Oct. 9, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

This Week in Panther Volleyball

Sat., Oct. 11:             Bradley - McLeod Center - Cedar Falls, Iowa - 7:30 pm

                                    Live Stats and Online Audio/Video

 

The University of Northern Iowa volleyball team (16-2, 6-0 Missouri Valley Conference) concludes its season-long four-match homestand by playing host to the Bradley Braves (4-14, 0-6 MVC).  UNI stands alone in first place in the league standings with a 6-0 record, while Wichita State is one-half game behind with a 5-0 Valley slate.

 

 

PANTHER QUICK SETS...

l UNI’s 16-2 start to the season is tied for the team’s best start since the 2003 team also began with that mark.  In addition, the Panthers’ 6-0 beginning to Missouri Valley Conference play is the squad’s best since the 2003 team started 8-0 in conference.

l The Panthers had 81 digs in its 3-0 win over Southern Illinois Oct. 4, its second-highest team total of the year and most in a three-set match.  Three Panthers had double-digits in digs, as Ellie Blankenship had a season-high 27 digs; Chelsea Saunders had a career-best 15; and Shannon Aschoff added 11.  Bre Payton also added nine digs and Kayla Grunder eight.  UNI’s season-best dig total as a team was 84 in its 3-1 win over Clemson Sept. 6.

l Sophomore libero Ellie Blankenship continued her streak of matches getting double-digits in digs last week.  She had 11 against Saint Louis 9/30, 13 against Evansville 10/3, and a season-high 27 against Southern Illinois 10/4.  That gives her 51 straight matches with at least 10 digs, which is the third-longest active streak in the country (and 12th longest all-time) for consecutive matches with double-figure digs.

l UNI held both Evansville and Southern Illinois to less than .100 hitting as a team this past weekend.  The Purple Aces hit just .032 (27-23-125), while the Salukis hit .092 (33-20-141).  The Panthers have held six opponents to less than .100 hitting this season.

l Once again this week, UNI is receiving points in the CBS College Sports/AVCA Top 25 poll.  The Panthers, who are 16-2 on the season, got 9 points in the most recent poll.

l Saint Louis hit .323 (45-13-99) versus the Panthers in its 3-0 win Sept. 30, which was by far the best hitting percentage by a UNI foe this season.  In fact, no other opponent has hit better than .250 against the Panthers in the 2008 campagin.  UNI hit a season-low .141 (27-13-99) against the Billikens, marking just the third time this season that the Panthers have posted a lower hitting percentage that the opposition.

SCOUTING THIS WEEKEND OPPONENT

Bradley is 4-14 this season, 0-6 in the Missouri Valley conference.  The Braves have dropped five straight and 10 of their last 11 matches entering this weekend’s clash with UNI.  Amy Reichel leads the team as she averages 2.77 kills per set.  UNI holds a 44-9 lead in the all-time series with Bradley, and have won 18 straight matches in Cedar Falls versus the Braves.  The Panthers last home loss to the Braves was a 3-0 Bradley win (15-7, 15-8, 15-11) on Oct. 24, 1984.

 

RADIO INFORMATION

No less than 14 of UNI's volleyball matches will be carried live on KWLO 1330-AM (Star 1330), with Eric Braley and Brad Wells calling the action throughout the season.  In addition to the regular-season schedule, Star 1330 will also carry all of the Panthers' matches from the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference tournament, to be hosted by Wichita State Nov. 27-29.

 

ON THE WEB

All of UNI’s home volleyball matches can be viewed and listened to on the World Wide Web by going to www.unipanthers.com.  UNI has partnered with Stretch Internet to provide live video and audio streaming of Panther volleyball via “UNI GameDay Online”.  In addition to audio and video from all home volleyball matches, this subscription-based service also provides audio coverage of select volleyball road matches, as well as both video and audio of a number of other UNI sports.  In addition, all Panther home matches have free live stats with GameTracker.

