UNI Panther Volleyball 37 Consecutive Non-Losing Seasons 21 NCAA Tournament Appearances No

UNI Panther Volleyball 37 Consecutive Non-Losing Seasons 21 NCAA Tournament Appearances No. 8 in NCAA All-Time Win % Ranked 117 Times in Top 25

Friday, October 5 - Cedar Falls, Iowa (McLeod Center) 2018 Schedule/Results UNI (RV) vs. Illinois State, 7 p.m. Date Opponent Time/Result Saturday, October 6 - Cedar Falls, Iowa (McLeod Center) Trojan Invitational (Los Angeles, Calif.) UNI (RV) vs. Bradley, 7 p.m. Aug. 24 vs. #13 Creighton W, 3-0 Aug. 25 at #10 USC L, 3-0 Monday, October 8 - Cedar Falls, Iowa (McLeod Center) Aug. 25 vs. #5 Kentucky W, 3-2 UNI (RV) vs. Evansville, 7 p.m. Aug. 29 Iowa State L, 3-0 Aug. 31 Washington State L, 3-1 THREE-MATCH HOMESTAND Sept. 1 Washington State L, 3-1 Active Ankle Challenge (Muncie, Ind.) ON TAP FOR UNI VOLLEYBALL Sept. 7 at Ball State W, 3-1 Sept. 7 vs Indiana W, 3-1 The Panthers • UNI will host a three-match homestand that begins with contests Friday and Saturday versus fellow Sept. 8 vs North Dakota State W, 3-0 Missouri Valley Conference co-leaders Illinois State and Bradley. The homestand finale will be Monday Illini Classic (Champaign, Ill.) against Evansville. Sept. 14 vs Lipscomb W, 3-0 • The Panthers continued their undefeated start to league play last weekend with Friday’s 3-0 sweep at Sept. 14 at #8 Illinois L, 3-0 Loyola followed by a 3-1 victory Saturday at Valparaiso. • UNI currently leads the Valley in kills per set (14.42) and assists per set (13.58). Karlie Taylor owns a Sept. 15 vs #10 Creighton L, 3-0 league-high 4.58 kills per set while Rachel Koop tops the conference at 11.51 assists per set. Sept. 21 at Drake* W, 3-0 • Within MVC-only action, Piper Thomas paces all individuals with 5.08 kills per set and a .478 attack Sept. 24 Indiana State* W, 3-0 percentage. Rachel Koop leads the conference with 13.15 assists per set, and Karlie Taylor sits in first for Sept. 28 at Loyola* W, 3-0 aces per set (0.46). Sept. 29 at Valparaiso* W, 3-1 • Piper Thomas was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week for September 24 through September 30. Thomas averaged 5.00 kills per set and .456 hitting over UNI’s three wins last week. Oct. 5 Illinois State* 7 p.m. • Kendyl Sorge enters the week 37 digs shy of joining Ellie Blankenship and Amie Held in the 2,000-Dig Oct. 6 Bradley* 7 p.m. Club. Sorge owns 1,963 total digs over 441 consecutive sets played to start her Panther career. Oct. 8 Evansville* 7 p.m. • UNI is ranked 20th nationally in the NCAA’s first RPI release from October 1. The Panthers are also Oct. 12 at Southern Illinois* 6 p.m. receiving votes in the AVCA Top 25 - one vote each for 23rd, 24th, and 25th place - for six total points. Oct. 13 at Missouri State* 7 p.m. • This is the 29th consecutive season that at least 10 Iowa natives are on the UNI roster including the second year in a row that 14 of the 15 Panthers are from Iowa. Each of UNI’s last 8,189 points played Oct. 19 Drake* 7 p.m. dating back through last season have been played with only Iowans on the court. Oct. 21 Marquette 2 p.m. • UNI returns four of seven starters from last year, including Honorable Mention All-America honorees Oct. 26 Valparaiso* 7 p.m. Karlie Taylor and Piper Thomas, MVC All-Freshman pick Jaydlin Seehase and libero Kendyl Sorge. Oct. 27 Loyola* 7 p.m. • The Panthers rank No. 8 all-time in NCAA Division I winning percentage (.773). UNI trails only Penn State (.863), Hawaii (.852), Nebraska (.843), Florida (.833), Stanford (.813), BYU (.778) and UCLA (.774). Nov. 2 at Bradley* 7 p.m. • UNI, Hawaii, Nebraska, Stanford, Penn State and UCLA lead the nation with 37 consecutive non-losing Nov. 3 at Illinois State* 7 p.m. seasons in NCAA Division I volleyball. UNI has also posted 33 straight NCAA Division I winning seasons Nov. 9 Missouri State* 6 p.m. – the fifth-longest active streak in the nation behind Hawaii (37), Nebraska (37), Penn State (37) and Nov. 10 Southern Illinois* 7 p.m. Stanford (37). Nov. 16 at Evansville* 7 p.m. • Head coach Bobbi Petersen is in her 19th year at the helm of the Panther program with a record of 471-147. She has led the Panthers to 13 NCAA Tournament appearances. Nov. 17 at Indiana State* 6 p.m. MVC Tournament (Springfield, Mo.) UNI Athletics Communications Nov. 22 MVC Quarterfinals 5/7:30 pm UNI Volleyball Contact - Jerek Wolcott Nov. 23 MVC Semifinals 5/7:30 pm E-mail - [email protected] Cell - 406-422-7581 Nov. 24 MVC Championship 4 pm Follow UNI Volleyball on Facebook - UNI Volleyball All Times Central Follow UNI Volleyball on Twitter - @UNIVolleyball Home matches in BOLD For the latest news and info, check out www.UNIPanthers.com 2018 UNI Volleyball TV/Radio Roster

