Hook, Koop, Weber compete for UNI court time

Grundy County fans may have more reason than ever to support the University of Northern Iowa volleyball team this season. Not only does head coach Bobbi Petersen hail from the area, but this year three players from local high schools, redshirt sophomore Heather Hook of Grundy Center and new freshmen Rachel Koop and Bri Weber of Dike-New Hartford, can be found among the ranks of the Panther roster.   
As the UNI team nears the end of the preseason practice period Coach Petersen, a Dike native and 1990 UNI alum, finds herself and Panther assistant coaches Kalani Mahi and Kim Davis with some tough decisions to make before they step on the court to face their first opponent. The current Panther squad is comprised of 17 student athletes, seven of whom are brand new faces to the program. During preseason preparation more Panther players than ever have been working a variety of positions, and while Petersen describes this situation as unique and fun, she admits it is time for the coaches to start putting people in more definite positions and finding a lineup.
“We really have no idea right now where we’re going to be and the people that are going to be on the court,” she said. “I love it that people are battling for positions. When you get out in the spotlight it’s a lot different than in your own gym practicing, so I foresee us using a lot of different kids over the first couple weeks and being able to see how they adapt to that kind of atmosphere and the pressure of actually being on the court against an opponent.”
 
For more of this story see the Aug. 27 Grundy Register.