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South double state champ David Kovacs tops All

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South double state champ David Kovacs tops All


HONORABLE MENTION: Bryan Huang, North, Fr. (breast); Jacen Madeira, North, Jr. (500 free); Ty Mayer, North, Sr. (500 free); Tucker McCarty, Edgewood, Sr. (breast, medley relay, 400 free relay); Luke Miller, North, Sr. (medley relay, 200 free relay); Landon Mobley, North, Sr. (50 free, 100 free, medley relay, 200 free relay); Wyatt Norrick, North, So. (50 free, 200 free relay); Cameron Seidenfaden, South, So. (back, 200 IM); Easton Xiao, South, Fr. (200 free, back).”He came back this year in a lot better place. We changed some things as far as training and his meet routine and nutrition. He was experiencing those issues cramping off and on all year so we did some different things with hydration and did some different loads on weights this year, especially in the later part of the season. And it got rid of the cramping.”Kovacs heads for Indiana University’s powerhouse program having won 11 state medals overall, seven individually. That’s likely the most productive career the program has seen since the legendary Mike Kearney won seven from 1970-73, including six individual state titles after taking second in the butterfly as a freshman.”You’d probably have to go back to the 1970s to find someone who scored more points (at state) than him,” Cole said. “The performance he’s had at state, we haven’t anyone recently with more success consistently than David. It’s pretty remarkable and not many kids from any school can say that.

Area’s top finisher in the 100 breaststroke, taking third at sectional after a career best 59.19 in the prelims. Finished 11th in the 200 IM at sectional after a 2:05.91 in the prelims. Had a 27.42 breaststroke leg for the 200 medley relay that got a call-up to state and took 20th.

Kovacs wasn’t quite 100% last year, so he made the changes necessary to give himself the chance to come out on top.

Bloomington South’s David Kovacs swims the 200 IM during the Bloomington North vs. Bloomington South Counsilman Classic at North on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.

