Upper Iowa's volleyball team is still receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 thanks to their 11-3 start which includes a 1-2 record against three NSIC opponents last week. UIU is earning 22 points in the poll, and have earned as many as 109 earlier this season. The Peacocks matched up with two nationally ranked teams last week at home, and still took a set apiece from #9 Winona State and #19 Northern State. Upper Iowa dropped a hard-fought, four-set match to both teams, but in between picked up a sweep over MSU Moorhead on Saturday afternoon. UIU is now 2-3 on the season in NSIC play.

The Peacocks' have shown their depth this season with multiple players battling for the lead in several categories. Anna Winter is hitting .251 for the season with 168 kills (3.4/set), while Haley Weepie has 130 kills and Haley Poula has 105. Malissa LeClaire has dished out 434 assists (8.7/set) to pace the UIU attack. Ashley Larson (250 digs; 5.0/set), LeClaire (189), Weepie (147) and Gabby Holmes (114) have been solid on the backline providing defense and passing for the Peacocks. At the net, Bethany Lovhaug has denied 47 blocks, while Haley Poula and Lauren Wombles have added 28 and 22 blocks, respectively.

Upper Iowa is still one of nine Northern Sun Conference teams mentioned in the poll. The first seven are in the top 25 including #1 Southwest Minnesota State, #2 Concordia University, St. Paul, #6 University of Minnesota Duluth, #13 Winona State University, #14 Northern State University, #17 Augustana University, and #22 Wayne State College. The University of Sioux Falls is also receiving votes with 37 points.

The Peacocks will not hit the road for their two longest road trips of the season, in back-to-back weekends. Upper Iowa will match up with Minot State University on Friday night at 5:30 p.m. in Minot, N.D., and then will head just south to Bismarck, N.D. to battle the University of Mary on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. UIU heads to northern Minnesota the following weekend, Oct. 6-7, as they take on Bemidji State University that Friday night at 6 p.m. in Bemidji, Minn. The road trip ends with a date with the University of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. in Crookston, Minn.