University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
10-6,4-0MVC
UIC
12-6,3-2MVC
UNI volleyball outlasts UIC in four-set home win
9/30/2023 9:00:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Panthers improve to 13-3 all-time against the Flames and remain undefeated against UIC at home. UNI visits Evansville, Indiana State next weekend.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Kira Fallert recorded her sixth double-double of the season and 15th of her career as UNI volleyball defended its unbeaten Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) record on Saturday night with a 3-1 win over the UIC Flames inside the McLeod Center.
The Panthers improve to 4-0 in MVC play on the season, the second straight season that UNI has won its first four matches in league play. Saturday's win also extended the Panthers' perfect home record against the Flames to 5-0 all-time.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers would face a critical test against a Flames squad entering the match as the nation's leader in team kills and assists, but settled into a familiar, but strong defensive rhythm from the first serve. UIC stormed back to take its first lead of the opening stanza, but UNI would remain within striking distance thanks to seven first set terminations by Emily Holterhaus and three block assists from setter Tayler Alden. The Panthers rallied back from down 23-20 to force bonus ball, hitting .378 in the opening frame with 19 team kills to take the first set, 27-25.
UNI's stellar offensive execution paid dividends in the second set as the Panthers recorded 14 team kills on a .343 hitting percentage with just two attack errors. In another nail-biter frame, UNI took an early lead and held off a late Flames rally thanks to a monster second frame offensively by Kira Fallert. UIC would fend off three straight Panther set points before a bad Flames set secured the second stanza for UNI, 25-22.
UIC's offense turned on the jets in the third set, settling into a groove for success with 15 kills on .220 hitting, while containing the Panthers on explosive play. With UNI forced into eight attack errors, the Flames built a four-point lead before the Panthers rallied back to cut the set down to one at 20-19. UNI would challenge UIC late, but could not take the lead as the Flames grabbed the third set, 25-22.
UNI bounced back after a tough loss with a strong opening to the fourth stanza, scoring the first five points of the set. UIC would struggle with nine attack errors in the set, giving the Panthers ample opportunity to build a comfortable lead. With the Flames also sending three service attempts into the net, UNI held UIC to .057 hitting while tallying ten kills itself on .269 hitting for cruise to a 25-17 win and secure the four-set victory.
Fallert finished the night with 17 kills and ten digs, while Holterhaus tallied 15 terminations and tied her season-high with six digs. Alden recorded 42 assists in the win, as Erin Powers notched 18 digs. Grace Mikota set a new career-best with three assists, while Layanna Green matched her career-high with a pair of block assists to complement an eight-kill match.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
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UNI improves to 13-3 all-time against the Flame with Saturday's win, and 5-0 at home against UIC.
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The Panthers have won the first set in 11 of 15 matches this year, and are 9-1 when doing so.
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UNI's 2,972-person attendance on Saturday was its largest crowd following the COVID-19 pandemic, and largest since Sept. 30, 2016 against Missouri State (3,155).
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Emily Holterhaus moved into sole possession of second on UNI's all-time matches played list on Saturday with her 139th career match, passing Jill Arganbright (2000-03), Molly O'Brien (2000-03), Piper Thomas (2015-18) and Kendyl Sorge (2015-18). Inga Rotto (2018-22) holds the program record with 157 matches played.
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Holterhaus also joined Rotto, Sorge and Thomas on Saturday night as the only players in UNI history to play in over 500 career sets.
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Olivia Tjernagel has recorded a block in 16 consecutive matches to begin the season.
UP NEXT
UNI will hit the road next week for a pair of matches next Friday and Saturday at Evansville and Indiana State. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Friday against the Purple Aces, and 3 p.m. CT on Saturday against the Sycamores. Live coverage will be available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network.
