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University of Northern Iowa
4-3,0-0MVC
TCU
2-4,0-0Big 12
Panther volleyball upends TCU in five-set comeback
9/7/2023 8:12:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UNI records second win of the year against a team ranked or receiving AVCA poll votes. Face Texas A&M on Friday afternoon.
COLLEGE STATION, Tex. --- Kira Fallert recorded the 31st 20 kill, 20 digs match in program history on Thursday afternoon as UNI volleyball rallied from down two sets to one to defeat the TCU Horned Frog in five sets to open the Texas A&M Invitational.
The first 20-20 match since Karlie Taylor (2016-19) posted 23 terminations and 23 digs against Loyola in Nov. 2019, Fallert's offensive output helped propel the Panthers to victory after struggling in the second and third frames.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI had to overcome a slow start in the opening stanza, falling behind TCU 5-2 before rattling off an impressive 10-0 run, highlighted by seven kills and the first service ace of the season for Emily Holterhaus. Accumulating 17 team terminations on a .352 hitting percentage, the Panthers cruised to 25-15 first set win.
In an entertaining second frame that featured 11 ties, TCU turned up the heat offensively, forcing six Panther errors. Tied at 19-19, the Horned Frogs scored five straight points despite another strong UNI performance on offense with 14 kills, taking the second set 25-20.
The Panthers continued to struggle with attack and service errors in the third set as the Horned Frogs' defense stifled UNI at the net in a match where TCU notched 12 total blocks. UNI trailed by only two points but soon saw its opponent score nine of the next 12 points en route to a 25-15 win, and a 2-1 match lead.
UNI flipped the script in the fourth stanza with a .343 hitting percentage and 16 kills to swing momentum back in its favor. After tying the set at 15-15, the Panthers took advantage of a series of Horned Frog errors and kills by Layanna Green, as Fallert and Holterhaus put the final touches on a fourth set victory with three kills for the 25-21 win to force a decisive fifth frame.
After briefly falling behind in the fifth, UNI scored five straight points to take the lead at 9-5, which featured back-to-back terminations by Holterhaus. With ten team kills in the final frame, the Panther defense on the backline held firm as TCU attempted to climb back into the match, holding off a late push by the Horned Frogs to win the set, 15-11.
Complementing Fallert's strong offensive performance, Holterhaus finished the day with 16 kills, with Olivia Tjernagel notching nine terminations and three blocks. Setter Tayler Alden posted a season-high eight kills with 48 assists and three blocks, while Arnforfer tied a season-best with six kills. Erin Powers anchored the UNI backline with 23 digs, as Grace Mikota recorded a career-high 14 digs.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
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The Panthers improve to 3-0 all-time against TCU with Thursday's win. UNI's matchup with the Horned Frogs was its first since 2014.
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UNI has now won two matches this season against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA top-25 poll. TCU entered Thursday's match receiving one vote.
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The Panthers are now 8-4 against teams from the State of Texas.
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Emily Holterhaus moved up to second all-time in attack attempts in school history on Thursday, recording her 3,933rd attempt and passing Amy Braun (3,903). Karlie Taylor holds the program record with 4,599 attacks.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Friday afternoon against Texas A&M at 5:30 p.m. CT at Reed Arena. Live coverage can be found online on SEC Network+ and on the Panther Sports Radio Network.
