University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Drake
Panther volleyball seeks outright MVC championship in finale at Drake
11/19/2024 12:15:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UNI looking to lock up top-seed for MVC Tournament in matchup with in-state rival.
UNI volleyball (22-7 / 17-0 MVC) at Drake Bulldogs (20-8 / 16-1 MVC)
- 6 p.m. CT | Nov. 20, 2024
- Knapp Center (7,152)
- Des Moines, Iowa
- ESPN+
- Panther Sports Radio Network (Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play / Jay Grassley: Analyst)
- LIVE STATS
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The 2024 regular season for UNI volleyball reaches its crescendo on Wednesday night as the Panthers head to Des Moines to take on in-state rival Drake in a battle of the Missouri Valley Conference's (MVC) top two teams with major conference tournament seeding still up for grabs.
First serve between the Panthers and Bulldogs at the Knapp Center is set for 6 p.m. CT, with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz and Jay Grassley on the call.
UNI, who clinched at least a share of the MVC's regular season title last weekend for a third straight season, can capture an outright championship and the top-seed for the upcoming MVC Tournament with one of three scenarios:
- An outright win over Drake.
- A loss to Drake with at least one set won against the Bulldogs.
- A loss in straight sets to Drake, but UNI outscores the Bulldogs in the combined sets played this season.
UNI was victorious in its previous matchup with the Bulldogs back on Oct. 14 in the McLeod Center, with the Panthers sweeping their conference rivals. Both Northern Iowa and Drake have secured at least a top-two seed for the MVC Tournament and a double-bye.
The Panthers return to action after a pair of road wins at Missouri State and Southern Illinois last weekend, both coming in straight sets. UNI racked up 11 blocks and 46 team kills in its win against the Bears last Friday, while holding the Salukis last Saturday to just 12 total kills and a -.119 hitting percentage, securing the regular season sweep of both opponents.
UNI continues to ride a historic streak of victories in MVC play having won its last 35 regular season conference matches dating back to last season, the fourth-longest streak in program history. Northern Iowa's last regular season loss in MVC play came on Nov. 23, 2022 in a four-set loss at Drake. The Panthers have also won 39 straight matches overall against MVC challengers in both regular season and postseason play. UNI's current winning streak of 17 matches is currently tied for the seventh-longest active streak in Division I.
Kira Fallert continues to lead the UNI offense with 384 total kills through 29 matches, with Cassidy Hartman close behind with 325 terminations. UNI's offense also ranks second in the nation with 14.6 kills per set.
Powers's 43 service aces leads the way for the Panthers while her 487 total digs this year are fifth-most in the MVC this year. Notably, Powers is also the first Panther since Jill Arganbright and Michelle Burvee in 2001 and 2002 respectively to record 40+ aces in consecutive seasons, and first individual to do so since Kate Marovich's 55 and 41 ace seasons in 1995 and 1996.
Setters Sydney Golden and Reese Booth have split time on the court with the veteran Golden averaging 6.5 assists per set, with Booth notching 4.9 assists per frame, while Kacie Rewerts is first in the MVC with 1.4 blocks per set. Rewerts, who is third in MVC history with 591 career block assists, is the NCAA's active career leader in total blocks (672) across all divisions, and is also fifth in Division I with 1.37 blocks per set in her career.
Notably, UNI is also the only team in Division I volleyball to run the same starting lineup for every match this season of Hartman, Olivia Tjernagel, Fallert, Rewerts, Golden, Kaitlyn Sellner and Powers.
SCOUTING DRAKE
Like the Panthers, the Bulldogs have cruised through the MVC schedule and sit just one game back of UNI in the standings. Drake can capture at least a share of the MVC regular season title with a win over the Panthers.
Drake closes out the regular season in the midst of a ten-match winning streak, with its last loss coming on Oct. 14 at UNI. The Bulldogs pulled out narrow road wins last weekend down south in a 3-1 win at Southern Illinois and a five-set victory at Missouri State.
Macy Daufeldt, the reigning MVC Player of the Week, leads the Bulldogs with 455 total kills this season, followed by former Panther Megan Witte (348). Jada Wills, a six-time MVC Defensive Player of the Week this season, anchors the Drake backline with 730 digs, while Bliss Beck leads with 108 total blocks up front.
With Wills leading the Bulldog defense, Drake ranks sixth nationally with 18.2 digs per set, as well as second in Division I on offense with 40.1 attacks per set.
Northern Iowa is 92-16-2 all-time against Drake, having won the last five meetings, which includes each of the previous two MVC Tournament championship matches.
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.
