Volleyball enters crucial weekend

The accolades are starting to roll in for the University of Northern Iowa volleyball team.  The Panthers, 24-2 overall and 14-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference, cracked the AVCA top 25 poll last week. This week they moved up three spots to No. 22. 

Bre Payton and Amy Braun received individual recognition for their efforts this past week receiving Missouri Valley Conference Player and Freshman of the Week, respectively. UNI will be taking all of this momentum into their biggest weekend series of the year as they travel to Missouri State University and Wichita State University.

“This week is probably, not probably, but is the biggest road weekend that we’ll have as far as the conference season,” said head coach Bobbi Petersen.

The Panthers swept both Illinois State University and Indiana State University in three sets this past weekend. The Panthers have won 22 straight matches including a perfect 14-0 mark in conference play heading into this weekend. This is the longest winning streak for UNI since winning 24 straight in 2000.

Sophomore Payton earned MVC Player of the Week honors for the first time in her career by filling the stat sheet in a pair of wins for the Panthers.  Payton hit an impressive .419 in the two matches and averaged 2.67 kills, 10.33 assists and 4.83 digs per set.  Payton also registered four blocks and a pair of service aces.  Payton totaled 62 assists, 29 digs and 16 kills. 

Braun was honored as MVC Freshman of the Week for the second time this season.  The freshman standout averaged 3.33 kills and 3.17 digs per set against Illinois State and Indiana State.  Braun finished the weekend with 20 kills, 19 digs and three assists.

“(We have) a challenging couple weeks ahead. Our biggest focus as coaches right now is to continue to do one of the things our kids have done all year, is focusing one match at a time,” said Petersen. 

The Panthers have a tough road test this coming weekend. The Panthers beat Missouri State three games to one and Wichita State three games to two earlier in the season at the McLeod Center.  The Bears and the Shockers each have a conference record of 11-3 and are tied for second place in the MVC behind UNI. 

“Missouri State is getting a lot of production from their middles and right sides and last time it was more on their outsides.  Wichita State continues to be loaded in all attacking positions, but they also have the conference leader who is definitely the most versatile attacker in Emily Stockman, probably Player of the Year again this year,” said coach Petersen on the differences between the first time the teams played and the second match-up between the teams. 

If the Panthers split the weekend series they will at worst earn a share of the conference title.  With two wins this weekend the Panthers would clinch the outright MVC regular season title and the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.