Volleyball

MVC Volleyball Tournament: UNI 3, Valparaiso 1

SPRINGFIELD, MO– The UNI volleyball team defeated the Crusaders of Valparaiso in the MVC semifinal match on Friday night. The Panthers defeated the Crusaders in four-set and will take on the Illinois State Redbirds in the MVC Championship match.

The Panthers have never lost a match to the Crusaders entering the contest and it was obvious from the start the Crusaders were looking to break that trend.

Close sets and intense back and forth action kept fans on their toes but the Panthers managed to pull ahead after splitting the first two sets. The Panthers took the third set 25-21 and closed out the match in the fourth with a 25-22 set win.

The Panthers First Team All-MVC members each had great nights to help push the Panthers to the Championship match. Karlie Taylor finished with a double-double while leading the Panthers in kills with 21 and finished with 14 digs. Setter Rachel Koop recorded 60 assists and 15 digs in the four-set victory and MVC Player of the Year Piper Thomas ended with 17 kills and four total blocks.

Second Team All-MVC members Kate Busswitz and Jaydlin Seehase also left their mark, Busswitz finished with seven kills and recorded two block assists while Seehase finished with 10 kills and four digs on the night.

Senior Kendyl Sorge started her 500th career set as a Panther and recorded a team-high 28 digs. Taylor Hedges and Baylee Petersen each contributed defensively with 13 and 12 digs respectively.

Up Next

The number one and two seeds will face off in the MVC Championship match on Saturday, November 24 at 4 PM. The Redbirds of Illinois State swept Drake in the first semifinal match of the tournament to earn a spot in the final. The Panthers and Redbirds split matches in the regular season and were MVC co-champions of the regular season with 16-2 marks.

Saturday's championship match will be the eight time the two teams have competed for an MVC Tournament Title. The Panthers hold a 4-3 series lead in MVC Championship matches and will look to capture its 17th tournament title in 24 finals appearances.