University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Valparaiso
UNI volleyball hosts Valparaiso, UIC this weekend
9/27/2023 2:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Panthers face key challenges from MVC powers in first conference home matches of the season. Tickets available for purchase.
UNI volleyball (8-6) vs. Valparaiso (10-6)
- 6 p.m. CT | Sept. 29, 2023
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,650)
- ESPN+
- Panther Sports Radio Network (Chris Kleinhans-Shulz: Play-by-Play)
UNI volleyball (8-6) vs. UIC (11-5)
- 6 p.m. CT | Sept. 30, 2023
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,650)
- ESPN+
- Panther Sports Radio Network (Chris Kleinhans-Shulz: Play-by-Play)
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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Following a pair of road wins to open Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play last weekend, UNI volleyball returns home to the McLeod Center on Friday and Saturday to host a pair of conference powers in Valparaiso and UIC.
First serve for the Panthers and Beacons on Friday night is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT. Fans are encouraged to wear gold as the team honors September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Select families impacted by pediatric cancer will be in attendance, while healthcare professionals can receive free admission by presenting their employee IDs at the gate.
UNI will kick things off against UIC on Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT with a purple out. Panther fans attending Saturday's home football game against Youngstown State can redeem their ticket with admission to Saturday's volleyball match with the same ticket.
The Panthers picked up a pair of sweeps at both Bradley and Illinois State a week ago to open league play, facing a spirited challenge from the Braves, which included a marathon first set won by UNI, 32-30. Against the Redbirds, the Panther offense clicked from start to finish as UNI hit .344 as a team and forced 21 Illinois State errors on the night. Each of the last three seasons the Panthers have started MVC play 2-0, they have gone on to win the conference's regular season title.
Through the first 14 matches of the season, UNI leads the MVC and ranks second nationally in assists per set (13.6), while also ranking 11th in Division I with 37.5 attack attempts per frame. Individually, Kira Fallert leads the way for the Panther offense with 167 terminations on the season, with Emily Holterhaus tallying 157 kills and 106 from Olivia Tjernagel.
Despite sitting near the bottom of the league in service aces, the Panther serving game saw a boost in last week's performances, with four aces against both Bradley and Illinois State, including four aces from libero Erin Powers against the Braves. Powers leads UNI with 13 aces on the year, with Grace Mikota dishing out 13 aces in her first season of action.
ÂVALPARAISO BEACONS
An NIVC Tournament qualifier each of the previous two seasons, Valparaiso makes the trip to Cedar Falls after falling to UIC on Tuesday night at home in four sets. A stellar defensive unit, the Beacons lead the MVC and rank seventh nationally in team digs (956), while also boasting an offense that ranks 14th in Division I in attacks per set (37.3). Bella Ravotto leads Valparaiso's attack with 128 terminations on the year, as well as 124 kills from Elise Swistek. Defensively, Emma Hickey has tallied the second-most digs in the league (279), while Mallory Januski and Miranda Strongman both lead the Beacons with 42 blocks each. UNI leads the all-time series against Valparaiso 16-4 and have only lost to the Beacons once at home. Historically, both teams have battled beyond three sets in the series, with only one matchup in the prior 20 meetings being a sweep, a UNI victory on March 15, 2021 on the road.
UIC FLAMES
Coming off a four-set win at Valparaiso on Tuesday, the Flames roll into the McLeod Center on Saturday night. UIC will play at Drake on Friday in Des Moines. Known for its high-powered offense, the Flames lead the MVC in hitting percentage (.259), team kills (881), service aces (93) and team blocks (125). UIC also leads the nation with 851 total terminations (851). All-MVC preseason team honoree Martina Delucchi leads the Flames with 226 kills on the year with a team-high 26 aces, while Francesca Venturini has posted 448 assists (7.7 per set). Ayat Amin has also recorded 200 terminations this season to pace UIC's balanced offense, with Becca Oldendorf, Zahria Woodard and Cleo Lorenzo also posting over 100 kills each. Jaclyn Oblena anchors the Flames' backline with 183 digs, as Woodward leads with a league-high 75 blocks. UNI leads the all-time series 12-3 and has never lost to UIC at home or on the road. The Panthers only losses to the Flames have come in neutral site matchups.
