UNI Volleyball started off weekend play against the UIC Flames in the McLeod Center. The Panthers started off string in the first set going on a 4-0 run as Sydney Golden had two aces. Kacie Rewerts and Olivia Tjernagel each had three kills, as well as Rewerts and Lily Dykstra notching a pair of blocks. Reese Booth and Erin Powers assisted with additional aces in the set to help boost the Panthers to a 25-17 set one win. 

In the second set, Dykstra continued to dominate with five kills as the Flames continued to struggle on offense. Northern Iowa led from start to finish as Cassidy Hartman added four kills to the total with Grace Mikota and Powers racking up some aces as well to cruise the Panthers to a 25-15 set two win. 

The Panthers continued their fast leads in the third frame, as Dykstra and Kira Fallert added fiveeach. While UIC tried to fight back against Northern Iowa, it was not enough as the Panthers made their way to a 25-17 set three win and 3-0 match sweep of the Flames. 

Action continued on Saturday against the Valparaiso Beacons. The Beacons started off strong in the first set giving the Panthers a run for their money as the score got to a 13-13 tie. Rewerts contributed seven kills in the match, with Dykstra adding four, and three blocks by Kaitlyn Sellner that helped the team get within one at 22-23. UNI would find their way to rally back and take the set 25-23 and go 1-0 on the match. 

Valpo came out hot in the second set and grabbed an early lead, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Panthers away. Tjernagel and Hartman each had five kills in the set, while Fallert added four that helped the team to a 25-17 set two win and 2-0 match lead. In the third set, Northern Iowa was able to grab the early lead and make it double-digits. Fallert and Hartman each had four kills, while Powers had a pair of aces to assist UNI to a commanding 25-11 set three win and 3-0 match sweep to close out Senior Weekend.