University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
10-5,4-0MVC
Bradley
7-8,2-1MVC
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNI | 25 | 25 | 25 | 3 |
| Bradley | 15 | 20 | 22 | 0 |
Panther volleyball sweeps Bradley for fifth straight win
10/2/2026 8:02:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
UNI withstands challenge in third set for seventh straight sweep of the Braves. Panthers host Drake next Thursday night.
PEORIA, Ill. — Lily Dykstra and Calia Clubb both recorded double-digit kill figures on Friday night as the UNI volleyball team extended its winning streak to five matches with a 3-0 sweep of the Bradley Braves at Renaissance Coliseum in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action.
Despite facing a stiff challenge from the Braves in the third frame, Northern Iowa rallied and finished with 45 team terminations and a .174 hitting percentage to improve to 4-0 in MVC play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI set an early tone against the Braves in a commanding first set performance, hitting .265 with 15 team terminations. The Panther defense held Bradley to just four kills and a .000 hitting clip while Maryn Bixby and Cassidy Hartman each tallied four kills, including three from Clubb. Grace Hannam, Taryn Rice, Dykstra and Reese Booth all dished out one service ace each in the frame as UNI rolled to a 25-15 win.
Northern Iowa jumped out to a fast 8-0 lead to begin the second stanza, a set where the Panthers tallied 16 team kills on .156 hitting. Despite the Braves defense stuffing UNI for four blocks, the Panther offense continued to roll, thanks to six terminations from Clubb. With Bradley hitting -.027, UNI picked up a 25-20 set victory to take a two sets to none lead in the match.
The Panthers faced their biggest challenge of the night as the Braves grabbed an early 7-2 lead in the third set. Northern Iowa, in the face of a challenging Bradley defense, would gradually chip away at the Braves lead, pulling within three points at 13-10 and tying at 16-16. Hitting .119 with 14 team terminations, UNI would withstand another late push by Bradley to hold on for a 25-22 set win to complete the three-set sweep.
Dykstra finished the night with a match-high 13 kills, while Clubb posted a season-best 12 terminations. Hartman posted eight kills and 11 digs along with two blocks, as Bixby also notched eight terminations in the win with four blocks defensively. Reese Both posted a 30-assist, 15-dig double-double, with Jadyn Petersen notching 15 digs and six assists.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI improves to 76-12 all-time against Bradley with its tenth consecutive win in the series. The Panthers have also won its last seven matchups with the Braves in three-set sweeps.
- Northern Iowa has won 56 consecutive MVC regular season matches dating back to the 2023 season (second-longest active streak in Division I, as well as 64 straight contests against MVC opponents in the regular season and postseason, the longest active streak in Division I volleyball.
- The Panthers have posted seven or more blocks in 14 of 15 matches this season and at least two blocks in every contest this year.
- Lily Dykstra's 13 terminations on Friday marked her 13th match this season with ten or more kills, and 43rd such match of her career. The senior outside hitter/opposite is 150 kills shy of 1,000 kills for her career.
- Reese Booth extended her streak of double-double matches to ten matches, marking her 13th double-double of the season and 25th of her career. Booth also notably faced off against her younger sister, Bradley setter Hayden Booth in Friday's contest.
- Calia Clubb's season-high 12 kills were the most she has recorded in a match since Sept. 13, 2025 against Louisville. Clubb missed the majority of last season due to injury.
- Grace Hannam has now recorded at least two blocks in all but one match this year. Maryn Bixby meanwhile has tallied at least three blocks in nine of her 1 match appearances this year.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action next Thursday, Oct. 8 when they host in-state rival Drake. First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network (106.5 Corn Country / Varsity app).
Tickets for the match can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office or by calling 319-273-4849. Fans are encouraged to wear purple for the team's annual Purple Out Match.
UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