#5 Lexi Astor #6 Kendyl Sorge #8 Baylee Petersen #10 Tayah Mahi #11 Karlie Taylor #12 Kate Busswitz R-Sr., OH Sr., L/DS Fr., OH Fr., S Jr., OH R-So, MH Fort Dodge, Iowa Janesville, Iowa Dike, Iowa Cedar Falls, Iowa Eddyville, Iowa Cedar Rapids, Iowa

#13 Inga Rotto #14 Rachel Koop #15 Carly Spies #16 Jaydlin Seehase #17 Piper Thomas #18 Abbi Staack Fr., MB/OH R-Jr., S Fr., MB So., OH Sr., MH Jr., DS Ames, Iowa New Hartford, Iowa Robins, Iowa Sumner, Iowa Jesup, Iowa Janesville, Iowa

#20 Taylor Hedges #22 Kat Barr #23 Jamie Sindlinger Head Coach R-So., DS Fr., MB R-So., OH Bobbi Petersen New Hartford, Iowa Antioch, Ill. Charles City, Iowa

UNI Volleyball Quick Facts President...... Mark Nook Head Coach...... Bobbi Petersen School...... University of Northern Iowa Director of Athletics...... David Harris Record ...... 471-147 (19th year) Founded...... 1876 SWA...... Christina Roybal Office:...... 319-273-7170 Nickname...... Panthers Arena:...... McLeod Center (6,650) Asst. Coaches. Kalani Mahi, Kim Davis Colors...... Purple and Old Gold Director of VB Ops...... Michelle Bolte Enrollment...... 11,905 Athletic Trainer...... Chelsea Lowe Conference...... Missouri Valley Student Athletic Trainer...... Beth Lynch 2 • UNI VOLLEYBALL FIRST PLACE ON THE LINE MEET THE PANTHERS in social work, was a four-time state The top three teams in the Missouri champion at Dike-New Hartford High Valley Conference square off this week as #5 “DISC JOCKEY” School. UNI hosts Illinois State and Bradley. Redshirt senior outside hitter Lexi Astor enjoys playing frisbee golf when she #15 CARLY’S CLUB The Panthers will follow with a contest is not on the volleyball court or in the Freshman middle hitter Carly Spies against Evansville next week to close this classroom. Astor is majoring in exercise played club volleyball for Club Iowa three-match homestand. science and sports psychology with an alongside Panther teammates Tayah emphasis in biology (pre-chiropractic). Mahi, Baylee Petersen, and Inga Rotto RADIO COVERAGE among other DI volleyball newcomers. Live radio coverage of the UNI Panther #6 SORGE’S STREAK Spies is a perfect 3-of-3 on kill attempts volleyball team can be found on www. Senior libero Kendyl Sorge has never over her first five collegiate appearances. UNIPanthers.com and KXEL (1540-AM) missed a set over four years at UNI. with Chris Kleinhans-Schulz on the call. Sorge, an exercise science major, played #16 COME PLAY WITH J.J. her first 66 sets as a freshman defensive Sophomore outside hitter Jaydlin Jean All audio this year will be free of charge specialist before spending the past 375 “J.J.” Seehase hit .464 over two outings (no subscription service). frames at libero. against Evansville last season. Seehase is currently majoring in supply chain Listen Here #8 FAMILY TIES management. Friday vs. Illinois State – KXEL 1540 Freshman outside hitter Baylee Petersen Saturday vs. Bradley – KXEL 1540 is a daughter of Panther head coach #17 PIPER’S RECORD WATCH Monday vs. Evansville – KXEL 1540 Bobbi Petersen. Baylee and twin sister Senior middle hitter Piper Thomas Sydney, a libero at Texas, each wear the passed Kim (McCaffrey) Davis and Ashten WATCH LIVE No. 8 which was also Bobbi (Becker) Stelken to move into seventh in career UNI’s matches Friday and Monday will be Petersen’s number when she played for kills (1,308). Thomas, a movement and broadcast on ESPN+. Saturday’s coverage the Panthers from 1986 through 1989. exercise science major, is also two solo will be on ESPN3. blocks behind Denise Cuttell’s program #10 FAMILY TIES, PART TWO record (90). SEEING RED(BIRDS) Freshman setter and sociology Illinois State is 12-4 overall, and the major Tayah Mahi is the oldest #18 ATTENTION, CLASS Redbirds top league play in hitting daughter of Panther assistant coach Junior defensive specialist Abbi Staack is (.306) and opposing hitting (.089) while Kalani Mahi. Her full name is Tayah majoring in elementary education with jumping out to a 4-0 start in MVC action. Kealohilani’ikamahinala’ila’i Mahi (middle an emphasis in special education. Both of name: kay-ah-LOW-hee-LAH-nee-EE-cah- Staack’s parents (Jerrod, Kari) have held