UNI volleyball chasing another MVC title

CEDAR FALLS — After another dominant regular season, the Northern Iowa volleyball team aims for its third-straight Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship this week.

The Panthers (23-7, 18-0) enter the MVC tournament as top-seed after clinching their third-straight regular season title last Wednesday, sweeping second-place Drake (20-9, 16-2) at Knapp Center.

“Overall, just super proud of our team,” UNI Coach Bobbi Petersen said last week. “There’s so much that goes into what we’re doing. It is not easy to win and from last January until now, and weekly, just being prepared physically and mentally.

“To be able to clinch a conference title — and possibly a shared conference title — but just to be able to do that (makes me) just so proud of the team and their ability to just hang in there day after day and fight to get better and better.”

MVC awards poured in for UNI after putting together another undefeated conference record. Outside hitter Kira Fallert, libero Erin Powers and middle blockers Olivia Tjernagel and Kacie Rewerts received all-MVC first team honors. Fallert was named co-MVC player of the year alongside Drake’s Macy Daufeldt, while Powers was named the co-libero of the year alongside Drake’s Jada Willis.

Fallert’s co-MVC player of the year award made her one of only six Panthers to earn the honor, most recently won for UNI by Karlie Taylor in 2018. Powers’ libero of the year award made her just the third Panther to receive the honor.

Outside hitters Cassidy Hartman and Lily Dykstra were named to the al-MVC second team and Petersen received the coach of the year award for the third straight year and ninth time overall.

While Petersen’s now 25-year resume at UNI is among the most decorated in MVC history, the Panthers’ current streak of conference dominance is the most profound of her more than two decades leading the program, having won 40 consecutive matches against conference opponents — dating back to the 2022 MVC tournament.

Things set up quite well for the Panthers to capture a third-straight tournament title, hosting at McLeod Center and having a double bye to the semifinals.

“The fact that we get to host (the tournament) — so excited about that,” Petersen said. “I think the biggest reason is because we love to be here in front of our fans and we kind of like to show off our fans (to the league).”

UNI faces off against fourth-seed Illinois State (16-16, 11-7) Monday afternoon at 3 p.m. (ESPN+).

The Redbirds were one of only four MVC opponents to win a set against the Panthers during the regular season, falling 3-1 on Oct. 18 at home to UNI.

With a win, the Panthers will take on the winner of No. 2 Drake and three-seed Illinois-Chicago (21-9, 13-5) or six-seed Valparaiso (17-13, 9-9).