Panthers win away for Petersen’s 500th career win

BRIELLE KIEWIET

The Panther volleyball team notched two wins in Indiana to clinch 500 career wins for head coach Bobbi Petersen. 

The Panthers took down Indiana State 3-0 on Friday, Oct. 25, followed by edging out Evansville 3-2 on Saturday, Oct. 26.  The win moves UNI to 16-9 overall and 10-1 in conference play.

The 3-0 sweep against Indiana State to give coach Petersen 500 career wins made her only the second UNI volleyball coach in history to do so.

The Panthers took all three sets against the Sycamores on Friday night with set scores of 25-19, 25-9 and 25-19, respectively.

Senior Karlie Taylor led the way offensively in kills with 12 and a .226 hitting percentage. Kate Busswitz and Kaylissa Arndorfer were close behind, each with 11 kills. The team recorded a hitting percentage of .337 on the night.

Senior setter Rachel Koop totaled 32 assists in the match, marking 2,500 career assists and ranking her 10th in UNI history. Abbi Staack was also a key player during the match with a team-high 17 digs.

Saturday night saw the Panthers take a trip to Evansville, In., to take on the Purple Aces, winning in five sets. This is the third time this season the Cats have played to five sets, they took the match 3-2.

After falling in the first two sets, the Panthers came back strong and ended with a .260 hitting percentage. Taylor served as a key player again both offensively and defensively, recording 22 kills and 21 digs. Arndorfer fell close behind with her season-high 19 kills.

Koop continues to lead the country in total assists with 61 assists in five sets, and Staack finished with 15 digs.

The Panthers return home to the McLeod Center for matches against Southern Illinois and Missouri State on Nov. 1-2.