The Panther volleyball team traveled to Milwaukee last weekend for another big slate of games against No. 8 Marquette, Saint Louis University and Wisconsin-Green Bay.  Competing in the Marquette Invitational, the Panthers knew the challenge that was in front of them was not only against the eighth-ranked Marquette Golden Eagles, but was also facing St. Louis and Wisconsin-Green Bay.

“I know it’s been at least two times, if not three of the last times we’ve played them [St. Louis], we’ve gone five-set thrillers with them,” head coach Bobbi Petersen said.  “We always have a good battle with St. Louis.”

The purple and gold would avoid the five-set thriller and sweep St. Louis in three sets, 25-23, 25-16 and 25-22. Senior Karlie Taylor led the Panthers with 18 kills on the night, which helped propel the Panthers to a big opening win.

Wisconsin-Green Bay was up next, and the Panther women weren’t taking them lightly either.

“They are a very scrappy, fun team,” Petersen said.  “They didn’t graduate much from last year, and are picked to win the Horizon league again, so a very strong Wisconsin-Green Bay team.”

Despite the strengths of Wisconsin-Green Bay, they were no match for the Purple and Gold, as the Panthers swept them as well, 25-23, 25-23 and 25-18.  Karlie Taylor, Emily Holterhaus and Kate Busswitz all had double digit kill counts, and Senior Rachel Koop used 36 assists to become just the 10th Panther in school history to achieve the 2,000 assist milestone. 

The Panthers finished out the weekend with their toughest matchup against eighth-ranked Marquette in a four-set battle. UNI was able to take the first set, 25-20, but couldn’t keep their momentum rolling.  The Panthers kept the score close in the second and third sets, falling 25-22 and 28-26, before the Golden Eagles finished off the Panthers 25-6 in the fourth set. Despite the loss, Karlie Taylor used her 13 kills to move up to sixth place in all-time kills in Panther history.

The Panthers’ next action brings them home to kick off conference play on Friday, Sep. 27 for a home stand with Evansville at 6 p.m., and Indiana State on Saturday at 5 p.m.