University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
1-1,0-0MVC
South Dakota State
1-1,0-0Summit League
Panther volleyball takes down SDSU in four set home win
8/30/2025 7:42:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UNI topples reigning Summit League champion to close out opening weekend of the regular season. Panthers visit Dallas for the DoubleTree Invitational starting next Thursday.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Lily Dykstra, Cassidy Hartman and Kate Shafer notched double-double performances on Saturday night as the UNI volleyball team scored its first victory of the 2025 season with a 3-1 win over defending Summit League champion South Dakota State inside the McLeod Center.
After a first set loss that included a tough showing at the service line, Northern Iowa's offense clicked into place in the final three frames as the Panthers rolled past the Jackrabbits and into the win column.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI's first set was plagued early as the Panthers recorded seven service errors in a back-and-forth opening frame. After grabbing an 11-7 lead, the Jackrabbits used two separate 4-0 scoring runs to grab a five point lead at 19-14 before rallying back to pull within one point at 24-23. Despite six terminations from Hartman and three a piece from both Calia Clubb and Dykstra, Northern Iowa's rally came up short in a 25-23 loss with the Panthers tallying a .163 hitting percentage with 16 total kills.
The Panther offense clicked into form in the second set with Hartman and Dykstra continuing to pace UNI early with a 4-0 run to open the frame. Powered by 15 team kills on .182 hitting forcing SDSU into eight attack errors, Northern Iowa pulled ahead and didn't look back as Jadyn Petersen notched her first career service ace and the first of the season for the Panthers as UNI used a 7-0 scoring run to even the match at a set a piece with a 25-16 win.
Northern Iowa carried its momentum into the third set with a .231 hitting clip and 14 team terminations. Petersen notched her second and third aces of the match as the Panthers used a 10-1 scoring run to grab a 16-9 lead on the Jackrabbits while South Dakota State struggled with eight attack errors to help put UNI ahead two sets to one.
UNI's offensive success was parlayed into the fourth frame as the Panthers opened up on a 9-4 scoring run, notching a .195 hitting percentage and attack errors continued to mount for SDSU down the stretch. Dykstra added five terminations with Hartman, Lindsay Oldendorf, Maryn Bixby and Isabelle Elliott each adding two kills each as the Panthers led wire-to-wire in the fourth, rolling to a 25-18 win and the four-set match victory.
Dykstra finished the night with new career-highs in kills (19) and digs (13), while Hartman did the same with a 17 kill, 16 dig performance. Kate Shafer posted a 22 assist, 11 dig double-double as Clubb notched eight kills and four block assists. Bixby finished the match with seven terminations and six block assists, with Oldendorf posting five kills and tying a career-high with six block assists. Petersen led the way with a match-high 23 digs plus four aces.
"I'm just super happy with our team tonight," said Panther head coach Bobbi Petersen after the win. "We had a few things that we struggled with, but we were very gritty on defense. Overall, it was a great team effort tonight that was very good to see."
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI improves to 11-0 all-time against South Dakota State with Saturday's win, including 2-0 under head coach Bobbi Petersen.
- Northern Iowa has now split its first two matches of the regular season in three consecutive years.
- The Panthers have now won five consecutive matches against Summit League opponents dating back to the 2021 fall season.
- Lily Dykstra recorded her 23rd career match with ten or more kills and second of the season, while Cassidy Hartman notched her seventh career match with ten-plus terminations.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action next Thursday, Sept. 4 as they face off against Stony Brook in the opening match of SMU's DoubleTree Invitational in Dallas. First serve between UNI and the Seawolves is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT at Moody Coliseum.
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.
