University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Arizona State
Panther volleyball set to open 2025 regular season this weekend
8/27/2025 10:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
UNI to host Arizona State and South Dakota State inside the McLeod Center. Tickets now available for purchase.
UNI volleyball (0-0 / 0-0 MVC) vs. No. 13 Arizona State (0-0 / 0-0 Big 12)
- Friday, Aug. 29, 2025
- 6 p.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,650)
- WATCH (ESPN+) [Brad Wells: Play-by-Play / Beth West: Analyst)
- LISTEN (Panther Sports Radio Network) [Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play]
- LIVE RESULTS
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UNI volleyball (0-0 / 0-0 MVC) vs. South Dakota State (0-0 / 0-0 Summit)
- Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025
- 5 p.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,650)
- LISTEN (Panther Sports Radio Network) [Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play]
- LIVE RESULTS
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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The 2025 volleyball season has officially arrived for the UNI Panthers as they prepare to open the new season this weekend hosting a pair of reigning conference champions inside the McLeod Center in No. 13 Arizona State and South Dakota State.
First serve for Friday's match against the Sun Devils is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network. Saturday's contest against the Jackrabbits will begin at 5 p.m. CT. Due to UNI's home football game on Saturday, Saturday's match will not be televised.
Fans who attend Saturday's football game can receive free admission to Saturday's volleyball match with their football ticket, with the first 500 fans through the doors receiving a 2024 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) replica championship ring. Full game day promotions can be found HERE.
Single-match and 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.Â
UNI will be in search of its first ever win against Arizona State, who leads the all-time series 3-0 following a five-set victory over the Panthers in 2022 in Tempe. The Panthers, meanwhile, are a perfect 10-0 all-time against South Dakota State, meeting the Jackrabbit on Saturday for the first time since 2022.
This weekend's action comes following Northern Iowa's final preseason exhibition match last Saturday at South Dakota where the Panthers captured all five sets played against the Coyotes.
The Panthers, who enter the 2025 campaign receiving votes in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA)/Taraflex Preseason Coaches Poll, were picked to finish first in the MVC preseason poll with ten of 11 first-place votes with returning all-conference outside hitter Cassidy Hartman earning Preseason All-MVC recognition.
UNI returns 11 players from last season's roster, including a pair of All-MVC performers in Hartman and Lily Dykstra. Northern Iowa also returns the setter duo of senior Sydney Golden and sophomore Reese Booth, with redshirt sophomore defensive specialist/libero Taryn Rice also back.
UNI added seven new faces to the roster in the offseason with the signing of six high school prospects in Payton Askelsen, Sophie Buysse, Grace Hannam, Kiana Landers and Kate and Molly Shafer. The Panthers also signed middle blocker Lindsay Oldendorf via the transfer portal from San Francisco.
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SCOUTING ARIZONA STATE
The Sun Devils are coming off an impressive 30-win season in 2024, a Big 12 championship with a 17-1 league record and second round appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Arizona State enters this season after being picked third in the Big 12 preseason poll with three first-place votes behind BYU and Kansas.
Led by third year head coach and reigning Big 12 Coach of the Year JJ Van Niel, the Sun Devils landed a pair of outside hitters on this year's Preseason All-Big 12 squad, including returning First Team All-Big 12 selection Jordan Wilson, as well as junior transfer Noemie Glover from Oregon.Â
Arizona State led the Big 12 last season in aces per set (1.6), total aces (186) and held opponents to a league-low .161 hitting percentage.
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SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
The Jackrabbits make the trip to Cedar Falls to open their 2025 season after an impressive 27-3 season and a 15-1 conference record to capture the Summit League's regular season crown. Despite falling to in-state rival South Dakota in the Summit League Tournament championship last fall, South Dakota State earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to Miami (FL) in the opening round.
Under the leadership of sixth year head coach and reigning Summit League Coach of the Year Dan Georgalas, SDSU returns reigning conference Freshman of the Year in Madison Burr, as well as 2024 First Team All-Conference middle blocker Sydni Schetnan.
The Jackrabbits were among the nation's top passing teams last season, ranking in the top-20 in Division I in assists per set (13). South Dakota State was also 16th in the country with 14 kills per set a year ago and held opponents to a .161 hitting clip, the 13th best mark in the nation.
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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 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
