University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
SIU Edwardsville
UNI volleyball prepares for UND Classic in Grand Forks
9/4/2024 3:01:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Panthers to take on SIU Edwardsville, North Dakota and West Virginia in second non-conference tournament of the season.
UNI volleyball (1-2 / 0-0 MVC) vs. SIU Edwardsville (1-2 / 0-0 OVC)
- 12 p.m. CT | Sept. 6, 2024
- Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (3,330)
- Grand Forks, N.D.
- Panther Sports Radio Network (Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play)
- LIVE STATS
UNI volleyball (0-0 / 0-0 MVC) at North Dakota (1-2 / 0-0 Summit League)
- 11 a.m. CT | Sept. 7, 2024
- Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (3,330)
- Grand Forks, N.D.
- Summit League Network (Midco Sports Plus)
- Panther Sports Radio Network (Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play)
- LIVE STATS
UNI volleyball (0-0 / 0-0 MVC) vs. West Virginia (2-1 / 0-0 Big 12)
- 6 p.m. CT | Sept. 7, 2024
- Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (3,330)
- Grand Forks, N.D.
- Panther Sports Radio Network (Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play)
- LIVE STATS
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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The second weekend of non-conference action for the UNI volleyball team kicks off on Friday afternoon as the Panthers begin play at the UND Classic in Grand Forks, North Dakota at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
Northern Iowa will begin the weekend facing off against SIU Edwardsville at 12 p.m. CT on Friday, before taking on the host institution North Dakota Fighting Hawks at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, as well as West Virginia on Saturday night at 6 p.m. CT.
Coverage of all three matches will be carried live on the Panther Sports Radio Network online, as well as 106.5 FM Corn Country, the official radio home of UNI women's athletics. UNI's Saturday morning match against North Dakota will be the only contest to feature video streaming online through the Summit League Network on Midco Sports Plus.
The Panthers opened the 2024 campaign on the road last weekend in Dayton, Ohio at the Dayton Flyer Invitational, where they defeated Florida International in straight sets in the first match of the season before dropping hotly-contested matches to No. 22 Dayton in five sets and Ohio State in four frames. For her stellar performance on offense, senior outside hitter Kira Fallert, who recorded her 21st and 22nd career double-doubles, was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Fallert helped anchor the UNI offense with 40 total kills in the first three matches of the season, including a career-high six service aces against Florida International, as Cassidy Hartman totalled 47 terminations, including a career-high 22 kills against Dayton. Middle blocker Olivia Tjernagel tallied 26 kills along with six blocks last weekend, while Kaitlyn Sellner posted 16 kills in her collegiate debut. Both Panther setters saw playing time in Dayton as junior Sydney Golden led with 82 assists, while freshman Reese Booth tallied 38 assists. On defense, senior defensive specialist/libero Erin Powers led UNI with 48 digs and six service aces, as Kacie Rewerts blocked 13 attacks in her Panther debut.
On milestone watch, Tjernagel sits just six kills shy of 600 for her career, as Powers looks to reach 1,700 career digs (1,090 at UAB, 600 at UNI). Head coach Bobbi Petersen also continues her march to her 800th career match coached, currently sitting on 795 matches coached during her 24-plus year tenure with the Panthers.
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SCOUTING SIU EDWARDSVILLE
The Cougars enter the season after winning their season opener last week against Eastern Michigan in Indianapolis, but also with five-set losses to both Valparaiso and IU Indianapolis. SIUE finished the 2023 season with a 13-16 record and 7-11 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference, and we picked ninth in this year's conference preseason poll.
Senior outside hitter Sydney Hummert led SIUE with 42 total kills in their season opening tournament last weekend, while freshman middle blocker Taya Norman racked up 18 total blocks in her collegiate debut. The Cougars also proved early to be a strong serving team, ranking 18th in the nation with 28 total service aces.
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SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA
The Fighting Hawks dropped their first two contests of the year to UC Irvine and New Mexico, but picked up a 3-1 win over Tulane last weekend in Albuquerque ahead of hosting its home tournament. This will be the first time UNI has played North Dakota in Grand Forks since sweeping the Fighting Hawks in 1980.
North Dakota finished with just seven wins in 2023 and finished seventh in the Summit League standings with a 4-12 conference mark. UND was picked to finish seventh again in this year's conference preseason poll.
Freshman Cala Cooper and junior Paige Barber lead the Hawks' offense with 72 combined kills through three matches this season. Senior setter Elizabeth Norris has also tallied 83 assists so far this year, while middle blocker Jarolin de los Santos Lugo has blocked 19 attacks at the net.
SCOUTING WEST VIRGINIA
The Mountaineers post the only winning record of teams participating at the UND Classic after victories over Navy and Hofstra at Wake Forest's home tournament last weekend. UNI holds an 18-26 record (.409) against current members of the Big 12 Conference under head coach Bobbi Petersen.
West Virginia struggled in 2023 with a 9-22 record and 2-16 mark in the Big 12, finishing in last place in the league. WVU was picked 15th in the recently expanded conference's preseason poll.
Junior outside hitter Cassidy Tanton leads the Mountaineers with 41 total kills and ten service aces through three matches this year, while setter Alexis Finnvold has recorded 92 assists. As a team, the Mountaineers have put together a solid serving core, ranking 11th in Division I with 31 aces a week into the 2024 season.
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.