David Kovacs found out last year that everything has to be just right to win one state title, let alone two.”And during that time, he’s been to junior nationals and other big meets, so he’s become a much more seasoned competitor.”And that made for a different looking Kovacs at this year’s state meet.”You look at him now and you couldn’t tell if he was having a good meet or a bad meet,” Cole said. “He was focused. At that meet, you’re amped up but he was in a real good spot, confident and focused and what ever happens was going to happen.”Mentally, he was a completely different swimmer. In terms of presence and how he carried himself, like a seasoned veteran this year.”And so he didn’t allow any doubts that might have crept in after last year’s problems. He handled all the variables within his control, starting with a bad turn that slowed him down in the medley relay. He shook that off and raced to his plan in the IM.”Winning the IM gave him a big boost,” Cole said. “Going into the meet, he knew who he had to beat in the back. The IM was a wide open event so we felt like whoever was leading at the 150 mark would be tough to beat.”And when he made the turn, I was pretty confident he was going to get back to the wall first.”Bloomington South’s Lukas Paegle jumps off the blocks in the boys 100 fly during the Bloomington North vs. Bloomington South Counsilman Classic at North on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.2024-25 HERALD-TIMES ALL-AREA BOYS SWIMMING TEAMKian Kadlec, South, Sr.Member of all three state bound relays, with all three breaking the school records and two winning state medals. Freestyle anchor for medley relay that broke the sectional record (1:32.33) and the school record in the state prelims (1:31.48) with a 21.59, before taking fourth. Had a 21.64 when the 200 free relay shattered the school record with a 1:21.11 and a 21.36 in the prelims at state as the squad took 10th. Helped the 400 free relay to a sectional title and then had a 47.75 leg when the Panthers broke the school record in the state prelims (3:03.00) and eventually took second. Fourth in the 100 free at sectional. Repeat All-Area.Kenji Kitano, South, Fr.Area’s top diver, took sixth at sectional with a 235.90. Fourth at Conference Indiana with a 247.05.David Kovacs, South, Sr.Four-time H-T Boys Swimmer of the Year capped a terrific career with two state titles and four more state medals for a dozen in all. State champ in the 200 individual medley in a career best 1:46.64. Sectional champ and Conference Indiana champ. State champ in the 100 backstroke in a school record 47.63, winning by just .08. Set the sectional record with a 48.27 and broke the CI mark as well. Member of the 400 freestyle relay that finished second and broke the school record in the prelims with a 3:03.00 and won a sectional title. Member of the 200 medley relay that broke the sectional record (1:32.33) and lowered the school record to 1:31.48 in the state prelims before taking fourth behind his 22.86 leadoff. Four-time All-Area. Will swim at Indiana.Peter Kovacs, South, Fr.Four-time state medalist in his first trip, topping out with a second place finish in the 100 freestyle in a career best 44.85 that’s just .41 from the school record. It was the best finish for a freshman at state since Zionsville’s Will Modglin was second in the backstroke in 2020. Took sixth in the 200 free lowering the school record to 1:39.07 in the prelims. Initially broke the mark with a 1:40.30 while also breaking the sectional record in the final. Conference Indiana champ in both events. Had a 20.71 start in the state prelims for the 200 free relay (1:25.86) that went on to take 10th. Had 20.66 start when Panthers broke the school record with a 1:21.11 late in the season. Had a 45.09 leg in the prelims of the 400 free relay at state when it broke the school record (3:03.00) before placing second in the finals.Bloomington South’s Botond Kun swims the 500 freestyle during the Bloomington North vs. Bloomington South Counsilman Classic at North on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.Botond Kun, South, Sr.Double state qualifier again in the 200 and 500 freestyles with state cuts after runner-up finishes at sectional. Went 4:38.52 in the 500 free then 4:38 in the state prelims and finals for 12th place. In the 200, had a career best 1:42.63 at sectional and ended up 18th at state. Helped the 200 free relay to a sectional title and had a 21.63 split in the state finals as South placed 10th. CI champ in the 500. Three-time All-Area.Leo Nelson, South, Sr.Handled the breaststroke leg for the 200 medley relay team that won a sectional title and took fourth at state after recording a school record 1:31.48 in the prelims. Also a member of the 200 free relay adding a 21.63 anchor as the Panthers placed 10th at state (1:25.94). Placed fourth at breaststroke (59.75) and fifth in 50 free (22.42) at sectional. Honorable mention last year.Lukas Paegle, South, Sr.Added four more state medals to his collection to finish with 10 and helped break all three school records in the relays. Placed third at state in the 100 butterfly in 48.52. Broke the sectional record with a 48.21. In the 50 freestyle, bottomed out at 20.66 in the sectional final (as a runner-up) and state prelims before finishing fourth. CI runner-up in both events. Leaves with school records in the fly (47.85) and 50 free (20.52). Had a 21.04 fly leg for the fourth place medley relay at state and had a 45.44 leadoff for the 400 free relay when it broke the school record in the state prelims (3:03.00) before taking second in the finals. Had a 19.70 anchor when South broke the school record in the 200 free relay with a 1:22.11. Four-time all-area. Will swim at Indiana.Bloomington North's James Stewart wins the 50 yard freestyle Saturday, March 1, 2025, during the IHSAA boys swimming state finals at the IU Natatorium at IU Indianapolis.Jay Stewart, North, Sr.Had the big breakthrough he was looking for this season, winning North’s first state title since 2013 when he took the 50 freestyle by .01 with a school record 20.08. In the 100 butterfly, lowered his career best to 48.31 in the state prelims before taking fourth in the finals. Sectional champ in the 50 free, runner-up in the fly, CI champ in both events while setting both meet records. Also broke the school record in the 100 free with a 45.74 at the Counsilman Classic. Leadoff for the 200 medley relay that got a call-up after taking second at sectional and placed 20th at state. Also leadoff for the 200 free relay that placed 14th with a 20.59 in the prelims (1:26.66). Four-time All-Area. Will swim at Illinois-Chicago.More: Bloomington South’s Evan Roudebush leads All-Area boys wrestling team again

Landon Yake, North, Sr.

