UNI volleyball signs five to 2025 recruiting class

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI volleyball program and head coach Bobbi Petersen on Wednesday announced the signing of five high school athletes to its 2025 recruiting class as part of early signing day.

The 2025 class, made up entirely of prep standouts from Iowa in local middle blocker Grace Hannam, defensive specialist/libero Sophie Buysse, a pair of twin sisters in Molly and Kate Shafer and defensive specialist/libero Payton Askelsen.

"We are absolutely thrilled to announce our 2025 recruiting class," said UNI head coach Bobbi Petersen. "They are driven, committed, and passionate and have all competed on strong high school teams and in nationally competitive club programs. These young women are an athletic group that has each excelled in sports other than volleyball adding to their incredible athleticism. They also have a high commitment to academics, are great teammates, and bring positive and gritty personalities to the gym. We are beyond excited to have each of them and their families as members of our UNI Panther family."

GRACE HANNAM - Cedar Falls, Iowa (Cedar Falls HS) - Middle Blocker
Coming from just down the road from UNI at Cedar Falls High School, Grace Hannam joins the Panthers after a stellar prep career with the Tigers under head coach Matthew Johnson. A four-year letterwinner in volleyball, Hannam helped the Tigers to two regional championships and two Class 5A state tournament appearances, which included a state runner-up finish as a freshman in 2021. The 2024 Mississippi Valley Conference (MVC) Player of the Year, she is a two-time All-MVC selection with first team honors in 2023, an All-District selection as a junior and two-year member of the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier's All-Metro Team. She is expected to participate in the IGCA Volleyball Classic this weekend.

A three-year honor roll student, Hannam is also a three-year letterwinner in basketball, earning multiple All-MVC and All-Metro selections both on the court and for her academics. On the track, she also has earned all-conference recognition as a sprinter and mid-distance runner, qualifying for the state championships in each of her last two seasons as part of multiple relay teams.

Hannam is the daughter of Ryan and April Hannam, and has one younger sister. Her father, Ryan played football for UNI from 1998 to 2001, as did her uncle Ross from 2002 to 2005. Hannam's aunt Megan (Keefe) was a member of the UNI women's basketball team from 2004 to 2007.

"Grace is a middle blocker, also excelling in basketball and track, who brings a presence, tremendous athleticism and a huge runway for growth and we cannot wait to get her working with us," said Petersen. "She moves easily along the net and in transition which allows her to close the block and be a fast tempo option on offense. For everything she adds athletically she will double it with her work ethic and character."

SOPHIE BUYSSE - West Liberty, Iowa (West Liberty HS) - Defensive Specialist/Libero
A highly decorated multi-positional and multi-sport athlete out of West Liberty, Iowa, Sophie Buysse has distinguished herself as a standout performer on the volleyball court under coaches Ruben Galvan and Brittney Boffeli. Twice named a team captain and a four-time River Valley Conference honoree, Buysse has also earned All-District recognition in her first three seasons with the Comets, earning Fourth Team All-State honors as a junior and helping West Liberty reach the Class 3A state tournament twice, finishing as runner-up in 2021. Earlier this season, she surpassed 1,400 career digs and 1,000 career kills as a prep athlete. She was also named to the Quad Cities Times' and Muscatine Journal's First Team three times and First Team All-Quad Cities.

In addition to volleyball, Buysse has been involved in multiple other sports, earning all-conference recognition in basketball, soccer and softball, while also participating in the co-ed state golf tournament for one year and also running sprints and competing in the high jump in track and field. Buysse is also part of FFA, being named state champion in Agriculture Careers and Science Investigations, and earning ninth-place at the FFA National Convention in floriculture.

Buysse is the daughter of Andy and Jackie Buysee, and has one older and one young sister.

"Sophie is also a versatile multi-sport athlete who has great intensity in anything she competes in," Petersen explained. She will add speed and quickness to our libero/defensive specialist position, as well as great range and a consistent drive to compete. Being an outside hitter for her high school team, she also brings a heavy attack from the back court and understands the game in multiple positions which adds to her volleyball IQ."

MOLLY SHAFER - Eddyville, Iowa (Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS) - Outside Hitter
Molly Shafer joins the Panther volleyball program alongside her twin sister Kate in 2025, looking to continue their run of success they produced at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School under head coach Gladys Genskow. As an outside hitter for the Rockets, Shafer helped her team win three South Central Conference titles and qualify for the Class 2A state volleyball tournament three times, including a semifinal appearance in 2022 and a runner-up finish in 2024. She was notably named to the 2A All-Tournament Team this season. A three-time All-State, All-District and All-Conference performer, she also earned Elite All-State Team recognition as a junior in 2023. She is expected to participate in the IGCA Senior Volleyball Classic this weekend.

