UNI volleyball expects return to form after recent struggles

CEDAR FALLS — After a disrupted and delayed 2020 season ended with the first below-.500 record of Bobbi Petersen’s Northern Iowa coaching career, 2021 wasn’t the bounce-back season many Panthers fans, or Petersen, anticipated.

UNI ended 2021 at 12-19 with a 7-11 conference record that wasn’t good enough to make the Missouri Valley Conference tournament — another unfortunate first on her record.

Picked sixth in the MVC’s preseason poll on Wednesday, the Panthers coach said reckoning with the struggles of the past two seasons has made her lose sleep at night, but she’s also made sure to keep perspective.

“I think it’s the UNI mentality — I just have a chip on my shoulder,” Petersen said. “It’s just a really cool thing that within this program (being below .500) has not happened much, but it does happen, it’s athletics. I think the difference is I don’t feel we met our potential, so that’s why I don’t sleep at night, because I don’t feel like I got our team to reach their potential.”

Working in UNI’s favor is the return to a normal 12-month schedule for the first time since the pandemic. That “normal” included a spring season of 12 matches, a time of the year Petersen described as critical for her program that’s built around player development.

“Just to be able to see that development in that time period was amazing,” Petersen said. “We’re also coming back from an overseas trip in May. We toured around Croatia and Bosnia. It was one of those situations where I felt like it was the right amount of everything.”

Along with the developmental benefits of its spring season and overseas trip — and the team-building intangibles that came with — Petersen’s 2022 roster boasts improved depth, added experience and an ability to return to a more familiar 5-1 system.

“Last year running a 6-2 was more out of need just because of our lack of back row who could go in and make a difference,” Petersen said. “In the past we’ve been a team that runs a 5-1 and we do use all our (defensive specialists).”

After lacking depth at defensive specialist, Petersen now has five at the position she said are capable of being difference makers.

Among those is Sydney Petersen, Bobbi’s daughter who spent the first four years of her career at Texas. Syndey’s twin sister Baylee also is among the five defensive specialists, who returns after missing last season with a torn ACL.

Elsewhere, junior Emily Holterhaus returns after leading the team in kills last season. All-MVC freshman Kira Fallert returns at outside hitter, along with sophomore Danielle Johnson. Inga Rotto and Carly Spies used an extra year of eligibility from the pandemic to return at middle-right. Setter Taylor Alden returns, as well.

So, after 8 1/2 months of a normal volleyball calendar and carrying a chip on her shoulder, Petersen proclaimed her team is prepared for a turnaround.

“Our defense is at a whole different level now,” Petersen said. “A conference championship is our goal. I’ll just say that. It’s our expectation.”

UNI opens its season Aug. 26 at the Webb-Burbridge Classic in Tempe, Ariz. The Panthers debut at 11 a.m. against Toledo and play tournament host Arizona State at 9:30 p.m.