Tournament at Maturi Pavilion in straight sets. This will be UNI's second preseason outing after hosting their annual Purple and Gold intrasquad scrimmage on Sunday.
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 opens 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.