So the Bloomington South senior made absolutely sure that was the case this time around, capping off a terrific career with his two long-awaited gold medals in the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley. And for the fourth year in a row, Kovacs is the Herald-Times Boys Swimmer of the Year.”Last year, he was cramping a lot,” South coach Phil Cole said. “I really felt like he was primed to go in there and possibly win the back and have a career meet a year ago. He struggled but still managed a second and third.

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Iowa State Tops St. Thomas, Advances to Second Round

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December 6, 2025

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MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – No. 23 Iowa State (23-7, 12-6 Big 12) won in five against St. Thomas (21-10, 11-5 Summit) in the NCAA Championship First Round Friday night. No. 5-seed ISU advances to the second round to meet the winner of No. 4-seed Minnesota vs. Fairfield tomorrow at 7 p.m.

After St. Thomas took the first 25-21, ISU answered outhitting UST .552-.143 in the second to tie up the match with a set score of 25-13. The Cyclones took the match lead after another dominant set score of 25-16, but St. Thomas would win the fourth 25-21 to extend the match to a fifth. ISU used a 7-0 run in the fifth to flip the momentum and seal the victory.

Big 12 Libero of the Year Rachel Van Gorp was her usual self and had her third-straight match with 20 or more digs, ending the night with a career-high 33. The total is the second-most in an NCAA Tournament match by a Cyclone, and most since 2012. It was also match No. 35 in a row with double-figure digs and her 50th-career match in double figures.

Iowa State had a dominant night at the service line, serving to the fourth 10-plus ace match this season, and 28th of Christy Johnson-Lynch‘s career with 12 through the night. ISU was led by Nayeli Ti’a with five aces to tie the NCAA Tournament school record, while Van Gorp had four, now the second-most in a tournament match.

Alea Goolsby had her 15th match this season with 10-plus kills, leading ISU with 15. Ti’a delivered 14 kills for her 13th match this season with 10-plus, and Lilly Wachholz (12) and Amiree Hendricks-Walker (10) made for four in double figures.

SET ONE

At 6-6, Morgan Brandt tricked St. Thomas with a setter kill while Tierney Jackson served up an ace but UST followed to again knot the score. The Tommies flipped the lead at 11-10 and took the next two as Iowa State called the first timeout. Ti’a slammed down her second kill out of the timeout, but St. Thomas kept with the lead reaching 20 first (20-17). ISU cut its deficit to one at 22-21, but the Tommies ended the first on a run of three for the set win.

SET TWO

Ti’a had a no-doubt kill to make it 1-1, while the Tommies denied ISU the lead while going up 4-2. Goolsby’s third kill tied it, and the Cyclones took their first lead at 6-5 on a block. UST flipped the advantage in its favor briefly, but ISU set out on an 11-0 run to take it right back and run ahead 18-8. A Brandt ace put the Cyclones at set point and an attack error by the Tommies sealed the set at 25-13. ISU did not have a single attack error in the frame.

SET THREE

Back-to-back aces by Ti’a brought Iowa State ahead 6-2, while Ti’a delivered another bringing the scoreboard to 9-2. Goolsby’s seventh kill at .400 capped a Cyclone run of seven on the next play, but a UST scoring run of four came soon after as the Tommies came within three (13-10). Iowa State had a run of four of their own to keep command of the lead, while the Cyclones took the match lead on Goolsby’s 10th kill at 25-16.

SET FOUR

A 4-0 scoring run took the Tommies ahead 7-3 as ISU then called an early timeout. Iowa State would go on to knot the score at 13s on yet another ace by Ti’a, while a UST attack error gave ISU its first lead of the set. That lead was not safe as the Tommies went ahead 19-15 to cause Iowa State’s final timeout of the set. The Cyclones had a late run of three, but St. Thomas pushed on to force a fifth at 25-21.

