The University of Northern Iowa women’s volleyball team captured the program’s 1,000th victory on Saturday, October 11, 2014.  It was a 3-0 sweep of the Southern Illinois Salukis at the McLeod Center. UNI won by set scores of 25-16, 25-18, 25-17.

The Panthers have posted a mark of 1,000-325-22 since the inception of the program.

UNI improved to 7-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while SIU dropped to 3-4 in league play.

Southern Illinois had a 12-11 lead in the first set before a barrage from UNI’s Autumn Alitz put the Panthers in control. Alitz led a 14-4 run to close the set as she posted seven kills and two blocks in the first set. UNI scored a 25-16 victory in the opening stanza. UNI hit .371 in the first set with 15 kills and only two attack errors.

UNI continued its blitz with a 7-1 start to the second set. The Salukis fought back to 13-9 but the Panthers responded with an 8-2 spurt to take a 21-11 lead. UNI was eventually able to close out the second set, 25-18.

The Panthers wasted little time in gaining the third set momentum with a 5-0 start to the set. UNI made only one attack error in the set and posted 19 kills for a .474 hitting percentage. The Panthers were able to sideout at an 82 percent clip in the third set to stymie any surges from the Salukis. UNI scored the 25-17 win to close out the match.

UNI will travel to Illinois State (Friday) and Indiana State (Saturday) for this upcoming week’s action. Friday night’s matchup in Normal, Ill., between the Panthers and Redbirds will feature a pair of 7-0 MVC teams and will have solo first place on the line.

NOTES: UNI is off to its seventh 7-0 start in MVC play under head coach Bobbi Petersen … UNI has won 10 of its last 11 matches this season … Autumn Alitz tied a career-high with 12 kills, as she hit .611 with only one attack error … Lindsey Schulz also posted 12 kills and a .440 hitting percentage … Kinsey Caldwell notched 37 assists and 17 digs in the victory.

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