Marissa Stockman (.386) and Ali Line mah-HEE-nah-LAH-ee-LAH-ee. teaching roles in the Waverly-Shell Rock (.355) lead MVC attackers in hitting while school district. Courtney Pence is averaging a league- #11 DOUBLE TROUBLE high 5.67 digs per set. Junior outside hitter Karlie Taylor leads #20 SERVE’S UP the Panthers with eight double-doubles Redshirt sophomore defensive specialist UNI leads the series, 52-25, including a this year. Taylor, a family services major Taylor Hedges tallied at least one ace in 3-1 win in last year’s MVC Semifinals. with a minor in psychology, is coming off nine of UNI’s first 16 matches this year. back-to-back double-doubles at Loyola A biology major with a pre-nursing, BRAVE FRONT (11 K, 12 D) and at Valparaiso (13 K, 18 D). emphasis, Hedges opened 2018 with Bradley is 14-2 this year with a 4-0 MVC three aces in an upset of #13 Creighton. record, and the Braves lead the league in #12 BUZZ ABOUT BUSSWITZ overall digging (18.63 per set), aces (1.46 Redshirt sophomore middle hitter #22 THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE per set), and opposing hitting (.143). Kate Busswitz is on a personal-best Freshman middle hitter Kat Barr is a three-match double-figure kill streak. A native of Antioch, Illinois and the only Yavianliz Rosado earned MVC Defensive communication and marketing major, out-of-state individual on the Panther Player of the Week honors this week. Busswitz played at Prairie High School in roster. Barr was a 2017 Illinois Volleyball Cedar Rapids under Lynnette Stecklein All-Star Game selection alongside Zoe UNI leads the series, 63-10, with 25 wins and former Panther Ashten Stelken. Nunez (Notre Dame) and Taylor Baranski in a row dating back to 2005. (Iowa State). #13 SWEET TREATS PURPLE ACES ON DECK Freshman middle hitter/outside hitter #23 “IT’S IN THE HOLE!” Evansville is 6-12 overall and 0-5 in Inga Rotto’s list of talents includes baking Redshirt sophomore outside hitter and conference play. The Purple Aces pace chocolate chip cookies. Rotto has also biology major Jamie Sindlinger was a the circuit with 25 aces in league tilts. started each of UNI’s first 16 matches so Class 4A runner-up in golf at Charles City far this season. High School in 2014. Older sister Jessie Rachel Tam carries Evansville’s offensive Sindlinger was a collegiate golfer at attack with 302 kills including 4.38 per #14 KOOP’S TROOP Iowa where their father, Mark Sindlinger, set. Redshirt junior setter Rachel Koop leads played at center in the 1986 Rose Bowl the Valley in assists within her first season and earned All-America recognition in UNI leads the series, 49-1, with its only running the Panther offense. Koop, wrestling twice for the Hawkeyes. loss occurring on November 1, 2008. a psychology major that also minors 3 • UNI VOLLEYBALL 2018 WEEK-BY-WEEK REVIEW STIFF NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE 21 NCAA APPEARANCES The Panthers’ non-conference slate In its 21 trips to the NCAA tournament, PERFECT START TO CONFERENCE PLAY features nine matches against teams UNI has posted 15 wins, advancing to at either ranked or receiving votes in the least the second round 12 times. The Panthers are 4-0 to start Missouri AVCA Top 25 Preseason Poll. Valley Conference action. UNI swept UNI has advanced as far as the NCAA’s Drake, Indiana State, and Loyola before Preseason Ranked or Receiving Votes Sweet 16 three times since 1999. In posting a 3-1 win at Valparaiso. #5 Kentucky 2002, the Panthers went into the NCAA #10 Southern California tournament as the No. 1 seed in the East Over the first two weeks of league play, #12 Illinois Region. Piper Thomas led UNI with 66 kills (5.08 #13 Creighton (two matches) per set) on a blistering .478 clip while #21 Iowa State PANTHERS PICKED TO WIN MVC adding a team-high nine blocks. Thomas RV Washington State (two matches) The Panthers earned seven first-place was also named MVC Player of the Week RV Marquette votes in the 2018 Missouri Valley for the period of September 24-30. Conference preseason coaches poll and 13 CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF APR are projected to finish first ahead of ILLINI