 

PANTHER PLAYER NOTES

Freshman setter Bre Payton had a career-high six kills and hit .545 (6-0-11) against Saint Louis Sept. 30 … Payton had 40 assists against Southern Illinois 10/3, marking the second time this season she has reached at least 40 assists … Ashten Stelken had double-digits in kills against both Evansville (10/3) and Southern Illinois (10/4), with 12 and 13 kills, respectively.  That snapped a string of six straight matches where Stelken had not reached double figures … Amy Sampson had 17 kills against Southern Illinois, and has had at least 10 kills in five of her last seven matches … Sampson had a career-high eight digs against Saint Louis 9/30 ... Sampson needs just 29 more kills to reach 1,000 for her career ... Chelsea Saunders recorded a career-high 15 digs against Southern Illinois 10/4 … Shannon Aschoff had 11 digs versus Southern Illinois 10/4, the fifth time this season she had reached double figures in that category … Beth Discher had a team-best seven kills and hit .304 (7-0-23) against Saint Louis 9/30.

 

BRING OUT THE BROOM

UNI’s last four victories have all been by 3-0 sweeps, and the Panthers have a total of 11 wins this year by that count.  UNI has only been extended to four sets in four matches this season, and all four of those have been Panthers wins.  UNI has yet to play a five-set match this season.

 

BLANKENSHIP SETS SCHOOL RECORD AGAINST SIU

Sophomore Ellie Blankenship racked up 27 digs in the Panthers’ 3-0 win over Southern Illinois Oct. 4, which was the most digs ever in a three-set match by a UNI player.  Previously, Blankenship was tied with Panthers’ head coach Bobbi (Becker) Petersen for the most digs in a three-set match with 25.

PANTHERS HIGH UP IN THE NATIONAL STATS

As a team, UNI ranks in the top 30 in four different statistical categories in the most recent NCAA stats, released Oct. 5.  UNI is 12th in kills per set (14.15), 15th in assists per set (13.07), 21st in digs per set (16.76) and 29th in hitting percentage (.290).  Individually, Ellie Blankenship ranks eighth nationally in digs per set at 5.61, Ashten Stelken is 13th in blocks per set at 1.34, and Michelle Burow is 29th in hitting percentage at .380.

 

PILING UP THE AWARDS

With Bre Payton winning the Missouri Valley Conference freshman of the week award Sept. 22, UNI claimed at least one of the MVC’s weekly honors -- player, defensive player and freshman -- each of the first four weeks of the 2008 season, for a total of five awards.  Shannon Aschoff earned player of the week honors 9/2; Ellie Blankenship defensive player of the week honors 9/8; and Ashten Stelken (defensive player of the week) and Michelle Burow (freshman of the week) were each honored 9/15.

 

THE STATS DON’T ALWAYS TELL THE STORY

UNI hit just .219 against Creighton Sept. 20, while the Bluejays hit .244.  That was the second time this season that the Panthers have recorded a lower hitting percentage than their opponent, but UNI was able to secure the 3-1 win over Creighton.

 

IN-STATE DOMINANCE

With its win over Drake Sept. 19, UNI has now claimed wins in 37 of the last 41 matches it has played against the other three Division I universities in the state of Iowa. All-time, against the state’s other three DI schools, the Panthers are a combined 118-55-2; UNI has compiled a record of 26-22 against Iowa, 31-21 against Iowa State and 61-12-2 against Drake.  Since 1997, the Panthers are 24-0 against Drake, 6-1 against Iowa, and 8-3 against ISU.  In nine years as the Panthers’ head coach, Bobbi Petersen has posted a 25-4 cumulative mark against Iowa, Iowa State and Drake.

 

23 STRAIGHT TO OPEN LEAGUE PLAY

With the 3-1 victory against Drake Sept. 19, UNI extended its streak of winning its conference opener to 23 straight seasons.  The last time the Panthers dropped their opening conference match was on Oct. 18, 1985 when Southern Illinois posted a 3-2 win over UNI (15-11, 14-16, 14-16, 15-5, 15-13).  That was also the last time SIU defeated UNI in Cedar Falls.

