EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The No. 1 UNI Panther volleyball team claimed this year's Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Championship title with a 3-2 victory (25-20, 19-25, 19-25, 25-22, 15-13) Wednesday in a five-set epic against the No. 2 Drake Bulldogs. UNI (26-7 overall) secures a spot in the NCAA Volleyball Championship for the 24th time in program history.
The Panthers picked up their league-record 18th tournament crown within their conference-best 26th appearance in the final round. The Bulldogs (26-7 overall) finished as the runner-up for the fourth time in as many tournament title tilts including their third such meeting against their in-state rivals.