University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Wichita State
UNI volleyball to host Wichita State in home opening weekend
9/16/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
Panthers to square off with Shockers on Friday and Saturday. Tickets now available for purchase.
UNI volleyball (4-5 / 0-0 MVC) vs. Wichita State (3-7 / 0-0 American)
- Friday, Sept. 18, 2026
- 6 p.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,650)
- WATCH (ESPN+) [Brad Wells: Play-by-Play / Jay Grassley: Analyst)
- LISTEN (Panther Sports Radio Network) [Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play]
- LIVE RESULTS
- TICKETS
UNI volleyball (4-5 / 0-0 MVC) vs. Wichita State (3-7 / 0-0 American)
- Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026
- 1 p.m. CT
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,650)
- WATCH (ESPN+) [Mark Simpson: Play-by-Play / Eric Braley: Analyst)
- LISTEN (Panther Sports Radio Network) [Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play]
- LIVE RESULTS
- TICKETS
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CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI volleyball team returns home to the McLeod Center for the first time this season as the Panthers host the Wichita State Shockers in back-to-back non-conference matchups this weekend.
First serve for Friday's match against the Shockers is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, with Saturday's contest against Wichita State slated for 1 p.m. CT. All matches will be streamed live on ESPN+, with live radio coverage of all three matches on the Panthers Sports Radio Network (106.5 Corn Country / 93.5 HD-2 / Varsity app) with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on the call. Saturday's audio broadcast will only be streamed on the Varsity app.
Tickets for both matches can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, or by calling 319-273-4849.
Fans in attendance for Friday's match will be treated to a replica Panther championship banner giveaway while supplies last, while a food drive will be held on Saturday, with free admission granted with a donation of a non-perishable item valued at $5 or more. Click HERE to see Panther Promotions all season long.
For all home volleyball game day information this season, including parking, programs, game day policies and more, please review UNI's "Know Before You Go" page.
This weekend marks the first time the Panthers and Shockers have met since Wichita State departed the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) in 2017. Northern Iowa holds a commanding 53-17-1 record in the all-time series and is 15-11 in home opening matches under head coach Bobbi Petersen.
The Panthers return to action to close out its non-conference schedule after a battle tested outing at the Rice Invitational in Houston last weekend, where UNI defeated Rice in straight sets while also dropping three-set matches to No. 5 Louisville and No. 15 Creighton. For her strong performances, Maryn Bixby was named the MVC's Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after notching 12 total blocks, including a season-high seven total blocks against Creighton and career-best three solo blocks versus Rice.
Outside hitter Lily Dykstra has recorded double-digit kills in six matches this season, with a season-high 24 kills at South Dakota. Reigning MVC Player of the Year Cassidy Hartman has also recorded ten or more kills in five of nine matches this season, including a career-high 31 terminations at South Dakota. Northern Iowa is 3-3 when both outside hitters hit for ten-plus kills this year. Setter Reese Booth meanwhile has posted a double-double in each of her last four matches, including seven contests this season.Â
The Panthers are among the nation's top statistical leaders early in the season, ranking second in Division I in team attacks per set (39.2), eighth in digs per set (16.8), 23rd in total digs (573) and 29th in total attacks (1,336).
Hartman ranks fourth in the nation with 12.6 attacks per frame, seventh in total attacks (431) and total kills (155) and tenth in kills per set (4.5). Booth sits 24th in the country in total assists (341), while Jadyn Petersen is 25th in Division I in digs per set (4.6) and 37th in total digs (159). Grace Hannam is also second in the MVC with 39 total blocks, leading UNI's MVC leading blocking unit.
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SCOUTING WICHITA STATE
The Shockers make their first trip to Cedar Falls in nine years on a three-match skid after falling to No. 22 Kansas on Tuesday night in straight sets, one of three top-25 ranked losses this season.
Led by 27th year head coach Chris Lamb, who's 383 wins while Wichita State was an MVC member rank fourth all-time in league history, the Shockers were picked fourth in the American Conference's preseason poll behind Rice, Tulsa and South Florida.
Wichita State ranks second in the American with 35.2 attacks per set, with senior and preseason all-conference setter Jordan Heatherly ranking fourth in the league with 13 service aces. Maddie Wilson meanwhile sits fifth in the American with 36 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.
