.png&width=20&height=20&type=webp)
University of Northern Iowa
7-6,1-0MVC
Bradley
7-7,0-1MVC
Panther volleyball sweeps Bradley in MVC opener
9/22/2023 8:30:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UNI overcomes tough test from Braves to begin MVC title defense. Panthers face Illinois State on Saturday night in Normal.
PEORIA, Ill. --- UNI volleyball battled through thick-and-thin against a scrappy Bradley Braves squad, but emerged victorious on Friday night with a three-set sweep as the defending Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) champions opened league play at Renaissance Coliseum.
The Panthers improve to 33-8 all-time on the road against the Braves, as well as 7-0 all-time against Bradley when matching up in their conference opener.
Â
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI opened the match with Emily Holterhaus, Olivia Tjernagel and Layanna Green pacing the Panther offense out to a six-point lead midway through the opening set before Bradley stormed back on a 4-0 run to tie the frame at 19-19. The Braves would grab their first lead of the night at 23-22 before UNI forced bonus ball thanks to a termination and the 50th solo block of Holterhaus' career. Able to finish with 21 team kills on a .319 hitting percentage, the Panthers fended off a pair of Bradley set points and secured the opening frame on their sixth set point attempt, 32-30.
The Panthers jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in the second set and were able to capitalize throughout the frame on nine Bradley attack errors and three service errors. Despite the early lead, the Braves continued to battle, chipping away at UNI's fast start and trimming the Panther lead down to just two points on a late 5-0 run of their own. UNI would close strong however, scoring off a pair of Bradley errors and a termination by Holterhaus for the 25-21 victory.
The Braves would grab the early advantage to begin the third set, but UNI would respond with a strong service game looking to secure a three-set sweep. After trailing for much of the third stanza, the Panthers would crawl back and tie the set up at 13-13 thanks to terminations by Tayler Alden and Holterhaus. The UNI offense clicked down the final stretch, scoring four of its final seven points on kills, finishing the set with 15 team terminations on .281 hitting for the 25-20 win and the three-set victory.
Holterhaus finished the night with a match-high 15 terminations, while also matching her season-high in aces (2) and solo blocks (2). Tjernagel tallied nine kills, while Green and Kira Fallert each recorded seven kills. Alden dished out 33 assists in the Panther win, while Erin Powers tied for the match lead with 17 digs while setting a new season-best with three aces. Fallert and Mikota also both recorded ten digs each.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
-
UNI improves its all-time record against Bradley to 72-12, and 41-7 under head coach Bobbi Petersen. The Panthers have now won 34 of the last 36 matchups.
-
The Panthers are now 20-4 in MVC openers under Petersen. UNI is 9-1 in conference openers under Petersen in the season following an MVC regular season championship.
-
Emily Holterhaus moved up to eighth on UNI's all-time kills list with her 1,368th career termination on Friday, passing Alexandra Auker (1997-00). She also recorded her 4,100th career attack attempt, moving herself with 500 attempts shy of Karlie Taylor's (2016-19) program record of 4,599.
-
Holterhaus on Friday played in her 491st career set, fourth-most in school history.
-
Olivia Tjernagel, Kira Fallert and Tayler Alden all reached milestones in UNI's win over Bradley. Tjernagel notched her 1,000th career attack attempt, while Fallert recorded her 100th career block. Alden meanwhile tallied her 800th career dig.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Saturday night in MVC play, visiting the Illinois State Redbirds. First serve is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT from CEFCU Arena, with coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network.
