The Panthers started off slow against the Aggies but would find their way back after an early 4-0 lead for A&M. UNI made their way back to take the lead for a moment at 17-16 and at 19-18. The team had 13 kills including four from Plivia Tjernagel and four from Kira Fallert, but the Aggies forced nine Panther errors and ended the set on a 7-3 run to take the first set 25-22.
UNI started out strong in the second set with Cassidy Hartman getting the Panthers going with a 6-2 run to begin. The Panthers would then go to grasp a 18-16 lead as the Aggies struggled to slow down UNI’s offense. The Panthers would go on to close out the set 25-21 and tie the match at 1-1.
Northern Iowa kept their groove going into the third set starting out on an 11-4 run. Due to six Panther errors, the Aggies would capitalize on the mistakes and cut the lead down. UNI would rally back to get within close of A&M, but the Aggies would continue on and take the set 30-28 and take a 2-1 match lead.
The Aggies continued their force in the fourth set with seven team blocks and created a quick double-digit lead and held the Panthers to just six kills in the set. UNI had eight attack errors and their defense wasn’t enough to stop Texas A&M as the Aggies rolled on to win 25-13 and win the match 3-1.
Northern Iowa then faced SMU in a weekend battle. SMU’s quick offense managed to be too much for the Panthers as they committed none attack errors. UNI got within one point of the Mustang’s at 10-9, but SMU went on to get six straight points and rolled on to a 25-16 set one win over the Panthers.
The Panthers had a strong start to the second set which led UNI to have 15 kills in the set. Northern Iowa took a 13-9 lead thanks to strong blocking from Kacie Rewerts, Hartman, and Fallert. SMU would make their way back to tie the set up 15-15, going neck and neck with the Panthers to the end, but ultimately coming out on top with a 25-23 win and taking the match 2-0.
UNI would struggle in the third set with only seven kills, while SMU cruised to the finish line. SMU had a strong blocking presence that helped them to build a double-digit lead right away. The Panthers tried to keep up with the Mustangs, but they proved to be too much and took the set 25-11 and a 3-0 match win.
Northern Iowa closed out the weekend against the Mustangs. The first set brought a lot of back-and-forth between the two teams as UNI notched 13 kills in the set. Hartman had four kills and Tjernagel added three, but the team had eight attack errors overall that were crucial later on. SMU took a 15-14 lead and closed on an 8-4 run that led them to victory over the Panthers with a set one 25-19 win.
The Panthers would make their way back in the second set notching a whopping 19 kills in the set. Lily Dykstra had five kills in the set to help UNI break a tie. Northern Iowa was able to keep their footing in the set thanks to back-to-back aces from Kaitlin Sellner to improve them to a 25-21 set two win.
UNI would struggle in the third set with a slow defense. The Mustangs would build a quick lead and keep the ball rolling against the Panthers. Despite UNI having ten kills, including four alone from Hartman, SMU was too much for the Panthers as they went on to win 25-17.
In the final set of the weekend, Northern Iowa and SMU were battling it out right away. The Mustangs built a quick 19-11 lead before the Panthers were able to utilize a 6-0 run to get the score within two at 19-17. SMU would continue to strive and show power over the Panthers and go on to win the set 25-18 in a set four win and 3-1 match win.
