University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
11-5,4-0MVC
Murray State
2-11,0-4MVC
UNI volleyball sweeps Murray State on Homecoming Saturday
10/4/2025 3:43:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
Panthers improve to 4-0 in league play. UNI hosts Evansville and Bradley next weekend in the McLeod Center.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The UNI volleyball team's blocking defense stepped up to the plate on Saturday with double-digit blocks for a third straight match as the Panthers overcame a tight first set to sweep the Murray State Racers inside the McLeod Center in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action.
Northern Iowa racked up 46 total team kills and a .363 hitting percentage, extending its regular season winning streak against conference opponents to 40, the third-longest such streak in program history.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Lily Dykstra dropped in a service ace as part of 3-0 opening run for the Panthers, but the Racers would present a challenge to UNI off the block, tying the match at 10-10 despite an ace from Sydney Golden. Murray State would take a three-point lead before Northern Iowa stormed back to tie the set at 20-20 and ultimately pull away for a 25-23 victory. Dykstra led the Panthers with five kills in the opening frame, while Isabelle Elliott anchored a strong blocking performance with three blocks.
Northern Iowa dominated the second stanza from start to finish, building a 10-3 lead thanks to seven straight points. Cassidy Hartman racked up five terminations with three kills from Kaitlyn Sellner as UNI recorded four more blocks in the set. Holding Murray State to an .083 hitting clip, the Panthers posted a .650 hitting percentage in the second set with 14 kills and just one attack error to cruise to a 25-10 win.
The Panthers faced another early challenge from the Racers in the third frame, but soon pulled away from Murray State with another strong frame with a .382 hitting clip and 17 terminations. Reese Booth would drop in a service ace to put UNI ahead by a 16-11 score as the Racers struggled with a .031 hitting percentage and six attack errors, helping push the Panthers to a 25-15 victory to complete the three-set sweep.
Hartman finished the afternoon with a team-high 14 kills plus 11 digs for a double-double performance, while Dykstra tallied nine kills and two blocks. Molly Shafer posted eight terminations and three blocks, with six kills and five blocks by Maryn Bixby. Elliott finished with five kills and four blocks, while Sellner led the way with seven blocks. Golden led the Panthers with a season-high 19 assists, as Booth posted 17 assists and Jadyn Petersen a team-high 13 digs.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI improves to 6-0 all-time against Murray State in volleyball after Saturday's win, including 5-0 against the Racers since they joined the MVC in 2022.
- UNI has now won 40 straight matches in MVC regular season play dating back to the start of the 2023 conference schedule, the third-longest such streak in program history. The Panthers have also won 46 straight matches over MVC challengers in both the regular season and postseason. Northern Iowa's last loss to a conference opponent came in the 2022 regular season finale at Drake.
- Cassidy Hartman has recorded ten or more kills in 11 of 16 matches this year. She also posted her 14th career double-double on Saturday and seventh of the season.
- Lily Dykstra has recorded eight or more kills in all 16 matches this season, including her last 17 outings dating back to the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
- Sydney Golden surpassed 900 career assists on Saturday afternoon, moving 95 assists shy of becoming the 15th member of UNI's 1,000 career assist club.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action next Friday, Oct. 10 when they host the Evansville Purple Aces. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network (106.5 FM Corn Country / 93.5 HD-2).
Tickets for next weekend's matches, as well as season tickets for the 2025 volleyball season can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu.
UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
