UNI volleyball (5-4 / 0-0 MVC) vs. Texas A&M (7-0 / 0-0 SEC)
- 6 p.m. CT | Sept. 19, 2024
- McLeod Center (6,650)
- Cedar Falls, Iowa
- ESPN+ (Brad Wells: Play-by-Play / Jay Grassley: Analyst)
- Panther Sports Radio Network (Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play)
- LIVE STATS
- TICKETS
UNI volleyball (5-4 / 0-0 MVC) vs. No. 22 SMU (6-3 / 0-0 ACC)
- 1 p.m. CT | Sept. 21, 2024
- McLeod Center (6,650)
- Cedar Falls, Iowa
- ESPN+ (Mark Simpson: Play-by-Play / Beth West: Analyst)
- Panther Sports Radio Network (Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play)
- LIVE STATS
- TICKETS
UNI volleyball (5-4 / 0-0 MVC) vs. No. 22 SMU (6-3 / 0-0 ACC)
- 1 p.m. CT | Sept. 22, 2024
- McLeod Center (6,650)
- Cedar Falls, Iowa
- ESPN+ (Mark Simpson: Play-by-Play / Jay Grassley: Analyst)
- Panther Sports Radio Network (Chris Kleinhans-Schulz: Play-by-Play)
- LIVE STATS
- TICKETS
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- After three weeks and nine matches on the road to begin the season, the UNI volleyball team returns home to the McLeod Center for its first home matches of the year, hosting the Texas A&M Aggies and the No. 22 SMU Mustangs beginning Thursday night to begin a season-long five-match homestand.
The Panthers will battle the Aggies at 6 p.m. CT on Thursday, Sept. 19 before taking on the Mustangs on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. CT. All three matches can be watched live on ESPN+, with additional radio coverage available on the Panther Sports Radio Network.
Tickets can be purchased online at unipanthers.com, or by contacting the UNI Ticket Office at 319-273-4849 or by email at tickets@uni.edu.
Fans will be treated to $2.00 hot dogs on Thursday against Texas A&M with free hot dogs available for the first 100 UNI students through the gate. A school supply drive will be held during Saturday's match, while a post-match autograph session will take place following Sunday's contest.
Northern Iowa returns to the McLeod Center after winning five of its first nine matches to begin the 2024 season, which included a 1-2 record at last weekend's Cardinal Classic in Louisville. Competing in the Bluegrass State, UNI fell to a pair of top-ten ranked challengers in No. 9 Creighton and No. 4 Louisville before picking up a 3-0 sweep against Rice in its tournament finale. For her play in Louisville, senior middle blocker Olivia Tjernagel was named to the Cardinal Classic All-Tournament Team.
In preparation for its regular season home opener, UNI will look to improve on its 15-9 record under head coach Bobbi Petersen in home opening matches, and build on its impressive 167-47 record inside the McLeod Center. Carrying a 9-5 all-time record against teams based in the State of Texas, the Panthers have gone a combined 23-1 at home in the previous two seasons.
Kira Fallert leads the UNI offense with 113 total kills through nine matches, with Cassidy Hartman close behind with 107 terminations. Erin Powers's 14 service aces leads the way for the Panthers while her 158 total digs this year are fourth-most in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). Setters Sydney Golden and Reese Booth have split time on the court with the veteran golden averaging 6.1 assists per set, with Booth notching 4.5 assists per frame, while graduate middle blocker Kacie Rewerts leads the MVC with 1.1 blocks per set. Rewerts, who recorded her 500th career block assist on Sunday against Rice, is the NCAA's active career leader in total blocks (556) across all divisions and is tied for third with 1.34 blocks per set in her career.
SCOUTING TEXAS A&M
The Aggies begin a three-match road swing through the Midwest with their first-ever trip to Cedar Falls with a 2-0 lead in the all-time series. Texas A&M will also visit Wisconsin on Saturday and play Troy in Madison over the weekend. UNI is also 22-23-3 all-time against current members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
Texas A&M, who finished last season 16-13 and reached the NCAA Tournament, was picked seventh in this year's SEC preseason poll, following a season where it beat the Panthers in straight sets last season in College Station.
Middle blocker Ifenna Cos Okpalla and opposite Logan Lednicky were both named Preseason All-SEC, and have led the Aggies to a perfect 7-0 record after three straight home wins over Temple, New Hampshire and Louisiana in the Texas A&M Invitational.
Texas A&M boasts the nation's most potent offense with a Division I-best 14.9 kills per set, and also leads the country in assists per set (14), while also ranking third in hitting percentage (.292). Setter Maddie Waak leads the country with 11.8 assists per set, while Morgan Perkins also enters Thursday with an SEC-best .480 hitting clip, ninth-best in the nation.
SCOUTING SMU
One of the hottest teams in Division I volleyball, the Mustangs ride into Cedar Falls for the first-ever meetings against UNI. Ranked 22nd in the latest AVCA top-25 poll, SMU has notched a pair of ranked victories this season against No. 2 Nebraska and No. 18 Baylor, both at home in Dallas.
Playing their first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) after a 26-7 campaign last season in the American Athletic Conference (AAC) that culminated in an NCAA second round appearance, the Mustangs were picked sixth in the ACC preseason poll.
SMU split their two home matches last weekend in the SMU Doubletree Invitational, falling to No. 10 Kentucky in straight sets and defeating Houston, 3-1.
The Mustangs presented a challenge at the net with 90 total blocks, 25th most in the nation, as well as the 23rd best opposing hitting percentage (.146). SMU is also 24th in Division I in blocks per set (2.7).
Natalie Foster ranks in the top-15 nationally with 20 service aces this season, while Cecila Cullen leads the ACC in total assists (318).
UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2024 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
