OMAHA, Neb. — Tenth-seeded and 11th-ranked Creighton Volleyball is headed back to the Regional Semifinals for the third straight season, and fifth time overall, after a hard-fought 3-1 win over former Missouri Valley Conference rival Northern Iowa on Friday, Dec. 5th. Scores of the CU victory were 25-18, 23-25, 25-22, 25-21.

Creighton never trailed in the first set, turning an 8-7 lead into a 13-8 advantage. CU continued to pull away, taking an 18-11 lead as Abbey Hayes provided an early boost with four kills.  CU poured it on, taking the first set 25-18 on Hayes’ fifth kill. Creighton hit .441 en route to winning the first set for its 22nd straight match. BIG EAST Setter of the Year Annalea Maeder dished a dozen assists and added four digs, two kills and added a block.

UNI didn’t waste any time fighting back, taking a 9-4 lead to open the second set. Creighton’s slow comeback was aided by five UNI serving errors in the set. CU drew within one point on eight occasions before finally tying the score on an ace by Hayes to make it 20-20. CU also tied it at 21-all, but both times sent their next serve into the net as UNI regained the lead. The Panthers went up 23-21 and 24-22 on Cassidy Hartman’s 10th and 11th kills, and won  it 25-23 after Lily Dykstra’s kill withstood a CU challenge to even the match. Dykstra had eight kills and Hartman six in the second frame to pace a Panther attack that had 18 kills in 40 swings. 

The third set featured the first lead change of the match when UNI took a 4-3 lead, part of a 12-5 run that saw CU call both of its timeouts and the Panthers take a 14-8 lead. CU used the right arm of All-American Ava Martin to take a 16-15 lead after four straight kills from the BIG EAST Player of the Year. The set would feature nine ties and four lead changes before CU ultimately prevailed, 25-22. Back-to-back blocks by Eloise Brandewie and Jaya Johnson gave CU a 24-21 lead and a Panther service error handed the Jays a 2-1 lead.

The fourth set saw Creighton race out to an early 3-0 lead and did not release it, taking the match 25-21. While Creighton did not trail in the decisive fourth stanza, Northern Iowa pulled even and 5-5 with four of five points. Holding an 11-9 edge, the Bluejays seemed to take complete control with six straight points by forcing the Panthers into four attack errors during the run. Down 17-9 UNI responded with eight of the next nine points to make it a one-point contest at 18-17. Moments later the Bluejays put things away with four straight points, courtesy of consecutive blocks, an ace from Nora Wurtz and a kill from Martin.

Four Bluejays closed the match with double-digit kills, led by 16 from Martin. Joining the double-digit party were Hayes (12), Johnson (11) and Kiara Reinhardt (10). Maeder guided the Creighton offense with 47 assists and 14 digs, while Sydney Breissinger owned a match-best 19 digs and also served up a pair of aces. CU had 55 kills, 66 digs, 13 blocks and five aces on .265 hitting.

Northern Iowa got a match-high 21 kills from Hartman, to go along with 15 kills from Dykstra and 10 from Isabelle Elliott. The guiding force for the Panthers brought a familiar name back to D.J. Sokol Arena as Reese Booth (the daughter of former Bluejay head coach Kirsten Bernthal Booth) finished with a double-double of 22 assists and 16 digs. UNI had 62 kills, 70 digs, five blocks and three aces on .241 hitting. The unbeaten regular-season and tournament champion out of the Missouri Valley Conference, Northern Iowa finishes its season with a 26-6 record.

With the win, Creighton will play Arizona State in the Regional Semifinal. A date, time, location and broadcast plans will be announced later this weekend.

NOTES: Creighton has played Northern Iowa more times (60) than any other foe … Kiara Reinhardt set the D.J. Sokol Arena career blocks record with her 250th career rejection late in the first set … Reinhardt also extended her career records by making her 65th start and playing in her 69th career match at D.J. Sokol Arena … Ava Martin set the D.J. Sokol Arena career record for kills with her 781, passing Jaali Winters’ 779. … After winning just four of the first 43 meetings, Creighton has beaten Northern Iowa nine straight meetings and 15 of the last 17 encounters … CU’s 15 wins vs. UNI since 2012 are four more than any other school … Creighton is 12-1 all-time when ranked and facing UNI … CU has won 69 straight matches against unranked teams and 57 straight non-televised contests … Creighton improved to 19-14 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, and 5-7 in the Second Round … Creighton has won 27 or more matches each of the last five years, and nine times in program history … Creighton has won 22 straight matches and snapped UNI’s 22-match win streak, which started after its Sept. 14 loss to CU in Omaha … The late ace in the fourth set for Nora Wurtz gave her 36 this season in D.J. Sokol Arena, a mark that is the single season record … Martin closed the match with a season-high 14 digs, her fourth double-double of the season.

Head Coach, Volleyball
Women’s Volleyball, Rose Hill
Fordham University

Fordham University has an excellent reputation as a dynamic institution located in New York City. Founded in 1841, Fordham enrolls more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students in its 9 Colleges and Schools.

•Fordham University offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to its employees, which includes medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance.
•We offer tuition remission for employees and their dependents.
•A generous employer match towards a 403(b) retirement plan.
•As a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), Fordham is considered a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, a federal program designed to forgive student loan debt for employees of certain public and certain nonprofit employers.
•As part of its work-life balance program, the University provides generous PTO including 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 2 personal days, 6 summer Fridays, and holidays that include paid time off between Christmas and New year.
•University employees have access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP provides no-cost, professional, and confidential services, to help employees and family members address a variety of personal, family, life, and work-related issues.

Position Summary
Reporting to the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports, the Head Coach, Volleyball, will provide strategic leadership to all aspects of the women’s volleyball program.

This position requires frequent travel, as well as working evenings and weekends.

Essential Functions
•Leads the organization, planning, teaching, and coaching of all practices and games.
•Implements strategies to improve student-athletes’ skill development through practice and competition.
•Identifies, evaluates, and recruits quality student-athletes in compliance with University, Atlantic 10 Conference, and NCAA policies.
•Tracks academic monitoring of student-athletes through their completion of graduation, working with the Office of Academic Athletic Advising.
•Manages the annual operating budget and respective fundraising gift account.
•Implements fundraising activities to support the operating budget.
•Oversees team travel, equipment, and supplies.
•Represents the University at internal and external marketing, public relations, and fundraising events as required.
•Maintains strong relationships with Admissions, Residential Life, Dining Services, and the Development Office.
•Complies with all NCAA, Atlantic 10 Conference, and University rules and regulations.

Essential Functions Note
This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list.
The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.

Management Responsibilities
Supervises the work of other Fordham employees who are individual contributors. Responsible for hiring, training and developing, managing performance and administering corrective action. Has significant input in compensation decisions.

Additional Functions
Operates University-owned or leased vehicles to transport students, staff, and/or equipment in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and insurance requirements.

Required Qualifications: Education and Experience
•Bachelor’s degree
•Minimum of three years of volleyball coaching experience.

Required Qualifications: Knowledge and Skills
•High-level organizational skills.
•Demonstrated commitment and motivation to building a successful program.
•Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
•Knowledge and understanding of NCAA rules and regulations.
•Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education.

Preferred Qualifications
•Master’s degree.
•Collegiate head coaching experience.
•Valid driver’s license.

Minimum Starting Salary: $90,000

Maximum Starting Salary: $110,000

Note: Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.

START DATE: ASAP

APPLY HERE: https://careers.fordham.edu/postings/10322

ABOUT FORDHAM
Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its 9 colleges and schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom.

Fordham University is committed to excellence through diversity and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.

Fordham is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories

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