 

A DEFENSIVE PRESENCE

Sophomore libero Ellie Blankenship had an impressive freshman year for the Panthers, as she set UNI numerous school records -- including most digs in a season (624) and digs per set (5.43).  Well, she certainly has gotten her 2008 season off to the right start, as she ranks eighth nationally in digs per set at 5.61.  She had a season-high 27 digs in the team’s win over Southern Illinois Oct. 4, and has reached double-digits in digs in all 18 matches this year.  That continues her streak of at least 10 digs in all 51 matches of her two-year career, which is the third-longest streak in the country.

 

BIG HITTERS

The Panthers have hit better than .320 as a team in six matches this season, including hitting .323 (53-10-133) against Iowa State Sept. 10.  UNI has been held below .250 hitting as a team just six times this season.  The Panthers recorded a season-best .434 hitting percentage (41-8-76) in their season-opening win over North Florida, with a miniscule eight hitting errors.  UNI had a season-best 59 kills against Drake Sept. 19 in its Missouri Valley Conference opener, and has topped 50 kills six times this year.  UNI ranks 29th in the NCAA in team hitting percentage at .260.

TOUGH DEFENSE

UNI has kept the opposition below .200 hitting in 14 matches this season, including holding its opponent to less than .150 hitting 11 times.  At the Varney’s KSU Invitational Sept. 12-13, UNI forced previously undefeated Liberty into 26 hitting errors in the three-set Panthers sweep, while forcing Iowa State into 34 hitting errors in the four-set UNI win on Sept. 10.  The Panthers have forced seven of their last eight opponents into at least 20 hitting errors.

 

DIGGIN’ THE TIGERS

UNI racked up a season-best 84 digs versus Clemson Sept. 6 in the championship match of the UNI Invitational.  Ellie Blankenship led the way with a then season-high 25 digs, while Shannon Aschoff (17 digs) and Jessa Benson (14 digs) each recorded career-bests in digs that night.

 

BENSON STEPS UP

Sophomore setter Jessa Benson started two of three matches at the UNI Invitational Sept. 5-6.  Benson had 36 assists against Northern Illinois and a career-best 47 assists against Clemson, and also had her first career double-double with a career-best 14 digs against the Tigers.  Benson also racked up a career-high five service aces against Clemson, including three straight during a key stretch that helped UNI clinch the match.

 

DOUBLE TIME

Shannon Aschoff had her first double-double of the season with 16 kills and a career-high 17 digs in the championship match of the UNI Invitational against Clemson Sept. 6.  She had another double-double in the Panthers’ next match, Sept. 10 at Iowa State, when she racked up 11 kills and 15 digs, and nearly had a triple-double versus the Cyclones, adding eight blocks.  Aschoff has had double-figures in kills in 12 matches this season.

 

SIXTEEN STRAIGHT TO START THE YEAR

The Panthers dropped their first set of the season against Clemson on Sept. 6.  UNI won its first five matches of the year by perfect 3-0 sweeps, and won the first set against Clemson, for a string of 16 set victories.  That is the most sets won in a row to start the season by UNI since the 1986 campaign, when the Panthers won their first 25 sets of the year.

 

IT STARTS WITH THE SERVE

The Panthers service game was outstanding over the three matches at the FAU Invitational Aug. 29-30.  UNI recorded 18 service aces for the weekend (2.00 aces per set), but only allowed five service aces against it over the three matches (0.56 reception errors per set).

 

SAUNDERS HAS CAREER-BEST AGAINST SIU

Sophomore defensive specialist Chelsea Saunders had a career-high 15 digs against Southern Illinois Oct. 4.  Saunders, who averages 2.68 digs per set on the season, has reached double-figures in digs three times this season, and has had eight or more digs nine times.

 

STELKEN NAMED MVC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE WEEK SEPT. 17

Senior co-captain Ashten Stelken was named the Prairie Farms/Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Week on Sept. 17.  Stelken, a 6-3 middle blocker from Manchester, Iowa, also earned Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors the same week.  She was named to the Varney’s KSU Invitational all-tournament team, as the Panthers defeated Iowa State (3-1) on Sept. 10, and swept Liberty and Cornell on Sept. 13, but fell to No. 19 Kansas State (3-0) on Sept. 12.  Stelken averaged 2.08 blocks and 3.15 kills per set. At Iowa State, she recorded a season-high 10 blocks, and versus Kansas State, she collected six blocks. Stelken has a 3.40 cumulative GPA in elementary education.

