UNI was able to keep their streak of making every MVC conference volleyball tournament thanks to the field being expanded from the normal 6 teams to 8 teams for this unusual season, as they ended the regular season tied for 6th in the conference, but got the #7 seed.
This set up a quarterfinal matchup against #2 seed Drake, for the tournament being held on the campus of Illinois State.
Drake had swept the season series against UNI, having played a home-and-home in the first couple weekends of this spring season (breaking a rather lengthy win streak that UNI had had going over Drake).
But today, the Panthers looked a bit more like the UNI volleyball team that we're used to seeing in normal seasons. They played much better defense and serve receive than they had been playing this season. They did still have a fairly high number of attack errors (also something they've struggled with this season), but seemed to improve as the match progressed. They also used aggressive serving to record 7 service aces.
Anyhow, UNI managed to upset Drake in straight sets, winning 25-19, 25-21, 25-20. Thus qualifying for their 36th consecutive semifinal appearance in the conference tournament.
This set up a quarterfinal matchup against #2 seed Drake, for the tournament being held on the campus of Illinois State.
Drake had swept the season series against UNI, having played a home-and-home in the first couple weekends of this spring season (breaking a rather lengthy win streak that UNI had had going over Drake).
But today, the Panthers looked a bit more like the UNI volleyball team that we're used to seeing in normal seasons. They played much better defense and serve receive than they had been playing this season. They did still have a fairly high number of attack errors (also something they've struggled with this season), but seemed to improve as the match progressed. They also used aggressive serving to record 7 service aces.
Anyhow, UNI managed to upset Drake in straight sets, winning 25-19, 25-21, 25-20. Thus qualifying for their 36th consecutive semifinal appearance in the conference tournament.
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