Shafer also has played three seasons of basketball at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, helping the Rockets qualify for a pair of state tournaments while earning three First Team All-South Central Conference selections and contributing to three consecutive conference championships. On the track, she has qualified in multiple sprinting and high jump events at both the state championships and for the Drake Relays. A four-year honor roll student with a perfect 4.00 GPA , a 2024 Iowa Academic All-State selection and member of National Honor Society, she also has played softball for the Rockets for the last two seasons, Earning a pair of All-Conference nods and All-District and All-State recognition as a sophomore, while contributing as a first baseman to Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont's third-place finish at the 2024 state softball tournament.

Molly is the daughter of Ron and Shelle Shafer, and has two older sisters and one twin sister, fellow UNI volleyball signee Kate.

"Competing at a high level in basketball, track and softball, Molly is elite in all that she does," said Petersen. "She has the ability to impact our program in all phases as a 6 rotation player. She can attack from every zone along the net, already has many "tools" in her tool box and will be a significant point scorer for us. Molly also has solid platform skills and reads well which allow her to pass and defend at a high level. She is a competitor and will elevate the intensity in our gym."

KATE SHAFER - Eddyville, Iowa (Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont HS) - Setter
Just one half the incoming Shafer duo, setter Kate Shafer joins the Panthers on the court after four solid seasons playing under head coach Gladys Genskow at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont High School. Part of three Class 2A state tournament teams, Shafer helped the Rockets finish as state runner-up this season, adding to her resume of three All-State, All-District and All-Conference selections, plus a 2A All-Tournament Team nod this year. She notably earned First Team All-State honors as a junior and also helped her team win a pair of conference championships in her first two seasons, along with another state tournament berth in 2022. She is expected to participate in the IGCA Senior Volleyball Classic this weekend.

Shafer also played basketball at Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, playing forward and helping the Rockets win three South Central Conference championships and reach the state tournament twice with two years of all-conference honors. An honor roll student with a 4.00 grade-point average (GPA), a 2024 Iowa Academic All-State selection and National Honor Society member, she has also qualified for multiple events at the state track and field championships in each of the last three seasons, along with multiple events run at the Drake Relays. She also picked up softball this past year, earning First Team All-State, All-District and All-Conference honors, while also being named to the Class 2A All-Tournament Team as a second baseman in the Rockets' third-place finish at the 2024 tournament.

Kate is the daughter of Ron and Shelle Shafer, and has two older sisters and one twin sister, fellow UNI volleyball signee Molly.

"Kate, like her sister, has excelled at a high level in all sports she has participated in, and is one of the most athletic players we have had," said Petersen. She is a skilled setter who competes with great pace, confidence and poise. Kate knows how to command the floor and dish from pin to pin with ease. She also has the ability to point score with her attacking, serving and blocking abilities. Kate's a winner, brings a positive presence to the floor and makes people around her better. "

PAYTON ASKELSEN - Cambridge, Iowa (Ballard HS) - Defensive Specialist/Libero
A multi-sport athlete from central Iowa, Payton Askelsen is a four-year varsity letter winner at Ballard High School under head coach Erica Dunkin. In her senior season with the Bombers, Askelsen, a team captain, helped her team to a 20-17 record while also setting Ballard's all-time career record for digs and digs per match.

Askelsen received an invitation to play in the 2024 IGCA Senior Volleyball Classic, featuring 32 of the state's best athletes, and also earned All-Racoon River Conference honors in 2022. She is a three-time honor roll recipient, two-time academic all-conference honoree and two-time member of the DMACC President's list for academic excellence, while also serving as a member of National Honor Society. In addition to playing volleyball, Askelsen, played tennis at Ballard, where she placed ninth at the state tournament in doubles, as well as softball, where she was part of the Bombers' 2023 state qualifying team.

Askelsen is the daughter of Chad and Suzanne Askelsen, and has two older and three younger siblings.

"Another multi-sport athlete, Payton is a gifted athlete with a tremendous work ethic," Petersen said. "She has great body control, strong skills, sees the court well and has the ability to play at multiple positions in the back court. She competes with great energy and enthusiasm, and it is obvious that her excitement and commitment motivates her teammates and is contagious, making her a great leader on the court."

UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2024 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

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