SPLITTING TIME AT SETTER

With the graduation of three-year starter Kristin Belzung, the Panthers are breaking in a new setter this year.  Two players have seen significant playing time this season, in redshirt freshman Bre Payton and sophomore Jessa Benson.  Payton has played in 40 sets this year and is averaging 10.32 assists and 2.15 digs per set, while Benson has played in 23 sets and is averaging 10.00 assists and 1.78 digs per set.

 

PAYTON NAMED MVC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK SEPT. 22

Freshman setter Bre Payton was named the MVC Freshman of the Week Sept. 22.  Payton averaged 11.57 assists per set, helping lead the Panthers to a pair of MVC victories.  After UNI dropped the opening set to Drake Sept. 19, Payton came off the bench and led UNI to wins in three straight sets.  She had a double-double with career-bests in both assists (43) and digs (13).  The next night against Creighton, Payton had 38 assists, five kills eight digs and three block assists in the 3-1 victory over the Bluejays.

 

STELKEN NAMED MVC DEFENSIVE POTW SEPT. 15

Senior middle blocker Ashten Stelken was named State Farm MVC Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 15.  Stelken averaged 2.08 blocks per set over four matches as the Panthers went 3-1. She registered a double-double with 13 kills and a season-high 10 blocks at Iowa State Sept. 10, while tallying six blocks against No. 19 Kansas State on Sept. 12. Stelken recorded seven blocks versus Liberty on Sept. 13 and added another four blocks against Cornell on Sept. 13.

 

BUROW NAMED MVC FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK SEPT. 15

Middle blocker Michelle Burow was named State Farm MVC Freshman of the Week Sept. 15.  She averaged 2.62 kills and 0.77 blocks per set in four matches, while posting a team-best .448 hitting percentage (34-4-67). Burow compiled nine kills and four blocks against Iowa State in UNI’s 3-1 win on Sept. 10 and registered seven kills at No. 19 Kansas State on Sept. 12. Burow recorded a career-high 10 kills versus Liberty on Sept. 13, and added eight kills against Cornell. Burow hit better than .500 in two of the four matches.

 

BLANKENSHIP NAMED MVC DEFENSIVE POTW SEPT. 8

Sophomore libero Ellie Blankenship was named State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 8.  Blankenship had another stellar weekend in the back row for the Panthers, and was named to the UNI Invitational All-Tournament team for her efforts. She registered 14 digs against Northern Illinois, 22 digs against Marquette, and a season-high 25 digs against Clemson. Blankenship averaged 6.10 digs per set in the three weekend matches, anchoring the Panther backline on their way to the UNI Invitational title.

 

ASCHOFF NAMED MVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK SEPT. 2

Junior outside hitter Shannon Aschoff was named the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week Sept. 2.  Aschoff was named Most Valuable Player of the FAU Invitational, leading the Panthers to a perfect 3-0 record, sweeping each of its opponents.  She had a 11 digs against Bethune-Cookman, and a career-high 19 kills in the championship match versus Florida Atlantic.  Aschoff averaged 4.56 kills, 2.11 digs and 5.17 points per set, while hitting an impressive .507 (41-7-67) over the three matches.

 

ASCHOFF, STELKEN EARN KSU ALL-TOURNAMENT HONORS

Both Shannon Aschoff and Ashten Stelken were named to the Varney’s KSU All-Tournament team, Sept. 12-13.  Aschoff averaged 3.92 kills, 1.62 blocks and 2.31 digs per set over the three matches, getting double-digit kills in all three matches.  She had 17 kills against Cornell, which was just two shy of her season best total.  Stelken averaged 3.15 kills and 2.08 blocks per set, racking up 13 kills in UNI’s sweep of Cornell, tying her season-high kill total.