CLASSIC RECOGNITION, PERFECTION Missouri State, Illinois State, and Drake. UNI closed pre-conference play by going For the past 13 years the NCAA has 1-2 at the Illini Classic in Champaign, recognized teams in the top-10 percent This is 15th time that UNI enters a season Illinois. of the Academic Progress Report, and the as the coaches’ pick to win the league UNI volleyball team has been on the list crown. The Panthers have won 10 titles as The Panthers swept Lipscomb and all 13 years. the MVC favorite and finished in second posted a season-high .385 team attack place during the other four years. percentage against the Bisons. UNI lost In fact, the UNI volleyball team has had a in straight sets against #8 Illinois and #10 perfect score of 1,000 every year. 2018 MVC PRESEASON POLL Creighton to end the tournament. # Team (1st-place votes) Points UNI volleyball is one of only 85 programs 1. UNI (7)...... 95 ACTIVE ANKLE CHALLENGE nationally to have earned the recognition 2. Missouri State (3)...... 89 The Panthers won Ball State’s Active in each of the 13 years that teams have 3. Illinois State...... 84 Ankle Challenge by going 3-0 with been honored. 4. Drake...... 69 wins over Ball State, Indiana, and North 5. Valparaiso...... 53 Dakota State. POLLING NUMBERS 6. Indiana State...... 50 UNI has been ranked in the AVCA Top 25 7. Bradley...... 35 Karlie Taylor was the tournament’s MVP 117 times in program history - the most 8. Loyola...... 33 after registering 55 kills (5.00 per set). in the Missouri Valley Conference. The 9. Evansville...... 23 Kendyl Sorge (4.18 digs per set) and Piper Panthers’ last poll appearance came after 10. Southern Illinois...... 19 Thomas (42 kills on .309 hitting) joined the first week of this season (No. 17). Taylor on the All-Tournament Team. 2018 CONFERENCE STANDINGS By comparison, the rest of the current School MVC Overall HOME WEEK teams in the MVC have been ranked 52 Bradley 4-0 14-2 UNI opened its 2018 home slate with a times (Wichita State - 35; Illinois State - Illinois State 4-0 12-4 three-set loss to Iowa State followed by a 14; Missouri State - 3). UNI 4-0 10-6 pair of 3-1 defeats to Washington State. Valparaiso 4-1 17-3 In the state of Iowa, UNI’s 117 poll Loyola 3-2 11-6 The sellout crowd of 6,415 for the Iowa rankings puts it on top. Iowa State has Drake 2-2 13-5 State match marked the third-largest been ranked in 77 polls, while Iowa has Missouri State 1-3 8-9 attendance in Panther history behind been ranked in one. Southern Illinois 0-4 4-13 previous encounters with the Cyclones in Indiana State 0-5 7-10 2013 (6,621) and 2011 (6,490). UNI has been ranked in the top 10 in the Evansville 0-5 6-12 AVCA poll on 25 occasions. Wichita State TROJAN INVITATIONAL has twice been ranked in the top 10 for FAN FAVORITES The Panthers went 2-1 for a second-place the second-best number in the MVC. The Panthers consistently have finish at #10 USC’s Trojan Invitational to ranked among the national leaders in start the 2018 campaign. UNI opened the UNI’s highest ranking in the AVCA Top 25 attendance, including ranking No. 15 in season with a 3-0 upset of #13 Creighton is No. 6 (last achieved Sept. 15, 2003). the nation in 2017 with an average of and closed its tournament action with a 2,437 fans per home match. UNI hosted 3-2 upset of #5 Kentucky. 17 MVC REGULAR SEASON TITLES Iowa State in front of a sold-out crowd at The Panthers have tallied 17 MVC regular the McLeod Center on Aug. 29. All-Tournament nods went to Karlie season titles through the years. Taylor (4.81 kills per set, 2.81 digs per set) CAN YOU DIG IT? and Rachel Koop (11.27 assists per set, UNI won the regular season title in 1986, Last season, UNI set an NCAA record for seven kills on 11 attacks with no errors). 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1998, the 25-point scoring era with 2,581 digs. Taylor was also named Missouri Valley 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2010, The Panthers also topped the nation last Conference Player of the Week for her 2011, and 2013. year with 1,997 kills, 1,857 assists, and efforts. 15.24 kills per set. 4 • UNI VOLLEYBALL 2018 UNI Volleyball Roster

