University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
2-2,0-0MVC
LSU
1-2,0-0SEC
UNI volleyball comes out swinging in sweep of LSU
9/1/2023 6:02:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Panthers hit .371 as a team with five aces to open Bluejay Invitational. Face off with Ball State on Saturday afternoon.
OMAHA, Neb. --- Four Panthers notched double-digit terminations on Friday afternoon as UNI notched an impressive three-set sweep over the LSU Tigers to open play at the 2023 Bluejay Invitational.
Earning the program's first win in the city of Omaha since 2017, UNI was effective in all areas of play against the Tigers, who entered the weekend receiving votes in the AVCA top-25 poll. The Panthers notched five service aces, along with five blocks and a .371 hitting percentage as a team, fending off multiple rallies from LSU to secure a 3-0 win thanks to stellar play from their middle blockers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI jumped out to an early lead at 8-5 before the Tigers stormed back on an 8-0 run to take a six-point advantage. Out of a timeout, the Panthers clawed their way back thanks to kills by Kira Fallert, Olivia Tjernagel and Layanna Green, tying the match at 22-22. Leading UNI with five first set terminations, the Panthers took advantage of four Tiger service errors, holding off consecutive LSU set points and rallying for a 25-23 first set win.
The Panthers once again grabbed the early advantage in the second set, but saw the Tigers roar back on a 4-0 run. LSU would ultimately tie the second stanza at 20-20 and put UNI on the edge with another pair of set points. Back-to-back kills by Tjernagel tied the frame up at 25-25 before an Emily Holterhaus kill sealed the deal for the Panthers in bonus ball, 28-26.
UNI rolled in the third set with a .447 hitting percentage while continuing to force LSU in blocking errors. With a steady defense backing them up, Grace Mikota and Erin Powers each notched a service ace for the Panthers as Tjernagel, Fallert and Holterhaus continued to bring the offensive pressure up front. Despite LSU pulling within two points at 14-12, UNI notched 19 kills in the third frame on just two attack errors for a commanding 25-17 win to finish off the 3-0 sweep.
Tjerngael finished the afternoon with a match-high and season-best 15 kills and a .778 hitting percentage, while Holterhaus notched a season-high 11 terminations in the UNI victory. Green matched her career-best from a week ago with ten kills and set a new high-water mark with 18 attempts, as Mikota served up a career-high three aces. Setter Tayler Alden dished out 32 assists with five kills and one ace, with Powers leading the match with 15 digs.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
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The Panthers pick up their first win over LSU in program history on Friday. The Tigers won the only prior meeting back on Sept. 20, 1991 at the Northwestern/Sheraton Classic in Evanston, Ill.
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The Panthers snapped a four-match skid in the city of Omaha, for the program's first win in eastern Nebraska since Sept. 15, 2017 against the Omaha Mavericks. UNI was swept in all three matches at the Bluejay Invitational last year, and lost at Omaha during the 2020-21 spring season.
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UNI's victory marks the program's first win over a team ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA top-25 poll since Florida State in the first round of last season's NCAA Tournament.
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With her 32-assist performance, Tayler Alden moved ahead of Rachel Koop (2015-19) for eighth on the program's all-time assists list. Alden is now just one assist away from becoming the eighth member of UNI's 3,000 career assist club.
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Emily Holterhaus is now four attack attempts away from passing Kate Galer (1993-96) for third in career attempts in UNI history. Holterhaus enters Saturday's match with 3,814 career attempts.
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UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Saturday afternoon to take on the Ball State Cardinals at Creighton's D.J. Sokol Arena. First serve is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT, with the match being broadcast on FloVolleyball and the Panther Sports Radio Network.