SET FIVE

Iowa State took the first point on a kill by Ti’a, but St. Thomas followed going ahead 5-2. ISU did not let up, hitting a run of four to take a 6-5 lead and cause a UST timeout. The run stretched to seven as Iowa State switched sides with the lead of 8-5, and Goolsby capped the run next with a kill. ISU would go on to win it 15-8 after a St. Thomas service error.



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Updates, highlights as Wisconsin advances with sweep vs North Carolina

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December 6, 2025

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9:43 pm CT December 5, 2025

See some highlights from Wisconsin’s NCAA tournament win vs North Carolina

John Steppe

9:39 pm CT December 5, 2025

Mimi Colyer’s stats vs. North Carolina in second round of NCAA tournament

John Steppe

  • 22 kills
  • 5 attack errors
  • 42 total attacks
  • .405 hitting percentage
  • 13 digs
  • 3 blocks

9:37 pm CT December 5, 2025

Wisconsin vs. North Carolina NCAA tournament final stats comparison

John Steppe

  • Kills: Wisconsin 60, North Carolina 37
  • Hitting percentage: Wisconsin .365, North Carolina .233
  • Service aces: Wisconsin 2, North Carolina 0
  • Service errors: North Carolina 5, Wisconsin 8
  • Digs: Wisconsin 56, North Carolina 40
  • Total team blocks: North Carolina 6, Wisconsin 5

9:33 pm CT December 5, 2025

Wisconsin coach Kelly Sheffield comments on Badgers’ NCAA tournament win vs. North Carolina

John Steppe



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2025 NCAA volleyball tournament: Bracket, schedule, results

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December 6, 2025

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Dec. 5, 2025Updated Dec. 6, 2025, 12:22 a.m. ET



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Saddle Up: No. 3 Badgers advance to Regional Semifinals

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December 6, 2025

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MADISON, Wis. – The No. 3 seeded Wisconsin volleyball team punched their ticket to the Regional Semifinals for the 13th consecutive season with their second sweep in as many days, this time defeating North Carolina (25-14, 25-21, 27-25) in the Second Round of the NCAA Tournament. 

UW maintained their momentum from their First Round battle right away in set one, putting together a 15-9 advantage with a potent attack on the offensive end. 

The Badgers (26-4) were able to close out the first frame behind a 4-0 run, highlighted by a pair of kills turned in by outside hitter Mimi Colyer. Setter Charlie Fuerbringer was able to cap it off with a kill of her own, tallying eight between the pair of matches this weekend. 

After a back-and-forth affair to begin the second set, Wisconsin found some separation by winning four-of-five rallies to build a 12-7 lead. The Tar Heels provided a quick response to bring it within 18-17 with the help of their physical block. 

Outside hitter Una Vajagic and right side Grace Egan each racked up a kill to force a North Carolina (22-9) timeout. Egan wrapped up the set two with another kill, as the Badgers went on to win three of the four last points. 

Wisconsin and the Tar Heels continued to trade points throughout the majority of the third set, which saw 19 ties and 10 lead changes. Colyer accumulated her 20th kill of the match in the process—giving UW a narrow 14-13 lead at the midway point of the set. 

Vajagic recorded six kills in the set, providing a spark on the offensive side of the ball. The redshirt sophomore continued to excel for the Badgers, concluding the match with 12 kills on a .435 hitting percentage. 

Late in the set, North Carolina fought back to force extra points by winning three-straight points. Outside hitter Trinity Shadd-Ceres and libero Maile Chan entered late and made an instant impact, highlighted by a block from Shadd-Ceres and a pair of digs turned in by Chan. UW made one final push to officially advance in the NCAA Tournament, led by a resilient effort on the defensive end—converting on a trio of kills to wrap up the match. 

