The UNI volleyball team challenged No. 4 Louisville on December 7, 2024, in the NCAA Tournament second round at the packed KFC Yum! Center. In a rematch of their matchup in the Cardinal Classic earlier this season, the Panthers managed to pull off set wins in the first and third sets to show that they can compete with one of the best teams in the ACC. Even though four Panthers scored in double figures in kills, Louisville seized the match’s final moments at the service line. UNI ended a fantastic MVC season with a 26-8 record, another outstanding performance after winning the third consecutive regular season and tournament championship.

But for UNI’s head coach, Bobbi Petersen, this wasn’t just any loss—it was layered with emotions. On the other side of the net stood her daughter, Payton Petersen, donning Louisville’s red and black and now playing in the NCAA Finals. As her daughter plays in the NCAA Finals, the mama coach has reflected on a bittersweet showdown and a hard-fought loss.

In a heartfelt chat with VolleyballMag.com, Bobbi Petersen shared an emotionally filled experience of being an opponent to a team her daughter, Payton, was playing for. Playing the triple role of a coach, an athlete, and a mother, she said, “It’s so weird talking about that,” as she reflected on the strange dynamics. She chuckled while admitting, “As a player, you don’t realize how much control you have in a match. Then, as a coach, you think you have control, but you really don’t. And being a mom,” she paused, bursting into laughter.

Bobbi shared how nerve-wracking yet rewarding it was to watch from the stands, a rare perspective for someone used to pacing the sidelines. “Being in the stands is such a different and hard role. But it’s an awesome role. You have to learn how to embrace it,” she said, adding a layer of mom wisdom. “Always as a coach, I’m always thinking, what’s my face showing right now? As a mom, I think the same way. I know she’s not going to look up at me, but what is everybody else seeing from a mom who is getting a chance to watch her daughter compete? It’s really special.”

In some ways, Bobbi could not deny the dream of UNI to pull off the upset, although it did not come to life. She said that if her team had won, Payton’s magical moment would not have happened, which pulled on every fiber of her heart. Choking back her emotions, she shared, “Honestly, it was probably one of the most emotional moments of my whole entire life. Because you want it so badly for your team and you know the grind and what they put in daily and you want that opportunity for them.”

Bobbi went on to express her admiration for Payton’s team, saying, “And besides it just being my daughter on the other side of the net, you have a relationship with those players and those coaches and the things they had to deal with this season, all the pressure they’ve had at Louisville. And the thought that you were going to end that for them.” 

At the moment Payton Petersen is in the NCAA Finals against Penn State, with every set providing scores that are as close as it can get. Penn won the first and third sets, while Louisville won the second set. But here’s the twist—this mama-daughter duo from UNI and Louisville isn’t the only one. There’s another pair where the daughter is from UNI too!

NCAA season and the mama-daughter duo!

Three-time National Coach of the Year, Kirsten Bernthal Booth has transformed Creighton from the brink of losing the program to one of the best volleyball teams in the country. The team has been ranked in the AVCA Top 25 for 13 consecutive seasons. But best of all, Kirsten isn’t the only one who has been on the court performing well. Her daughter, Reese Booth, has made those spiking waves too!

In September, the Booths got a bit of a family reunion when the Creighton University Bluejays faced off against Northern Iowa at the Cardinal Classic in Louisville. UNI played hard in the second and third quarters, trying to fend off the Big East winners, but Creighton won 3-0 at the KFC Yum! Center. Kirsten couldn’t help but laugh about their competitive bond and rivalry: “If we’re not winning, it won’t be fun.” She added, “We’re both pretty competitive.” Watching them on opposite sides of the net always brings an exciting dynamic to the game, just like every other mother-daughter duo in the NCAA tournament.