The U.N.I. Volleyball team opens the NCAA Tournament in Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday against Washington State. The Panthers are 30-2 on the season and it’s the programs first 30-win season.

U.N.I. coach Bobbi Peterson says it represents who the team is and she says she will remember the group and how hard they worked. Peterson says Washington State will be a tough first round opponent. The last time Washington was in the tournament in 2002, they knocked the Panthers out in the match to go to the Elite 8.

Nebraska takes on Coastal Carolina in the other first round contest.

Contributed by Elwin Huffman KOEL Oelwein