Colyer, in her final match at the UW Field House, ended a lengthy rally with a kill to seal the victory. The senior finished with 22 on the evening, the 11th time this year where she has accumulated 20 or more. The five-time Big Ten Player of the Week also earned her eighth double-double of the season, adding 13 digs. 

Egan joined Colyer in the double-double department, emerging as a staple on the defensive end with 11 digs, complemented by her 11 kills. Libero Kristen Simon put together another standout showing defensively as well, totaling a team-high 16 digs. The freshman added eight assists to wrap up a strong week of play in her NCAA Tournament debut. 

On the front line, Fuerbringer led the way with 43 assists—powering the Badgers to a hitting percentage of .365 (60 – 14 – 126) against one of the strongest blocks in the country. 

Middle blocker Carter Booth was one of the beneficiaries, turning in her third-straight errorless match with eight kills on 16 attempts. After tonight’s performance, Booth will enter Texas swinging .540 (27 – 0 – 50) in her past three matches. 

 

Straight from the Court

Head Coach Kelly Sheffield (on continuing to build confidence down the stretch): “It’s earned through work. Confidence is earned by the work you put in; it’s earned by how you talk to yourself. It’s been something that these guys have worked a lot on, not just having an individual confidence, but a collective confidence.” 
(On the performance of outside hitters Una Vajagic and Mimi Colyer): “These two hitting over .400 against one of the best blocking teams in the country is just a ridiculous number. They got some blocks on us, but we stayed aggressive and we continued to accelerate and hit good shots and know when to be patient.”
Outside Hitter Mimi Colyer (on playing one last time in the Field House): “Coming to Wisconsin has been the best decision I have ever made. This program and this fan base is just so special. Just the love that we have for each other and the love this fan base has for each other is just so special. It’s incredible, there’s nothing like it.”
Outside Hitter Una Vajagic (on building on her first postseason run): “I feel it was great tonight, playing with my team and having their backs all of the time was such a huge thing for me. Just with them behind me, I felt super confident and I’m so excited.” 
 

Notes:

  • With the 3-0 sweep over North Carolina, Wisconsin will advance to the NCAA Regional Semifinals for the 23rd time in program history and 13th-consecutive season under head coach Kelly Sheffield.

  • The victory also moves Wisconsin to 72-29 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, and 21-5 in the Second Round of the tournament.

  • The Badgers had three players with double-figure digs, Kristen Simon (16), Mimi Colyer (13), and Grace Egan (11).

  • Senior Mimi Colyer recorded her eighth double-double of the season and 44th of her career with a 22 kill, 13 dig performance.

  • Right Grace Egan totaled her fourth double-double of the season, eighth of her career with an 11 kill, 11 dig performance.

  • Wisconsin also had three players with double-figure kills, Colyer

  • Wisconsin totaled 56 digs, tying a season-high for most digs in a three-set match.

  • With 57 assists, Wisconsin totaled it’s second-highest assist mark for the season in a three-set match.

  • For the 16th consecutive match, Colyer totaled double-figure kills at 23, and her 11th match with 20 or more kills this season. She also tied Ellen Chapman (2013) in program history for most consecutive matches with double-figure kills.

  • In consecutive nights, senior Carter Booth recorded another error-less match. She tallied eight kills on 16 swings for a .500 hitting percentage.

Up Next: The Badgers will await their next opponent in the Regional Semifinals down in Austin, Texas. The date and time for the match is still to be determined.





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Kansas Advances to NCAA Sweet 16 with 3-1 Win over Miami

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December 6, 2025

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – The No. 16 Kansas Jayhawks defeated the Miami Hurricanes, 3-1, the second round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament inside Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena on Friday to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16. 
Kansas (24-10, 13-5 Big 12) advances to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the fourth time in program history and the first time since 2021. Kansas has gone to the Sweet 16 and beyond in four seasons, including 2021 (Sweet 16), 2015 (NCAA Semifinalist) and 2013 (Sweet 16). The Jayhawks will take on the winner of Nebraska vs. Long Island or Kansas State. 

