NORMAL, ILL. — UNI volleyball survived an opening-set fight from Illinois State, then took command Thursday night to sweep the Redbirds and extend one of the most impressive conference winning streaks in Division I volleyball.
Northern Iowa defeated Illinois State 25-23, 25-18 and 25-20 at CEFCU Arena, improving to 9-5 overall and 3-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play.
The victory pushed UNI’s MVC regular-season winning streak to an extraordinary 55 consecutive matches dating back to the 2023 season. When postseason matches are included, the Panthers have now defeated MVC opponents 63 consecutive times — the longest active streak in Division I volleyball.
It was another strong performance following UNI’s three-set demolition of Murray State, which had pushed the Panthers’ conference regular-season streak to 54.
Panthers escape opening-set battle
UNI wasted little time grabbing control Thursday, jumping to a 7-2 advantage in the first set.
Illinois State refused to disappear.
Attack errors helped the Redbirds work their way back into the frame, eventually tying the score at 16-16 before briefly taking the lead.
Northern Iowa struggled offensively, hitting just .104 in the set, while Illinois State held a 3-1 advantage in blocks.
Still, the Panthers found a way to finish.
With the score tied at 23-23, UNI captured the final two points, with Isabelle Elliott and Maryn Bixby combining on the set-winning block to give the Panthers a 25-23 victory.
Lily Dykstra and Cassidy Hartman combined for seven kills during the opening frame.
UNI takes control in second set
The Panthers again raced to a 7-2 lead in the second set, but this time Illinois State never managed to overtake them.
UNI’s defense at the net began to take over.
Northern Iowa recorded four blocks during the set while Hartman and Reese Booth helped apply pressure from the service line.
Booth delivered consecutive aces as UNI stretched its advantage to 15-10.
The Panthers finished with 12 kills and hit .226 while leading from start to finish in a 25-18 victory that put Illinois State one set away from elimination.
Redbirds make one final push
Illinois State mounted its strongest challenge of the night during the third set.
UNI again started quickly and took a 7-3 advantage, but the Redbirds answered and eventually built their largest lead of the match at 14-10.
The Panthers responded with three consecutive points and began steadily erasing the deficit.
UNI eventually surged past Illinois State and controlled the closing stretch, finishing the match with a 25-20 victory when Dykstra fired an ace on match point.
Northern Iowa put down 16 kills while hitting .234 in the final set and added four more blocks.
Dykstra delivers another big night
Dykstra led the Panthers with 15 kills and 10 digs, recording her fourth double-double of the season and fifth of her career.
It was also her 12th match this season with at least 10 kills.
Hartman added 11 kills and eight digs, giving her double-digit kills for the 11th time this season and the 53rd time in her UNI career.
Booth continued an impressive individual run with 25 assists and 16 digs for her ninth consecutive double-double. She has recorded 12 double-doubles this season and 24 in her career.
Bixby was a force at the net, finishing with seven kills and tying her career high with eight blocks. She has now recorded at least three blocks in eight consecutive appearances.
Elliott contributed four kills and three blocks, Calia Clubb added three kills, and Jadyn Petersen collected 15 digs.
Petersen has now gone 11 consecutive matches without a reception error and owns a .995 reception percentage this season, committing just one error in 220 attempts.
UNI finished the match with nine total blocks.
Panthers keep piling up MVC victories
Northern Iowa improved to 64-30 all-time against Illinois State and has now beaten the Redbirds nine consecutive times.
The Panthers’ sustained domination of Missouri Valley Conference competition has become one of the biggest stories of their season.
UNI opened league play by sweeping in-state rival Drake, followed with another sweep against Murray State and now has dispatched Illinois State without dropping a set.
Another MVC road test arrives Friday
UNI won’t have much time to celebrate.
The Panthers travel to Peoria on Friday, October 2, to face Bradley at Renaissance Coliseum.
First serve is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Northern Iowa will enter that match looking for its 56th consecutive MVC regular-season victory and its 64th straight victory against a conference opponent when regular-season and postseason matches are combined.