Upper Iowa remained undefeated with a pair of wins at the Middle of Everywhere Classic on Friday. The Peacocks are 7-0 and enjoying their best start in program history thanks to straight set wins over Ohio Dominican University and #18 Washburn University. UIU took down ODU 25-15-25-15, 25-21 in the early afternoon and the upset WU 25-22, 28-26, 25-22 in the final match of the night.
 
The Peacocks dominated their match against the Panthers thanks to an efficient offense that combined for 33 kills and just 7 attack errors and a strong defense that forced 27 errors. UIU got 10 kills from both Anna Winter and Bethany Lovhaug, while Malissa LeClaire and Carlee Ketchum paced the offense with 19 and 8 assists, respectively. Ashley Larson kept the back line together with 16 digs and Winter also got her hands on 4 blocks.
 
In the nightcap, both offenses were tough to stop. The Peacocks knocked down 48 kills in the three sets, while the Ichabods scored on 43 kills, but once again Upper Iowa was able to limit their mistakes committing only 9 attack errors. The control was exemplified in Winter's stat line; the sophomore outside recorded 20 kills to only a single attack error to hit .358. Fellow sophomore Haley Weepie also hit well with 12 kills and just 3 attack errors to hit .375. LeClaire handed out 42 assists in the match, as well as a team-high 13 digs. Larson picked up 11 digs.
 
In the first set, the teams were tied at 18-18, but Upper Iowa used a 4-0 run capped off by a Weepie service ace and then held on for a 25-22 win. After the score bounced back and forth in the second set, UIU got two kills back-to-back from Haley Poula and Haley Weepie. The kills translated into a 28-26 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.  UIU sealed the deal with a 25-22 win in the final set to pull off the upset.
 
After the match Head Coach Aaron Nelson said, "Today was a great day all around.  This morning we were able to go deep into our bench and show the depth that we have this season. Before this evening's match we talked about how Washburn would be a good test to see where we are as a team at this point in the season.  The girls responded extremely well to the challenge. We executed on offense and were very solid on defense which gave us the opportunity to grind out a big win."
 
The Peacocks will get back on the court Saturday morning to face William Jewell College and then find out who they play in the final match of the tournament from the green pool. After day one, UIU is winning the gold pool with a 2-0 record.