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University of Northern Iowa
2-3,0-0MVC
Washington
3-3,0-0Big Ten
Panther volleyball drops DoubleTree Invitational finale to Washington
9/6/2025 1:07:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UNI comes up short against Big Ten challenger in Texas. Panthers host in-state rival Iowa State on Tuesday night.
DALLAS — The UNI volleyball team dished out a season-high eight service aces but came up short on Saturday in a 3-0 loss to the Washington Huskies in its final match of the 2025 DoubleTree Invitational at Moody Coliseum.
Northern Iowa notched 37 team kills on 99 attacks for a .152 hitting percentage, along with six blocks, but were outblocked themselves by a 13-6 margin by their Big Ten Conference opponent. The loss drops the Panthers to 2-3 on the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI battled back from an 11-4 deficit with a 5-0 scoring as Calia Clubb led the way with three kills in the opening set. Following their first successful coaches challenge of the year, a service ace by Reese Booth a 4-0 run the Panthers closed the Washington lead and ultimately tied the frame up at 14-14, but struggled with six service errors and was blocked five times at the net by the Husky defense. With Maryn Bixby and Kate Shafer each tallying a block, Northern Iowa dropped the opening set by a score of 25-21 with 12 team terminations on .185 hitting.
The Panthers put together a strong serving display in the second stanza, taking an early 7-2 lead on Washington thanks to a pair of aces by Kate Shafer. Jadyn Petersen extended the Panther lead to 11-6 on the back of three consecutive aces, while Bixby added a sixth team ace to put UNI up 16-13. The Huskies however would claw back with 12 team terminations on .205 hitting while Northern Iowa committed ten attack errors despite 13 team kills. In a set that featured eight ties and three lead changes, the Panthers battled Washington down to the end, forcing bonus ball before falling 26-24.
UNI scored four of the first five points in the third set, maintaining a steady lead until the Huskies tied the frame up at 12-12. With the Panthers hitting .212 in the set with 12 team kills, Petersen tallied her fourth ace of the day, helping fuel a ferocious 5-0 run to tie up the frame at 20-20. Washington would finish strong however, scoring five of the final seven points with a team hitting clip of .343 to take the final set by a score of 25-22.
Cassidy Hartman and Lily Dykstra both led the Panthers with nine kills each in Saturday's loss, with Hartman notching seven digs as well. Clubb posted seven terminations with four digs, while Lindsay Oldendorf notched six kills and a team-high four blocks. Bixby finished with five kills and two blocks, as Booth recorded a double-double with 16 assists and a season-high ten digs, while Petersen posted six digs to complement her four aces on the day.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- Saturday's match was the first all-time meeting between UNI and Washington in volleyball.
- Lily Dykstra has now recorded at least nine kills in all five matches this season, as well as six consecutive matches dating back to last season.
- Jadyn Petersen became the first Panther to record three consecutive service aces in a match since her sister Baylee Petersen (2018-22) in 2022 against Grand Canyon.
- Reese Booth's 16 assist, ten dig double-double against the Huskies was the third of her career and first of the 2025 season.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 9 as they host in-state rival Iowa State. First serve between UNI and the Cyclones is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. CT at the McLeod Center with live coverage available on the Panther Sports Radio Network.
The first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a free "Beat State" t-shirt, with $1 hot dogs, $2 tap beers and $3 souvenir sodas available for purchase while supplies last.
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.
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.
