The UNI women’s volleyball team took one win and lost one in action against the Missouri Valley Conference’s No. 2 ranked Wichita State and the No. 1 ranked Missouri State. The Panthers fell to Wichita, 0-3, Friday night but came back the following day to take out Missouri State, 3-2, in a five-set thriller.

Starting in the first set, UNI took the lead at 11-8, but the Shockers quickly closed the gap to tie the set at 12-12. Battling back and forth, the teams stayed within two points of each other until the Panthers let them pull away at 18-19 until 18-24, where they eventually fell, 22-25.

Set two against Wichita started with the teams tying at set scores 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The Shockers broke away, leaving the Panthers back, 18-22, but key executions by Panthers Bri Weber and Piper Thomas turned the tides as they advanced, 23-22—unfortunatley falling, 25-23, shortly after.

The third set mirrored those before it as the Panthers played it close to the Shockers. Leading until 19-19, UNI’s defense kept them alive as the teams fought neck-and-neck—falling for the third and final time was the Panthers at set score, 22-25.

“I think the biggest thing is,” said head coach Bobbi Petersen after the loss, “we have to have some people step up when the game is on the line. [ . . . ] Just trying to get the attitude and grit they have throughout most of the match and have that at the end when the game is on the line.”

Coming back to the court the following night, the Panthers defended their home soil against the MVC’s No. 1 ranked Missouri State. Finishing with set scores 24-26, 25-29, 25-15, 20-25 and 15-7, UNI kept the audience on their toes the entire match, finishing 3-2 overall.

The first set against the Missouri State Bears mirrored the night before; the Panthers lead until 23-23 but didn’t put the ball away and eventually fell, 24-26.

Starting with the lead and keeping it, UNI’s defense kept it tight at the net and executed well. Taking every opportunity to get ahead, they put the ball away and closed the door on the Bears, finishing, 25-19.

Striking again in the third set were both the offensive and defensive strengths of the Panthers. Tying at set scores 10 and 11, UNI was quick to shut out the Bears as Piper Thomas took four consecutive kills that pushed the team towards a second victory.