THREE PLAYERS EARN UNI INVITATIONAL HONORS

Three Panther players were named to the UNI Invitational all-tournament team Sept. 5-6.  Amy Sampson earned Most Valuable Player honors, after averaging 4.40 kills per set, racking up 18 kills in two of the three matches.  Also earning all-tournament honors were middle blocker Ashten Stelken who averaged 3.60 kills and 1.10 blocks per set, while hitting an impressive .431 (36-8-65), and libero Ellie Blankenship who averaged 6.10 digs per set.

 

TWO PANTHERS NAMED TO FAU INVITE ALL-TOURNEY TEAM

Senior middle blocker Ashten Stelken joined tournament Most Valuable Player Shannon Aschoff on the FAU Invitational All-Tournament Team Aug. 29-30.  Aschoff averaged 4.56 kills and 2.11 digs per set, while hitting .507 for the weekend.  Stelken averaged 3.75 kills and 1.00 blocks per set for the tournament, while hitting a team-best .556 over the three matches.

 

PANTHERS 26th IN NATION IN ATTENDANCE

Over the years, UNI volleyball has annually ranked among the nation’s leaders in attendance, and once again this year, the Panthers are in the top 30 nationally.  UNI currently ranks 26th in the NCAA, averaging 1,323 fans per match after nine home dates, including a high of 1,752 that saw the Panthers defeat Drake on Sept. 19.

 

UNI PICKED SECOND IN MVC PRESEASON POLL

The Panthers were picked to finish second in the MVC preseason poll of the league’s head coaches.  UNI received a pair of first-place votes and 84 total points, to finish behind only preseason favorite Wichita State (four first place votes, 91 points).  UNI returns four starters from last year’s club that finished 22-11 overall, 14-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference, and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the eighth time in the last 10 years.  Both Ashten Stelken and Shannon Aschoff were preseason all-conference selections.

 

20 WINS AGAIN

UNI posted 22 victories last season, which marked the 10th straight season the Panthers have won at least 20 matches.  In fact, UNI has recorded at least 20 wins in 21 of the past 23 years, with 11 of those seasons garnering at least 28 victories.  The Panthers have made three trips to the NCAA Sweet 16 since 1999, with eight NCAA appearances in the past 10 seasons.

 

A WINNING TRADITION

UNI picked up the 800th win in the history of the program against Western Michigan on Friday, Aug. 24, 2007.  Currently, the Panthers rank 16th on the list of all-time winningest volleyball programs, with a record of 837-287-22 since the origin of the program in 1975.  The Panthers have posted 20 or more wins 10 straight seasons, and 21 of the last 23 years overall – with five seasons of 30 or more wins during that span.  In addition, since the NCAA began sponsoring women’s volleyball in the 1981 season, UNI is one of just seven schools to have never posted a losing campaign.  The other six are Hawai’i, Nebraska, Pacific, Penn State, Stanford and UCLA.

 

AN NCAA REGULAR

Last year was UNI’s 13th appearance in the NCAA tournament.  The Panthers have made the NCAA tourney two straight years and eight of the last 10 seasons, and has won its NCAA first round match six of the last seven times it has made the tournament, including advancing to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 1999, 2001 and 2002.  The Panthers have lost their NCAA first round match just five times in their history.

KARSTEN OUT FOR THE YEAR

UNI sophomore outside hitter Kali Karsten, expected to compete for court time this season, has been lost for the year after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her knee during preseason practice.  Karsten appeared in five games as a redshirt freshman in 2007.

 

STRONG START FOR DISCHER

Sophomore outside hitter Beth Discher started had her best match of the year in the season-opener against North Florida, recording eight kills and hitting .438 (8-1-16), with three block assists.  She also had seven kills and two block solos in the team’s next match versus Bethune-Cookman.  Discher tied her season-high in kills with eight against Drake Sept. 19.

 

BUROW ERROR FREE IN OPENING WEEKEND

Redshirt freshman Michelle Burow started all three matches for the Panthers at middle blocker in the team’s opening weekend at the FAU Invitational.  And she had an error-free weekend offensively, as she recorded 13 kills with zero hitting errors in 24 total attacks (.542 hitting percentage) over the three matches.  Against Bethune-Cookman, she had seven kills in 12 attacks (.583).  Burow also had five block assists over the weekend, with zero blocking errors.