CEDAR FALLS — UNI volleyball keeps winning, and another conference record is now just one victory away.
The Panthers swept UIC 25-21, 25-18, 25-17 on Saturday, October 17, at the McLeod Center, earning their 10th consecutive victory behind Lily Dykstra’s match-high 15 kills.
UNI hit .304 with 44 kills and nine blocks, extending its regular-season Missouri Valley Conference winning streak to 60 matches. That run now stands alone as the second-longest in program history, surpassing the Panthers’ 59-match streak from 2009 through 2012.
Including conference tournament play, UNI has won 68 consecutive matches against league opponents — one short of tying its own program and MVC record. Both current conference streaks are the longest active runs in Division I, according to UNI Athletics.
Panthers take control after close opening
Neither team could create much separation early in the first set. A UIC service error and two attack errors gave UNI three unanswered points and a 12-9 advantage.
The Panthers stretched their lead to 19-13, with Dykstra contributing two kills along the way. UIC kept fighting, but Calia Clubb finished the set with a kill to secure a 25-21 victory.
Dykstra supplied five kills in the opening set, while setter Reese Booth collected 11 assists.
UNI opened the second set with an 8-3 burst before the Flames worked their way back within a point at 14-13.
Cassidy Hartman answered with a kill, and two UIC errors helped the Panthers rebuild a four-point cushion. Hartman also delivered the final kill in UNI’s 25-18 victory.
Dykstra had six kills in the set, followed by Hartman with five.
Dykstra leads the sweep
The Panthers gave UIC little room to recover in the third set, opening with a 5-1 run that included a Booth ace and kills from Dykstra and Clubb.
Hartman contributed four kills and Grace Hannam added three as UNI pushed its advantage to 17-8. Dykstra supplied the finishing kill in a 25-17 victory to complete the sweep.
Dykstra hit .364 and led UNI in kills, digs and blocks, finishing with 15 kills, nine digs and four blocks.
Hartman added nine kills and eight digs, while Maryn Bixby contributed eight kills.
The Panthers have now recorded at least seven blocks in 17 of their 19 matches this season.
Conference milestones draw closer
The victory was UNI’s 10th straight against UIC and improved its all-time record against the Flames to 20-3, including an 11-1 mark under head coach Bobbi Petersen.
Petersen is now five wins away from reaching 400 career MVC regular-season victories.
The Panthers’ conference winning streak stood at 66 after their four-set victory over Southern Illinois earlier this month. Weekend sweeps of Valparaiso and UIC have brought UNI to the doorstep of another record.
Evansville visits Friday
UNI will host Evansville at 6 p.m. Friday, October 23, at the McLeod Center, with a chance to match the program and conference record for consecutive overall victories against MVC opponents.
The match will be available on ESPN+. Panther Sports Radio Network coverage will be available through the Varsity Network app only for this contest.