UNI volleyball faces first road tests at DoubleTree Invitational in Dallas

UNI volleyball (1-1 / 0-0 MVC) vs. Stony Brook (3-0 / 0-0 CAA)

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025
4 p.m. CT
Dallas, Tex. | Moody Coliseum (7,000)
LISTEN (Panther Sports Radio Network) [Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play / Jay Grassley: Analyst)
LIVE RESULTS

UNI volleyball (1-1 / 0-0 MVC) at No. 11 SMU (2-0 / 0-0 ACC)

Friday, Sept. 5, 2025
4 p.m. CT
Dallas, Tex. | Moody Coliseum (7,000)
WATCH (ACCNX) [Chris Mycoskie: Play-by-Play / Alex Glover: Analyst)
LISTEN (Panther Sports Radio Network) [Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play / Jay Grassley: Analyst)
LIVE RESULTS

UNI volleyball (1-1 / 0-0 MVC) vs. Washington (1-2 / 0-0 Big Ten)

Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025
11 a.m. CT
Dallas, Tex. | Moody Coliseum (7,000)
LISTEN (Panther Sports Radio Network) [Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play / Jay Grassley: Analyst)
LIVE RESULTS

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- After splitting its first two matches of the 2025 season at home, the UNI volleyball team will play its first three matches on the road beginning Thursday afternoon at the DoubleTree Invitational in Dallas against Stony Brook, No. 11 SMU and Washington.

First serve for Thursday's match against Stony Brook is scheduled for 4 p.m. CT at Moody Coliseum, Friday against the Mustangs at 7 p.m. CT and Saturday versus the Huskies at 11 a.m. CT. Due to broadcasting limits, only UNI's match against SMU will be televised on ACCNX. All three matches will also be available on the Panther Sports Radio Network with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz and Jay Grassley on the call.

Northern Iowa will face off against both the Seawolves and Huskies for the first time in program history this week, while its Friday night matchup with the Mustangs marks the third meeting between UNI and SMU. The Mustangs won both meetings last season in Cedar Falls.

UNI is 17-8 under head coach Bobbi Petersen when playing its first regular season match away from home (road or neutral site), while also posting a 9-16 record in its first true road match of the year. Northern Iowa boasts a 16-9 all-time record against Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponents, including a 12-7 mark under Petersen, while posting 51 all-time wins against the Big Ten Conference, with 15 victories coming under Petersen. UNI is also 25-93 all-time against AVCA top-25 ranked challengers, looking for its first win over a ranked opponent since topping No. 5 Kentucky in 2018 in Los Angeles.

The Panthers' first road trip of the year comes after UNI split their first two home matches of the year over the weekend, falling to reigning Big 12 champion and No. 13 Arizona State in straight sets on Friday before bouncing back with an impressive 3-1 victory over South Dakota State, the defending Summit League champions, on Saturday.

In Saturday's win over the Jackrabbits, Lily Dykstra, Cassidy Hartman and newcomer Kate Shafer all recorded double-double performances, with Dykstra setting a new career-high with 19 kills. Hartman tallied 17 terminations with 16 digs, while Calia Clubb added eight kills and four blocks. Transfer middle blocker Lindsay Oldendorf contributed a career-high tying six blocks alongside Maryn Bixby's six blocks, as Jadyn Petersen recorded 23 digs and four service aces.

SCOUTING STONY BROOK
The Seawolves opened their 2025 season in strong fashion with three home wins last weekend over Central Connecticut State, Siena and Rhode Island. Coming off a 16-13 season in 2024 with a sixth-place finish in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), Stony Brook was picked fifth in this year's CAA preseason poll following an NCAA Tournament berth last season.

Thursday's match will be a special reunion for the Panthers as Stony Brook is led by former UNI setter Kristin Belzung, a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) performer who helped the Panthers to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006 and 2007. Former Panther outside hitter/libero Amie Held is also a member of Belzung's Seawolves staff.

Mercedes Motton, the Co-CAA Defensive Player of the Week notched 14 total blocks and 15 kills in Stony Brooks' first three matches of the season, while outside hitter Kali Moore, a Preseason All-CAA Team member this year, notched 3.92 kills per set along with seven total aces.

SCOUTING SMU
The Mustangs host their home tournament following a pair of five-set victories over LSU and No. 20 Baylor last weekend in Baton Rouge. Posting a 25-8 record with a 16-4 mark in their first season in the ACC last fall, SMU was picked fifth in this year's ACC preseason poll following a run to the second round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

SMU is led by a dynamic pair of Preseason All-ACC performers, including opposite Malaya Jones, who was named both the AVCA Division I National Player of the Week and ACC Offensive Player of the Week after tallying 4.40 kills per set on a .330 hitting percentage. Averi Carlson was also named ACC Setter of the Week, notching 10.4 assists per set.

SCOUTING WASHINGTON
The Huskies faced a challenging opening weekend in Fort Collins, Colorado last weekend, picking up a win against Colorado State with losses to Northern Colorado and Colgate where all three matches went to five sets. Picked eighth in the Big Ten preseason poll, Washington is coming off a 19-12 season last year and a 9-9 mark in their first season as a Big Ten member following an NCAA Tournament berth last season.

Washington boasts a pair of Preseason All-Big Ten athletes in Kierstyn Barton, who tallied 3.70 kills per set, as well as Julia Hunt, who notched eight total assists in Colorado last weekend. Katy Wessels also presents a challenge at the net after posting 14 total blocks in the Huskies' first three matches of the 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 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

Calendar

Upcoming Events