TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — UNI volleyball weathered a determined challenge from Indiana State on Friday, October 30, winning in four sets behind Lily Dykstra’s 20 kills to extend its winning streak to 13 matches.
The Panthers prevailed 25-9, 21-25, 25-22, 25-19 at ISU Arena, recovering after the Sycamores handed them just their second set loss in Missouri Valley Conference play this season.
Northern Iowa hit .315 for the match, its fifth consecutive outing above .300, and pushed its program- and conference-record winning streak against MVC opponents to 71 matches, including regular-season and postseason competition.
Dykstra leads a balanced Panther attack
Dykstra delivered a match-high 20 kills with only one attack error, hitting .514 while adding 12 digs. It was her fourth match with at least 20 kills this season and her fifth double-double.
Cassidy Hartman contributed 16 kills, nine digs and two blocks. Maryn Bixby added 10 kills and seven blocks, giving UNI three players with double-digit kills.
Setter Reese Booth finished with 42 assists and 14 digs for her 17th double-double of the season. She has recorded a double-double in 14 of her last 17 matches.
Jadyn Petersen anchored the back row with a match-high 21 digs and served two aces. Calia Clubb added five kills and three blocks, while Grace Hannam supplied three kills and four blocks.
Indiana State pushes back after lopsided opener
UNI appeared firmly in control during a dominant opening set. The Panthers scored nine of the first 13 points, put together a 9-0 run and hit .583 on their way to a 25-9 victory.
Hartman, Bixby and Dykstra each recorded four kills in the opener, while Clubb added three. Bixby also helped shut down the Sycamores at the net with three blocks.
The Panthers opened the second set with a 5-1 lead, but Indiana State responded. The Sycamores produced 16 kills on .282 hitting and served three aces, while UNI managed nine kills and a .176 hitting percentage. Indiana State’s 25-21 win evened the match.
The third set brought another test. A 5-0 Sycamore run put Indiana State ahead 16-15 before UNI regained control behind Hartman and Dykstra. Booth’s service ace helped stretch the Panthers’ lead to four points, and UNI held on for a 25-22 win.
The teams split the first 16 points of the fourth set before Northern Iowa pulled away. Hartman supplied six kills and Dykstra five as the Panthers hit .345 and closed the match with a 25-19 victory.
Conference streak reaches another milestone
After setting the MVC record with its 70th straight conference victory against Bradley, UNI added another milestone Friday.
According to UNI, the Panthers’ 71-match conference winning streak is the longest active streak in Division I and ties Nebraska’s 1982-87 Big Eight run for the ninth-longest in Division I history.
Northern Iowa also secured its 63rd consecutive MVC regular-season victory, another active Division I best. Head coach Bobbi Petersen now stands two wins shy of 400 career MVC regular-season victories.
UNI improved to 72-7 all-time against Indiana State, including a 46-5 mark under Petersen, and has won seven straight meetings with the Sycamores.
Hartman reached a personal milestone as well, tying Rachel Tink for 16th on UNI’s career kills list with 1,220. The reigning MVC Player of the Week is 72 digs away from reaching 1,000 and joining the Panthers’ Double Grand Club.
Panthers head to Evansville on Saturday
UNI will continue its road trip Saturday, October 31, against Evansville. First serve is scheduled for 5 p.m. Central at Meeks Family Fieldhouse.
The Panthers recently swept Evansville while hitting a season-best .422.
Saturday’s match will stream on ESPN+. Panther Sports Radio Network coverage will be available online only through UNIpanthers.com and the Varsity Network app.