This past weekend the UNI volleyball team started the conference schedule with two home games in the McLeod Center. On Friday, Sept. 27 they matched up with Southern Illinois, and on Saturday, Sept. 28 they played Missouri State. In dominating fashion the Panthers won both games and are off to a 2-0 start in conference play.
Against the Salukis on Friday, the Panthers came out of the gates ready to play. The first set was tied at three when they rattled off ten consecutive points. Kira Fallert helped lead the way with four kills over the 10-point streak. The Salukis tried to battle back the rest of the set, but the great start by the Panthers helped them hold on for the 25-18 victory. The Panthers carried over their success into the second set. A plethora of kills along with some helpful attack errors by the Salukis helped the Panthers take the set 25-11. Going into the third set, the Panthers were looking for the sweep, but the Salukis put forth their best effort to stay alive. The score was 15-13, when a solid Panther run put them ahead 20-14. The Salukis did not stop fighting, but the Panthers proved too much, defeating them 25-21. The third set win completed the Panthers 3-0 sweep of the Salukis.
The Panthers were led in big part by Fallert who led the team in kills with 18 between the three sets, Olivia Tjernagel was second with eight. Sydney Golden led the way in assists with 25, and Reese Booth had 16. Erin Powers had the most digs with 18.
On Saturday, the Panthers hosted Missouri State. The first set was close, as the Panthers held a slim lead throughout most of the game. The Panthers led 20-19 late in the game, when they tallied five points in a row to win set one. The second set was a game of runs. It looked like the Panthers were going to run away with it when they had an early 8-2 lead, but the Bears made a run right back to take a 12-9 lead. The game saw a lot of back-and-forth the rest of the way, but it was the Panthers that came out victorious, 25-21. The Panthers saw themselves with a 2-0 lead going into the third set once again, and were looking for another sweep of a conference opponent. The Panthers held a solid lead the majority of the set, but the Bears made it interesting late. The Panthers led 24-17, when the Bears mounted a late run to try and force another set. They scored four in a row, but the Panthers shut them down before they could complete the comeback with a kill from Cassidy Hartman. The Panthers got the third set win 25-21, and defeated the Bears 3-0.
Fallert once again led the Panthers in kills with 18, Hartman had 11 and Tjernagel 10. Reese had 21 assists and Golden had 20. Powers led in digs with 11, while Kacie Rewerts had the most blocks with four.
The Panthers have gotten off to a 2-0 start in conference play, and improved their overall record to 7-7. They play next on Friday, Oct. 4 when they travel to Indiana for a matchup with Valparaiso.
