UNI volleyball aims to keep moving forward after turnaround season

CEDAR FALLS — Two years ago Northern Iowa volleyball finished 12-19 overall and eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 7-11 record.

It was the worst season of Coach Bobbi Petersen’s decorated 23-year tenure at UNI. A season she admitted made her lose plenty of sleep at night.

Fast forward to 2023 and the Panthers are coming off one of the program’s best seasons — finishing 27-8 overall and 17-1 in the MVC — winning the conference’s regular season and tournament championships and defeating Florida State in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

“I think one of the biggest things that doesn’t get talked about a lot is what happened in those seasons before that were arguably the poorest in terms of record that a UNI volleyball team has ever had,” Petersen said Tuesday during media day. “I always said that you would never walk in a practice gym of ours during those times and be able to say, ‘oh my gosh they’re having a rough year.’”

She also pointed out how much last spring’s foreign trip to Croatia helped the team build relationships, trust and accountability, along with developing their skills.

When it comes to taking another step forward after such a great turnaround, Petersen described how it’s difficult to specifically identify what a team will need to work on most until it gets some regular-season games under its proverbial belt.

“Every team is so different. So, when you graduate and then you add people, your strengths and things you need to work on more become very different,” Petersen said. “When you come into this year with this new team, it’s now a complete reevaluation.”

Among what is known about the 2023 Panthers are their decorated returnees, led by junior setter Tayler Alden, a 2022 AVCA all-Region honoree.

The Wisconsin native provided 1,325 assists last season, along with 278 digs, 192 kills and 26 aces.

Her ability as a 6-foot, left-handed setter provides Petersen as versatile a setter as she’s had in her coaching career.

“A very offensive setter. Tayler is just one of those players,” Petersen said. “She’s that calming presence. We’ve worked really hard to put in a little bit of a different offense to our pins (that’s) a little bit faster (and) more challenging.

“We’re expecting Tayler to run that offense in the way that she has, but also to a different level.”

Senior Emily Holterhaus and junior Kira Fallert headline UNI’s returnees on the outside.

The duo’s 776 combined kills placed them first and second on the team, respectively, in 2022, and Holterhaus said last season’s success had more to do with the team’s chemistry than their skill.

“We bonded really well as a team,” Holterhaus said. “I would say another big difference-maker was our senior leadership. Us seniors have been working (on leadership) from the spring and from the beginning of summer. We’ve put a lot of extra emphasis on that leadership part.”

The Panthers’ question marks exist in the backcourt and middle, and three transfers have been brought in to help.

In the backcourt, UAB transfer Erin Powers is competing with fellow junior Grace Mikota. In the middle, New Hampshire transfer Kara Oxenknecht is competing among a group that includes Layanna Green, Chloe Largent, Kaylissa Arndorfer and Olivia Tjernagel.

Tjernagel — who’s the top returning blocker from last season — said she knows it’ll be important for her to be a leader and establish chemistry.

“I think just showing (Petersen) how much we’re trying — not that you’re not trying — but I think overemphasizing communication and helping these younger girls out,” Tjernagel said. “You’re going to fail. You learn from that failure. But I think just overcoming that and giving yourself grace is super important, too.”

UNI opens its season at the Western Michigan tournament on Aug. 25 against Villanova.