This Week in Peacock Volleyball...

After a pair of tough road matches last weekend, the Peacock Volleyball team returns to Dorman Gym in Fayette this weekend to open a four-match Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference home stand which extends through the first weekend in November.

On Friday, the Peacocks play host to the Golden Eagles of UM, Crookston in a 7 p.m. match.  Then on Saturday, Upper Iowa entertains the Dragons of MSU Moorhead inside Dorman Gym at 4 p.m.

Looking ahead, UIU will host a pair of NSIC matches next weekend to close out the home portion of the season before the Peacocks close out the 2010 season by making return trips to Crookston, Minn. and Moorhead, Minn. on November 12 and 13.

Scouting the Golden Eagles

The Golden Eagles of UM, Crookston enter Friday’s match with an 0-21 mark overall which includes a 0-13 record in NSIC matches.  The Golden Eagles have won just four sets all season and just two in league play.

The last time UMC won a set was on October 9 vs. U-Mary.  Prior to that, the Golden Eagles hadn’t won a set since a September 14 match at MSU Moorhead.

Scouting the Dragons

MSU Moorhead enters Friday’s match at Winona State with a 12-9 overall record and a 8-5 mark in NSIC play.  The Dragons have won six of their last seven matches with the only loss in that stretch coming against #1-ranked Wayne State.

Series History

Since Upper Iowa transitioned to NCAA Division II, the Peacocks are 3-5 against the Golden Eagles of UM, Crookston and 0-8 when playing the MSU Moorhead Dragons.

The Last Meeting

Upper Iowa defeated UM, Crookston, 3-0, in their only meeting last season on October 23, 2009 in Crookston.

The next afternoon, UIU lost to MSU Moorhead, 3-2 in Moorhead, Minn.

Aces Wild

The Peacocks rank fourth in the NSIC in service aces with 1.43 per set.  Upper Iowa ranks only behind Minnesota State, Wayne State and Northern State in this category.

Junior Sara Vance ranks second in the NSIC in service aces with just under a half-ace per set (.45).