BOX SCORE

NORMAL, IL - University of Northern Iowa junior middle hitter Piper Thomas put on a show with a pair of career highs in kills (28) and blocks (10) in leading the Panthers to a 3-1 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds in the semifinals of the 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Volleyball Tournament.

UNI (26-7 overall) won by set scores of 25-20, 24-26, 25-22, 25-15. Illinois State falls to 21-12 overall. The Panthers advance to the MVC tournament championship for the 23rd time in program history - and the first since 2014. UNI will take on Missouri State at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Redbird Arena.

Thomas collected the seventh-most kills in an MVC Tournament match with 28 and it ties for the fourth-most in a four-set UNI match. Thomas posted eight kills in the first set, six kills in the second and then added seven kills in both the third and fourth sets. Thomas tied her career-high of 10 blocks, which she set on Nov. 18, 2016 also at Redbird Arena.

Karlie Taylor added 16 kills and 20 digs for her 23rd double-double of the season. Heather Hook posted 56 assists and 15 digs for her 11th double-double this season and 35th of her career. Kendyl Sorge tallied 25 digs to lead the Panther defensive effort. 

UNI tallied a season-high 14 team blocks.

The Panthers will face top seed Missouri State in the MVC Tournament title match at 4PM Saturday.