“They showed up every day and just kept grinding,” said head coach Matt Ulmer. “They never stopped believing in what we were talking about. Our staff has talked a lot about the amazing additions to this group, and I think they complement the returners really well. This is when you want to be playing your best volleyball, and I think that was the best we’ve played. It’s not always going to be pretty against a great team; they’re going to push you and force the issue, but I’m just really, really happy for them. And I really appreciate everyone who was here and everyone who’s been with us to help us get to this point.”

The Jayhawks were led by 15 kills by senior Rhian Swanson, marking her 19th game with 10 more kills this season, while also surpassing 500 career kills. Senior Katie Dalton added 39 assists and set a career-high 7 blocks in the win. 

Both teams traded points early in the opening set as the teams were knotted at 5-5, until Kansas was able to pull ahead first at 8-5 behind three kills from sophomore Reese Ptacek and Swanson. Kansas would rally to five straight points to force Miami’s first timeout at 10-5. 

Midway through the first set, Kansas continued its momentum to take a 15-9 lead behind a kill from junior Aisha Aiono on an assist from Dalton. Miami would draw to within three points at 16-13, before Kansas would rally for three straight points, including a service ace from freshman Selena Leban to give Kansas a 19-13 advantage before a Miami timeout.

Kansas would find its largest lead of the first set at 23-15 and the Jayhawks would capture the first set, 25-17.

Much like the opening set, both teams went back-and-forth to open the second set with both teams knotted at 6-6. The Jayhawks would pull ahead at 8-6 following a block by Ptacek and Dalton, before Miami would rally for three straight points to pull ahead at 9-8. A long rally that ended with an Aiono and Dalton gave Kansas a two point advantage at 11-9.

Miami would bounce back with four straight points to force a Kansas timeout at 13-13. Following the timeout, both teams traded points until Kansas gained a three point lead at 20-17 following a block by Ptacek and Dalton. Leban would bring it to 21-17 with a kill, forcing a Hurricane timeout.

Following the timeout, Miami would rally for four straight points to tie the score at 21-21. Kansas responded with three straight points to take it to set point at 24-21, before Kansas secured the second set at 25-22.

Miami found the early advantage in the third set, jumping out to a 5-2 lead. Kansas pulled the margin to within two at 10-8, before Miami would extend its lead to 13-8, forcing a Jayhawk timeout. Out of the break, Kansas brought the score to within a point at 18-17 following a Swanson kill on an assist from Dalton. 

After Miami took a 22-19 lead, Kansas powered back with back-to-back kills from Leban and Ptacek to force a Miami timeout at 22-21. Miami would bounce back from the timeout and win its first set, 25-22. 

With Kansas leading the match 2-1, Miami jumped out to a 4-1 advantage in set four. Kansas wasted no time marching back, retaking the lead at 6-5 from three straight kills. The Jayhawks carried their momentum to take a 13-9 lead midway through the fourth set on a service ace from Ptacek. Miami would take a timeout following a block from Swanson and Aiono to make the score 14-9.

Miami responded after the break by tying the score at 17 all to force a Kansas timeout. Both teams traded the next two points, before Kansas pulled ahead at 20-18 on a service ace from Leban. Both teams battled back-and-forth with Kansas leading at 23-21, before Miami got two straight points to tie the fourth set at 23-23. Knotted at 25-25, Kansas regained the lead at 26-25 following an attack error by the Hurricanes. Kansas secured the win at 27-25 with a kill by Leban on the assist from Dalton.

Up Next

Kansas will advance to the NCAA Sweet 16 and will take on the winner of Nebraska vs. Kansas State.