No. Name Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown (High School/Last School) 5 Lexi Astor OH 5-10 R-Sr. Fort Dodge, Iowa / Fort Dodge 6 Kendyl Sorge L/DS 5-7 Sr. Janesville, Iowa / Janesville 8 Baylee Petersen OH 5-8 Fr. Dike, Iowa / Dike-New Hartford 10 Tayah Mahi S 5-9 Fr. Cedar Falls, Iowa / Cedar Falls 11 Karlie Taylor OH 5-11 Jr. Eddyville, Iowa / Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont 12 Kate Busswitz MH 6-2 R-So. Cedar Rapids, Iowa / Prairie 13 Inga Rotto MB/OH 6-1 Fr. Ames, Iowa / Gilbert 14 Rachel Koop S 5-9 R-Jr. New Hartford, Iowa / Dike-New Hartford 15 Carly Spies MB 6-3 Fr. Robins, Iowa / Linn-Mar 16 Jaydlin Seehase OH 6-1 So. Sumner, Iowa / Sumner-Fredricksburg 17 Piper Thomas MH 6-1 Sr. Jesup, Iowa / Jesup 18 Abbi Staack DS 5-8 Jr. Janesville, Iowa / Waverly-Shell Rock 20 Taylor Hedges DS 5-7 R-So. New Hartford, Iowa / Dike-New Hartford 22 Kat Barr MB 6-2 Fr. Antioch, Illinois / Antioch 23 Jamie Sindlinger OH 5-10 R-So. Charles City, Iowa / Charles City

Head Coach: Bobbi Petersen Assistant Coaches: Kalani Mahi, Kim Davis Director of VB Operations: Michelle Bolte Athletic Trainer: Chelsea Lowe

Pronunciation Guide 5 LEX-ee As-tur 6 KEN-dull SORE-gee (like geese) 10 Tay-yah Mah-Hee 12 Kate Buzz-witz 13 Eng-Ah ROT-o 15 Carly SPEEZE 16 Jayd-Lin SEE-Hause 18 Abbi STACK

6 • UNI VOLLEYBALL 7 • UNI VOLLEYBALL 8 • UNI VOLLEYBALL 9 • UNI VOLLEYBALL 10 • UNI VOLLEYBALL 11 • UNI VOLLEYBALL 12 • UNI VOLLEYBALL