The Northern Iowa volleyball team started its conference road stretch this past weekend against the Illinois State Redbirds, in a match that saw back-and-forth action in the first set.
UNI used a 5-0 run and service aces from Sydney Golden and Taryn Rice to pull away. Maryn Bixby tallied six kills in the first set, while Cassidy Hartman followed with four and Isabelle Elliott added three as the Panthers went on to win the set 25-19.
Northern Iowa continued its dominance in the second set, scoring the first four points, including an ace by Reese Booth. Bixby led the Panthers with four blocks in the set, while Elliott followed with three. Elliott and Hartman each added four kills as UNI cruised to a 25-13 win to go up 2-0 in the match.
Illinois State came out strong in the third set, leading for most of it before the Panthers made a late run. The set featured 11 ties and seven lead changes, with Jadyn Petersen adding a late ace to aid the Northern Iowa comeback. The Redbirds reached set point before UNI forced extra points and closed the match with three straight points to complete the sweep, 26-24. Lily Dykstra led the team with five kills in the set, while Bixby and Hartman each had four.
The Indiana State Sycamores stood no chance in the first set, as the Panthers scored nine of the first 11 points thanks to a 6-0 run. A late ace from Rice helped seal the deal, while Hartman, Elliott and Dykstra each had four kills to help Northern Iowa to a 25-11 win.
UNI faced an early challenge from Indiana State in the second set but managed to pull away. The Panthers extended a two-point lead behind six kills from Hartman and four from Dykstra, with Bixby adding three blocks to help Northern Iowa to a 25-15 win and a 2-0 match lead.
The Sycamores came out strong again in the third set before the Panthers regained control. Hartman powered the UNI offense with four kills, while Lindsay Oldendorf added three kills and three blocks. Hartman, Bixby and Golden each recorded an ace, and Kamryn Vogt earned her first collegiate kill as Northern Iowa secured a 25-16 win to complete the sweep.
To cap off the weekend, sophomore Reese Booth and senior Sydney Golden joined the 1,000 career assists club in the match against Indiana State. It also marks the Panthers seventh straight sweep.
