CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – An remarkable 2022 for the UNI Panther volleyball staff will come to a close next quite a few team and particular person achievements. UNI logged the biggest a person-12 months turnaround for any Panther squad and any Missouri Valley Conference regular period winner even though sweeping the league titles and reaching the 2nd round of the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship.
The UNI bounceback began with the return to a standard timetable in 2022. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Panthers played two distinct seasons all through the prior year including an eighth-place conference finish in the drop of 2021. UNI’s first complete spring session considering the fact that 2019 experienced various tournaments and a standalone match versus reigning countrywide winner Wisconsin. The Panthers also enjoyed a foreign excursion in Might and frequented Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Montenegro.
Nonconference action commenced in August at Arizona State’s Webb-Burbridge Traditional showcasing UNI’s 1st victory of the period towards CSU Bakersfield. Just after facing 3 ranked opponents in Creighton’s Bluejay Invitational, the Panthers set their first earn streak together by going 3- at the UNI Event, knocking off Iowa State in Hilton Coliseum, and profitable again-to-again tilts in Iowa’s Hawkeye Invitational right before losing to Iowa in the nonconference finale.
Sporting an total document of 7-6, UNI satisfied undefeated Valparaiso on the road for its Missouri Valley Convention opener. The Panthers fought off several significant deficits and just one match point in the fourth established en route to the 3-2 triumph and remained excellent compared to league foes into mid-November. UNI swept its remaining homestand with victories over Southern Illinois and Missouri State to warranty a flawless 12- dwelling mark for the calendar year along with the outright MVC typical season crown. The Panthers finished at 17-1 in MVC play pursuing a defeat at Drake prior to the convention event.
A No. 1 seed for the Missouri Valley Meeting Volleyball Championship gave UNI a double bye into the semifinals and a two-match path to the title and an computerized berth for the NCAA Volleyball Championship. Following a sweep of fifth-seeded event host Evansville, the Panthers locked up their spot for what would be an all-Iowa closing as opposed to Drake. UNI tallied 15 aces – breaking the MVC’s match record and UNI’s 25-point rally-scoring-era file – in just a five-set, championship-clinching acquire.
The Panthers traveled to Minneapolis for the initial weekend of the NCAA Championship and went up against Texas Quarter No. 7 seed Florida State in the initially round. Despite drawing a struggle-examined ACC opponent that was receiving one particular vote in the AVCA Division I Women’s Coaches Poll, UNI recorded the 3- triumph and moved into the 2nd spherical. On the other hand, next-seeded and eighth-ranked Minnesota dropped the Panthers in straight sets to close UNI’s bid for another upset.
UNI claimed its 24th NCAA berth, 20th conference frequent time championship, and 18th league tournament crown in 2022. The Panthers improved from their 2021 marks of 12-19 in general and 7-11 in MVC matches with resounding information of 27-8 and 17-1, respectively. The complete and meeting-only gain improvements were the finest in method history. Also, UNI became initial workforce in league background to win the frequent year title right after finishing the earlier time down below .500 and underneath sixth position in convention participate in.
In addition to these extraordinary notes, this season presented quite a few large-ranking Panther statistics. UNI’s .373 guide proportion was very good adequate for fifth over-all and first in the 25-level rally-scoring era. The Panthers also cracked the leading 10 with their 130 sets performed (fifth), 2,968 support attempts (sixth), 35 matches performed (tied for sixth), and 2,299 factors (10th). UNI was 3rd nationally in total kills (1,834) and fourth in total assists (1,675). In addition, the Panthers led the overall meeting and arrived in at 22nd nationally in common attendance with 1,993 lovers for each match representing their 10th-best mark at any time.
Though UNI was the only staff in the state to get a conference championship and an NCAA event tilt that did not acquire any AVCA All-America recognition, quite a few folks from the 2022 roster gained numerous awards for their contributions on the court, in the classroom, and in the local community. This involved a system-report 7 nods to the MVC Volleyball Scholar-Athlete Teams plus 5 All-MVC honorees, 4 picks for Academic All-District, a few MVC Championship All-Tournament Group possibilities, two picks for AVCA All-Location, and the a person Panther with 2022 Fall Point out Farm MVC Great Neighbor Award accolades.
Payton Ahrenstorff is just one of just 12 folks this tumble and the only UNI person to get paid the Point out Farm MVC Great Neighbor Award. Ahrenstorff, who was also tabbed MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Point out, played at defensive expert and libero for the duration of her 4-yr tenure and recorded her 500th profession dig as a senior.
Tayler Alden’s haul showcased AVCA All-Midwest Location, MVC Setter of the 12 months, All-MVC To start with Workforce, Educational All-District, and MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Point out. Alden moved into a tie for third in occupation triple-doubles (5) and ninth outright in job helps (2,869) during her 3rd time at setter for the Panthers.
Kira Fallert scooped up the MVC Elite 17 Award, designation as Tutorial All-District, and a area on the MVC Scholar-Athlete To start with Team. Fallert, a sophomore six-rotation outside the house hitter, is on a 66-match commencing streak to start out her vocation and surpassed 500 career kills and 500 occupation digs inside of this previous time.
Emily Holterhaus, who was chosen for MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Point out, made two all-tournament teams including UNI Event MVP plaudits. The fourth-yr outside the house hitter grew to become the 29th Panther to arrive at 1,000 job kills and is now ninth in occupation attacks with 3,709 attempts moving into 2023.
Baylee Petersen returned from missing the 2021 period with MVC Scholar-Athlete Honorable Mention. Petersen, who performed at defensive expert, libero, and outdoors hitter via her 5 yrs on the roster, is the 19th Panther with at least 1,000 job digs and ends her career at ninth in occupation serves (1,542).
Sydney Petersen claimed distinction as AVCA All-Midwest Location, MVC Volleyball Championship All-Match Group, MVC Libero of the Yr, and All-MVC Initially Workforce. The previous Texas Longhorn and twin sister of Baylee was UNI’s every-working day libero as a newcomer and appeared in all 148 feasible outings during her vocation.
Inga Rotto was rewarded with spots on the All-MVC First Crew, Tutorial All-District, and MVC Scholar-Athlete Initially Group. A fifth-calendar year center blocker, Rotto set the MVC file for consecutive matches performed (157) and posted new UNI marks for total contests (157), overall sets (575), and senior-course assault proportion (.352).
Carly Spies captured honors for MVC Volleyball Championship All-Match Group, All-MVC 1st Workforce, Tutorial All-District, and MVC Scholar-Athlete To start with Group. Spies eclipsed 600 occupation kills and 300 overall blocks and complete block assists as a fifth-yr center blocker and also notched her very first-at any time double-double in 2022.
Olivia Tjernagel’s breakout yr on the suitable side led to MVC Volleyball Championship MVP and UNI Match All-Match Group citations. With encounter at opposite and center blocker in her third year, Tjernagel experienced a profession-greatest a few-tilt double-figure kill streak across the MVC and NCAA tournaments.
Lastly, head coach Bobbi Petersen matched her previous head coach Irage Ahrabi-Fard as a record-tying 7-time MVC Coach of the Year recipient. Petersen closes her 23rd time as UNI’s head mentor with 557 complete wins, 16 NCAA Championship bids, 10 league frequent time crowns, and 10 conference match championships.

