University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Panther volleyball selected to three-peat in 2024 MVC preseason poll
8/21/2024 9:10:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Kira Fallert and Erin Powers named to Preseason MVC All-Conference Team.
ST. LOUIS --- The UNI volleyball team has been picked as the favorite to capture its third consecutive Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season title, as announced in the release of the league's annual preseason coaches poll on Wednesday morning.
Northern Iowa received ten out of 12 first-place votes and 141 total points to top the preseason poll for the second straight year, with the UIC Flames picked second with 129 points and one first-place vote. Drake followed in third with 110 points, while Illinois State came in fourth with 98 points and one first-place vote.
The conference also announced its seven-member Preseason MVC All-Conference Team with outside hitter Kira Fallert and defensive specialist/libero Erin Powers being the lone pair of teammates selected.
UNI will look to add to its historic legacy during its 50th anniversary season this fall as the Panthers look to complete the third regular season and postseason tournament three-peat in MVC history. The purple and gold won five straight regular season conference titles from 1998 to 2002, and again from 2009 to 2011. In the postseason, UNI won the MVC Tournament in six consecutive seasons from 1998 to 2003, and from 2009 to 2011.
The Panthers return five starters among 11 total returns from their NCAA Tournament team in 2023 that went 26-7 overall and a perfect 18-0 in league play. Returning to the UNI lineup with Fallert and Powers includes middle blocker Olivia Tjernagel, who led the Panthers with 123 total blocks last season, as well as Grace Mikota, Cassidy Hartman, Sydney Golden and Lily Dykstra.
Northern Iowa also welcomes in six newcomers in 2024, including Drake transfer Kacie Rewerts, and a quintet of talented freshmen from Iowa and eastern Nebraska.
UNI will host the South Dakota Coyotes in a preseason exhibition this Saturday, Aug. 24 at 2 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center, a match that is free and open to the public. The Panthers will open the regular season on the road at the Dayton Flyer Classic in Ohio on Aug. 30, facing off against Florida International, Dayton and Ohio State.
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2024 MVC PRESEASON POLL (Points) [First-Place Votes]
1.) UNI (141) [10]2.) UIC (129) [1]
3.) Drake (110)
4.) Illinois State (98) [1]
5.) Southern Illinois (85)
6.) Missouri State (74)
   Valparaiso (74)
8.) Murray State (68)
9.) Evansville (56)
10.) Belmont (53)
11.) Bradley (27)
12.) Indiana State (21)Â Â
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2024 PRESEASON MVC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
- Giulia Cardona, Opposite (Evansville)
- Kira Fallert, Outside Hitter (UNI)
- Darci Metzger, Outside Hitter (Murray State)
- Erin Powers, Defensive Specialist/Libero (UNI)
- Aida Shadewald, Outside Hitter (Illinois State)
- Jada Wills, Defensive Specialist/Libero (Drake)
- Zahria Woodard, Middle Blocker (UIC)
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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.
