University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Drake
Panther volleyball host Drake, visits Southern Illinois this week
10/6/2026 10:49:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
UNI takes on Drake on Thursday in homecoming match before traveling to take on the Salukis on Saturday. Tickets now available for purchase.
UNI volleyball (10-5 / 4-0 MVC) vs. Drake (7-9 / 2-2 MVC)
- Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026
- 6 p.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,650)
- WATCH (ESPN+) [Brad Wells: Play-by-Play / Beth West: Analyst]
- LISTEN (Panther Sports Radio Network) [Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play / Jay Grassley: Analyst]
- LIVE RESULTS
- TICKETS
UNI volleyball (10-5 / 4-0 MVC) at Southern Illinois (9-7 / 3-1 MVC)
- Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
- 5 p.m. CT
- Carbondale, Ill. | Davies Gym (1,250)
- WATCH (ESPN+)
- LIVE RESULTS
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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI volleyball puts its unbeaten Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) record on the line starting Thursday night as the Panthers host in-state rival Drake, and visit Southern Illinois on Saturday afternoon in Carbondale.
First serve for the Panthers' homecoming match against the Bulldogs is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at the McLeod Center, with a 5 p.m. CT first serve slated for UNI's match with the Salukis on Saturday at Davies Gym. 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 and Jay Grassley on the call. Radio coverage this week will only be available for UNI's Thursday match against Drake.
Tickets for Thursday's match 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 are encouraged to wear purple for the team's annual Purple Out Match.
Northern Iowa squares off with the Bulldogs for the second time in the last 16 days after the Panthers scored a 3-0 victory over Drake in Des Moines to open MVC play. UNI holds a 97-16-2 record all-time against the Bulldogs and have won its last ten matches against Drake. The Panthers meanwhile will face the Salukis for the first time this year, riding an 18-match winning streak against SIU. UNI carries a 70-13 record against the Salukis into Saturday's contest.Â
UNI returns home after picking up a pair of 3-0 sweeps at Illinois State and Bradley last week, remaining undefeated in league play without dropping a set to a conference opponent. Against the Redbirds, the Panthers survived an early challenge from Illinois State, but prevailed in straight sets, led by Lily Dykstra's 15 kill, ten dig double-double and 11 kills from Cassidy Hartman In last Friday's match at Bradley, Calia Clubb stepped up to the plate with a season-high 12 terminations as Northern Iowa held the Braves to .010 hitting and under 20 team kills for its seventh consecutive sweep over Bradley and tenth straight victory in the series.
For her outstanding play last week, setter Reese Booth was named the MVC Player of the Week on Monday, riding a streak of ten consecutive double-double performances, while continuing to climb UNI's all-time assist list, sitting 13th in program history (1,786).
Northern Iowa is riding an active 56-match winning streak against MVC opponents in the regular season, the third-longest stretch in team history and ten shy of tying its own record (1998-2001). UNI has also won 64 straight matches overall against conference challengers (regular season and postseason).
At home, the Panthers have won their last 15 home matches, posting a 49-5 record in the last four-plus seasons inside the McLeod Center (.907). Along with 15 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 (39.1), fourth in digs per set (17.6), fifth in opponent hitting percentage (.146), 34th in total digs (935) and 36th in assists per set (12.6).
The dynamic offensive duo of Dykstra and reigning MVC Player of the Year Hartman has been the heartbeat of the Panther attack this season. UNI is 7-2 this year when both hitters record ten or more kills in a match, and 25-5 when doing so since both arrived on campus in 2023.
Booth sits in the top-60 in the country with 9.9 assists per frame, while defensive specialist/libero Jadyn Petersen is 11th in Division I in digs per set (4.9) and 40th in total digs (262). Petersen has also committed just one reception error on the season on 233 attempts, posting a .996 reception percentage through the first 15 matches of the year. Middle blocker Grace Hannam is also third in the MVC with 58 total blocks.
Northern Iowa's elite blocking defense has stepped up to the plate through 15 matches this season. The Panthers have posted at least seven blocks in all but one match this year, including seven matches with ten or more blocks.Â
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SCOUTING DRAKE
The Bulldogs make the trip to Cedar Falls having won two of their last three since falling to UNI on Sept. 22, topping Murray State and Illinois State while falling to Bradley in five sets on Saturday.
Led by 14th year head coach Darrin McBroom, Drake boasts a solid backline defense with 16.2 digs per set, second only in the MVC to UNI, led by Jasmine Dulan's 5.4 digs per frame, third-most in the nation. Lisa Melenciano leads the Bulldog offense with 3.1 kills per set, with Aniyah Davis posting a team-high 51 total blocks and Dulan dishing out a team-high 15 service aces.
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SCOUTING SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
The Salukis welcome the Panthers to Davies Gym after splitting their last two matchups last weekend, a five-set home win over Valparaiso and a five-set loss to UIC. Southern Illinois will visit Belmont on Thursday prior to hosting UNI on Saturday.
Led by second year head coach Brittany Harry, SIU was picked to finish eighth in the MVC preseason poll. The Salukis have been a force at the service line with 112 total aces, second-most in the league this year. McKenzie Moeller leads SIU's attack with 2.7 kills per frame, while Beatriz Piaia leads the Saluki blocking defense with 59 total blocks.
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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.
