University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Valparaiso
Panther volleyball opens four-match homestand hosting Valparaiso, UIC
10/14/2026 10:51:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
UNI looks to stay perfect in league play this weekend. Tickets now available for purchase.
UNI volleyball (12-5 / 6-0 MVC) vs. Valparaiso (11-7 / 3-3 MVC)
- Friday, Oct. 16, 2026
- 6 p.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,650)
- WATCH (ESPN+) [Eric Braley: Play-by-Play / Jay Grassley: Analyst]
- LISTEN (Panther Sports Radio Network / Varsity Network app) [Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play]
- LIVE RESULTS
- TICKETS
UNI volleyball (12-5 / 6-0 MVC) vs. UIC (7-11 / 3-3 MVC)
- Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026
- 5 p.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,650)
- WATCH (ESPN+) [Eric Braley: Play-by-Play / Jay Grassley: Analyst]
- LISTEN (Panther Sports Radio Network / 106.5 Corn Country) [Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play]
- LIVE RESULTS
- TICKETS
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI volleyball team opens a four-match homestand beginning Friday and Saturday night as it takes on the Valparaiso Beacons and UIC Flames inside the McLeod Center in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action.
First serve for the Panthers and Beacons is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Friday night, with a 5 p.m. CT first serve slated for UNI's match with the Flames on Saturday afternoon. Live coverage of both matches can be found on ESPN+ and on the Panthers Sports Radio Network (106.5 Corn Country / 93.5 HD-2 / Varsity app) with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on the call. Radio coverage on Friday will only be available on UNIpanthers.com and through the Varsity Network app.
Tickets for this weekend's matches can be purchased through the UNI Ticket Office or by calling 319-273-4849. The ticket office in the Hall of Fame Connector, located between the UNI-Dome and McLeod Center, will open one hour prior to first serve.
Fans in attendance on Friday will be treated to a drink mug giveaway while supplies last, as well as half-priced sodas and $3 pretzel bites at the concession stand. Spectators are encouraged to wear black on Saturday as well for the team's annual Black Out Match. A full list of upcoming Panther Promotions can be found HERE.
Northern Iowa squares off against both Valparaiso and UIC for the first time this year, with the Panthers set to meet the Beacons and Flames again during the final week of the regular season next month. UNI is 21-4 all-time against Valparaiso with seven straight wins in the series, while the Panthers are also 19-3 against UIC all-time with nine straight series wins.
UNI returns home after picking up a 3-1 road win at Southern Illinois last Saturday, where the Panthers hit .310 and saw four players record ten or more kills, led by an 18 kills, 15 dig performance from reigning MVC Player of the Year Cassidy Hartman. Calia Clubb meanwhile notched 14 kills and four blocks, as both Maryn Bixby and Lily Dykstra each posted 11 terminations.
For her outstanding play last week, which also included a 3-0 home sweep of Drake last Thursday, Hartman was named MVC Player of the Week for a second time this season. Hartman currently sits in a tie with Krista DeGeest (2008-12) for 21st on Northern Iowa's all-time kills list with 1,872 career terminations.
Despite dropping their first set in league play last week to the Salukis, the Panthers continue to ride a remarkable pair of winning streaks for both regular season conference wins (58), and overall wins against conference opponents (66), both actively leading all of Division I volleyball. Northern Iowa can tie with one win this weekend and pass with two victories the second-longest regular season winning streak in program history (59, 2009-12).
At home, the Panthers have won their last 16 home matches, posting a 50-5 record in the last four-plus seasons inside the McLeod Center (.909). Along with 16 straight wins inside the McLeod Center dating back to last season, UNI's last loss to an MVC opponent came in the 2022 regular season finale at Drake.
The Panthers are among the nation's top statistical leaders this season, ranking first in Division I in team attacks per set (39.4) and digs per set (18), third in opponent hitting percentage (.140), 17th in assists per set (12.9) and 24th in total digs (1,084).
The dynamic offensive duo of Dykstra and Hartman have been the heartbeat of the Panther attack this season. UNI is 9-2 this year when both hitters record ten or more kills in a match, and 27-5 when doing so since both arrived on campus in 2023.
Hartman ranks ninth in the nation with 11.9 attacks per frame and 22nd in kills per set (4.3) and 27th in total attacks (718). Dykstra sits just behind Hartman in the MVC with the league's second-most kills per set (4.1).
Reese Booth, who has recorded 12 consecutive double-doubles, the most by a Panther in the 25-point rally scoring era (since 2008), sits in the top-40 in the country with 10.2 assists per frame, while Jadyn Petersen is ninth in Division I in digs per set (5) and 32nd in total digs (302). Grace Hannam is also fourth in the MVC with 63 total blocks.
Northern Iowa's elite blocking defense has stepped up to the plate through 17 matches this season. The Panthers have posted at least seven blocks in all but two matches this year, including seven matches with ten or more blocks.
SCOUTING VALPARAISO
The Beacons visit Cedar Falls after a pair of home victories over Evansville and Murray State last weekend. Valparaiso, who was picked third in the MVC preseason poll, has split its first six conference matches and sits tied for fifth in the league standings.
Led by interim head coach Nick Polite, the Beacons boast the best serving team in the MVC with a league-leading 138 total aces. Valparaiso, led by the conference's leading points scorer in Ava Helming, ranks second to UNI in both kills per set (13.3) and assists per frame (12.4). Helming is also second to Cassidy Hartman in the conference with 261 total kills.
SCOUTING UIC
UIC, which will play at Drake on Friday night, enters the weekend on the three-match winning streak after home wins over Evansville and Murray State a week ago. Like Valparaiso, the Flames have split their first six MVC contests and are tied for fifth in the league standings after tying for fourth in the MVC preseason poll.
Led by tenth year head coach Justin Ingram, UIC presents a challenge for the Panthers at the net with the best blocking unit in the conference, averaging 152 blocks on the year (2.2 per set). Robyn Ward leads the charge for the Flames with 1.06 blocks per frame, while Emma Colombarl (2.5 kills per set) and Gabi Peter (2.3 kills per set) anchor the UIC offense.
UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2026 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
