The Missouri Valley Conference was represented by Northern Iowa and Valparaiso as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) announced its All-Region honors on Tuesday.
Cassidy Hartman, Northern Iowa - AVCA All-Central Region First Team
The 2025 MVC Player of the Year and a First Team All-MVC selection, Hartman led the league with 4.64 kills per set, along with 2.74 digs per frame, 58 total blocks and 19 aces during her junior season. Starting all 32 matches during her junior season, Hartman recorded ten or more kills in 27 matches this season, as well as six matches with 20+ kills, including a career-high 26 terminations at Southern Illinois in the regular season. She also posted 14 double-double outings. A three-time MVC Player of the Week this season and a member of the Capital Credit Union Classic All-Tournament Team back in September, Hartman earned AVCA All-Region Honorable Mention honors in 2024.
Lily Dykstra, Northern Iowa - AVCA All-Central Region Honorable Mention
A First Team All-MVC selection, Dykstra ranked second on the Panther roster with four kills per set, along with 1.7 digs per frame, 21 service aces and 50 total blocks. The junior from Urbandale, Iowa notably notched a career-high 25 kills in UNI's NCAA Tournament opener against Utah, one of four matches this season with 20+ kills recorded. Dykstra tallied at least eight terminations in all but two matches in 2025, as well as 19 matches with ten or more kills and the first two double-doubles of her career. She was named the MVC Player of the Week on Nov. 10 and was named to the all-tournament teams for the Bluejay Invitational and Capital Credit Union Classic in September.
Jadyn Petersen, Northern Iowa - AVCA All-Central Region Honorable Mention
After redshirting the 2024 season, Petersen led Northern Iowa's backrow defense with 4.31 digs per set and a team-high 26 aces after earning Second Team All-MVC honors this year. She recorded a career-high four aces against Washington back in September and also posted 27 digs against UIC in November. A two-time MVC Defensive Player of the Week award winner, she also posted a .957 reception percentage on the year.
Emma Hickey, Valparaiso – AVCA All-Midwest Region Honorable Mention
Hickey was named MVC Libero of the Year and a First Team All-MVC selection this season as she helped the Beacons finish in a tie for second place in the Valley. She ranked 11
th nationally with 5.06 digs/set, reaching double figures in digs in 28 of 30 matches and hitting 20 digs on 14 occasions. A five-time MVC Defensive Player of the Week this season, Hickey committed a career-low 15 serve reception errors in 2025 and chipped in a career-best 1.24 assists/set.The 2025 season capped a remarkable four-year career for Hickey. She closed her career with 2,665 digs, ranking 17
th in NCAA history, fourth in MVC history and third in program history. The active career leader in digs across all divisions, Hickey ranked among the top-15 in the nation in digs/set in each of her four seasons. She earned MVC Defensive Player of the Week accolades nine times in her career, tied for third-most in Valley history.
Bobbi Petersen, Northern Iowa - Central Region Coach of the Year
Completing her 26th season at the helm of the Panther program, Petersen picks up her fifth AVCA Region Coach of the Year honor after earning her record tenth MVC Coach of the Year honor in 2025. Petersen helped lead UNI to its 22nd season under her leadership with 20+ wins, her 13th MVC regular season and tournament championships and third straight undefeated conference season. Additionally, she passed former Panther softball coach Meredith Bakely with her 633rd career win during the MVC Tournament, becoming the winningest women's coach in UNI history for any sport.