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Panther volleyball falls to No. 11 Creighton in NCAA Tournament

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December 6, 2025

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OMAHA, Neb. — The UNI volleyball team’s historic 2025 season came to an end on Friday night as the Panthers fell to No. 11 and third-seeded Creighton in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in four sets at D.J. Sokol Arena.

In a non-conference rematch from September’s Bluejay Invitational, Northern Iowa was able to split the first two sets with Creighton, but came up short in two hotly contested final frame, finishing the season with a 25-6 record, as well as both the Missouri Valley Conference’s (MVC) regular season and tournament titles.

 

HOW IT HAPPENED

UNI put together a competitive start to the match splitting the first 12 points of the match. The Bluejays would build their lead from there, slicing through the Panther backrow defense on .441 hitting 17 kills. Cassidy Hartman and Lily Dykstra each notched five terminations for Northern Iowa in the frame with the Panthers hitting .231 with 15 kills as a team, dropping the first set by a score of 25-18.

The Panthers responded with a gritty showing in the second stanza, grabbing an early 5-1 lead thanks to a service ace from Dykstra. Creighton would chip away at UNI’s lead with the Panthers narrowly maintaining a one-point lead in a hotly contested back-and-forth set before the Bluejays tied the frame up at 20 and 21. Northern Iowa would finish strong however and hold on for a 25-23 win to even the match at one set a piece, with Dykstra notching eight kills and Hartman six terminations with the Panthers hitting .325 as a team.

Both UNI and Creighton swamped points early in the third set before the Panthers pulled ahead with a 10-6 lead, as well as 14-8 using a 4-0 run. The Bluejays would storm back attacking off of the Northern Iowa blocking defense for a 16-15 advantage, but the Panthers would show fight, taking a 20-18 lead on a block assist from Dykstra and Maryn Bixby. Creighton would prevail late however, scoring six of the final seven points for a 25-22 win and a two sets to one lead, despite a strong four kill set by Isabelle Elliott for the Panthers.

Creighton set an early tone in the fourth frame with a 3-0 run to open as UNI struggled to get into a rhythm offensively. The Panthers would begin to climb back with a 6-0 run to pull within one point at 18-17, but the Bluejays would close strong for a 25-21 victory to seal the match in four frames, with Hartman tallying seven kills in the final set

Hartman finished the night with a team-high 20 kills and 13 digs, with Dykstra tallying 15 terminations and seven digs. Elliott notched ten kills as Bixby posted seven terminations and four kills by Lindsay Oldendorf. Reese Booth finished with 22 assists and 16 digs, while Sydney Golden posted 20 assists and nine digs and Jadyn Petersen 14 digs.

“We put ourselves in a position to win and have a chance tonight and they left their heart and soul out there,” said head coach Bobbi Petersen. “One of the things that you wish for coaching is when you step out on the court for the last match of the season that you’re playing your best volleyball and I feel we get to say that tonight. The day we stepped on the court in January to now the amount of growth and the amount of intentional effort that has gone into this team has been incredible.”

 

ADDITIONAL NOTES

  • UNI falls to 42-18 all-time against Creighton with the Bluejays winning their ninth straight match in the series. Northern Iowa is also now 0-2 against Creighton in the NCAA Tournament, the last meeting coming in the first round in 2016.

  • The Panthers are now 18-27 all-time in NCAA Tournament matches following Friday’s loss.

  • Northern Iowa’s loss snaps its 22-match winning streak, the eighth-longest streak in program history. UNI last loss prior to Friday night came against Creighton in September in the Bluejay Invitational

  • Cassidy Hartman notched her fifth match of the season with 20+ kills, as well as her 27th match this year with ten or more terminations and her 15th double-double of 2025.

  • Lily Dykstra posted her 19th match this year with double-digit kills.

  • Reese Booth recorded her tenth double-double of the season on Friday.

 

UNI volleyball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Volleyball), X (@UNIVolleyball) and on Instagram (@univolleyball). The full 2025 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.





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