University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
6-7,1-0MVC
Southern Illinois
8-5,1-1MVC
Panther volleyball sweeps Salukis in MVC opener
9/27/2024 8:09:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UNI takes down SIU in straight sets to open the 2024 MVC schedule. Panthers host Missouri State on Saturday at 5 p.m. CT.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI volleyball team began the defense of its Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) regular season crown in style on Friday night with an impressive three set sweep of the Southern Illinois Salukis inside the McLeod Center.
Northern Iowa's offense was in full control all night as it totaled 52 kills with a .327 hitting percentage, holding SIU to just .085 hitting and stuffing the Salukis as the net with 11 total blocks. UNI has now won 19 consecutive conference matches dating back to the start of last season's league schedule.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers broke out of the gate early with a strong start with 18 team terminations on .229 hitting, rattling off an impressive 10-0 run to grab a 13-3 lead on the Salukis. Led by eight kills by Kira Fallert and two terminations each by the quintet of Cassidy Hartman, Olivia Tjernagel, Lily Dykstra and Kaitlyn Sellner, UNI's back row defense held strong as SIU cut the Panther lead to single digits. With a pair of service aces by Reese Booth and another by Sydney Golden, Northern Iowa prevailed on its fourth set point attempt to take the first frame, 25-18.
Northern Iowa carried the momentum into the second stanza with a dominant performance on the backs of a .429 hitting percentage and 16 team kills. Rewerts and Tjernagel both notched two blocks each as the UNI defense held the Salukis to -.179 hitting and just four kills and nine errors. With multiple scoring runs to aid in their attack, the Panthers cruised to a 25-11 set win to take a 2-0 lead in the match.
UNI faced a stiff challenge from the Salukis in the third frame as SIU's offense improved against the Panther defense on .243 hitting and 13 kills. While the Salukis managed to record a pair of service aces, Northern Iowa's offense continued to fire on all cylinders with 18 terminations on .378 hitting, pulling away from a 10-10 tie. Despite SIU staying within striking distance of tying the set, the Panthers, aided by a strong third frame from Fallert with six kills to complete the 25-21 set victory for the three-set sweep.
Fallert finished the night with a match-high 18 terminations on 38 attempts and a .421 hitting clip, with Tjernagel recording eight kills. Both Hartman and Sellner notched seven kills each, as Rewerts ended the night with five kills and four total blocks. Defensively, Erin Powers led the match with 18 digs, as Golden tallied 25 assists to Booth's 18 assists and two aces.
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ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Friday's win was UNI's 16th consecutive victory against Southern Illinois in volleyball, improving the Panthers' all-time record against the Salukis to 68-13. UNI is also 45-6 against SIU under head coach Bobbi Petersen.
- Northern Iowa has now swept Southern Illinois in three consecutive meetings, including last year's regular season matchup in Cedar Falls and the MVC Tournament semifinals in Springfield, Missouri last November.Â
- In addition to extending their MVC regular season win streak to 19 matches, the Panthers have also recorded 23 straight wins against MVC opponents overall in regular season and postseason play.
- UNI is now 22-3 all-time in MVC opening matches under head coach Bobbi Petersen.
- Kira Fallert is now just six digs shy of 1,000 in her career and becoming the 13th member of UNI's double grand club, which recognizes athletes for reaching quadruple-digit career stat figures in two statistical categories.
- After posting three block assists on Friday, Kacie Rewerts is just 12 block assists to tie Missouri State's Mindy Stuckhoff (1985-88) for fifth most block assists in MVC history.
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UP NEXT
UNI returns to action late Saturday afternoon as it hosts the Missouri State Bears to wrap up its five-match homestand. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT at the McLeod Center with live coverage also available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network.
Youth tickets are available for purchase for just $5, while both adult and youth slushies will also be for sale at the concession stands.
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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.
