UNI Volleyball (Courtesy: UNI Athletics Communications)
UNI Volleyball (Courtesy: UNI Athletics Communications)
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The Northern Iowa Panthers volleyball team return to the McLeod Center this Weekend. They look to snap a two-match losing skid this Friday and Saturday against the number one and two teams in the Missouri Valley Conference.

It was a rough weekend road trip this past weekend for the Northern Iowa Panthers  (9-9 overall, 3-2 MVC). On Friday, UNI lost 2-3 to Indiana State (12-7 overall, 1-3 MVC). The Panthers were swept on Saturday by Illinois State (12-5 overall, 2-2 MVC).

Although the ladies return home to the friendly confines of the McLeod Center, it will be anything but friendly on the court this Friday and Saturday Oct. 9-10, 2015).

"We bring the number one and number two in the [Missouri Valley] conference to our place this weekend," UNI Volleyball head coach Bobbi Petersen said. "So obviously it's a big weekend at home. We have Wichita State and Missouri State. Missouri State ended up winning that match at Wichita State, a four-game battle."

Both weekend opponents have played a demanding non-conference schedule. Wichita State posted a 9-5 mark in non-conference action. The Shockers have won three of their first four MVC contests. Missouri State is off to a 3-1 start in MVC play including a win against Wichita State. The Bears notched a mark of 9-4 in non-conference action.

UNI and Wichita State (12-6 overall, 3-1 MVC) will collide on Friday at 7:00 PM. The Panthers are asking fans to wear purple for the match.

"Wichita [State] beat Kentucky, Marquette, and Oregon in their non-conference schedule," Petersen commented during this week's press luncheon. "Definitely a team that has been battle tested and has gone up against some of the best teams in the country."

Petersen had a similar impression of Missouri State (12-5 overall, 3-1 MVC). On Saturday, the match against Missouri State will mark UNI's pink match. The action starts at 7:00 PM.

"[Missouri State] also had a great non-conference schedule," Petersen said. "Missouri State, in my mind, after watching video is the strongest [team] in all areas in the game, consistently."

Former Cedar Valley Sports high school alum Bri Weber (Dike, Iowa / Dike-New Hartford) added two more double-doubles this week against Bradley (10 kills, 17 digs) and Indiana State (12 kills, 19 digs). Weber has tallied a team-best 12 double-doubles in her first 18 collegiate matches.

Both home matches this week against Wichita State (Friday) and Missouri State (Saturday) will be shown live on The Valley on ESPN3.

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