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University of Northern Iowa
9-6,3-0MVC
Valparaiso
10-7,2-2MVC
Panther volleyball sweeps Valparaiso in Gold Out match
9/29/2023 8:17:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UNI records third consecutive sweep against an MVC opponent. Panthers host UIC on Saturday night.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI volleyball picked up a season-best fourth consecutive win as the Panthers swept the Valparaiso Beacons in front of a Gold Out crowd inside the McLeod Center on Friday night. Both teams wore gold uniforms in honor of September being Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month.
The Panthers improve to 3-0 in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play on the season, the second straight season that UNI has won its first three matches in league play. Friday's win also marks the first time since 2018 that the Panthers have won three straight conference sweeps to open the MVC schedule.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers would face a key test against one of the nation's top defensive teams, led by reigning MVC Defensive Player of the Week Emma Hickey, who entered the match ranked in the top-15 in Division I in digs. Both UNI and Valparaiso's backline defense came to play early while the Beacon's net defense tallied three blocks in the opening frame. Valparaiso would build a three-point lead at 17-14, but the Panthers would rally back thanks to terminations by Emily Holterhaus and Olivia Tjernagel to tie the set. UNI's .282 hitting percentage and focus would carry over out of a Beacons timeout and a 25-21 first set win.
UNI's momentum carried into the second stanza as the Panther hit .306 with 14 team kills with just three attack errors. With Holterhaus and Grace Mikota dishing out the first two service aces of the match and a solid defensive effort from Erin Powers and Fallert on the backline. Valparaiso would tie the set up at 12-12 before the Panthers rolled down the stretch and didn't look back in a 25-20 win, capped by a two-touch termination by Alden following a set by Powers.
On a night where both team's setters gave their attackers ample opportunity to strike, the Panthers capitalized on every opportunity presented to them. With Valparaiso committing seven attack errors to UNI's one in the third frame, the Panthers opened up breathing room early thanks to blocks by Kaylissa Arndorfer and Tjernagel. The Beacons would pull within two points at 21-18 and mount a late comeback attempt, but UNI would close strong with Layanna Green slamming the door shut on another career night offensively, winning the final set 25-21.
Green finished the match with a career-high 14 terminations on 17 attempts and a .824 hitting percentage, the third-highest single-match percentage in program history. Tjernagel notched nine kills and four blocks in the Panther win, with Holterhaus tallying eight terminations. Alden finished out 31 assists on the night, while Powers recorded 21 digs in the victory.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES
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The Panthers improve to 17-4 all-time against Valparaiso with the win, and 8-1 against the Beacons at home. Friday was also only the second sweep by either team in the series history, following Valparaiso's March 15, 2021 sweep of UNI in Indiana.
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UNI has now swept its first three MVC opponents for the first time since 2018 when the Panthers defeated Drake, Indiana State and Loyola-Chicago 3-0 in consecutive matches.
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Layanna Green's .824 hitting percentage against the Beacons is the third highest mark in a match in program history, trailing only Shari Vermeer in 2004 (.875) and Kate Galer in 1993 (.824).
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Emily Holterhaus played in her 138th career match on Friday night, tying Jill Arganbright (2000-03), Molly O'Brien (2000-03), Piper Thomas (2015-18) and Kendyl Sorge (2015-18) for second-most in program history. Inga Rotto (2018-22) holds the program record with 157 career matches played.
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UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Saturday night in MVC play, hosting the UIC Flames. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at the McLeod Center, with coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network. Panther fans attending Saturday's home football game against Youngstown State can present their football ticket for free admission to UNI's home volleyball match against the Flames.
