This Week in Peacock Volleyball...

A busy week is in store for the Upper Iowa Volleyball team.  The Peacocks play three matches in a matter of five days against two teams in the top half of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings.

On Tuesday, the Peacocks make their lone road trip of the week as they visit Halenbeck Hall in St. Cloud, Minnesota to take on the Huskies of St. Cloud State.  The first serve is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Then this Friday and Saturday, Upper Iowa looks to improve upon a 3-1 record at home by welcoming the #7-ranked Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears and a return visit from St. Cloud State.  Friday’s contest against CU is slated for 7 p.m. while Saturday’s Homecoming match against the Huskies is set for 4 p.m.

The Peacocks opened the month of October winning a pair of matches inside Dorman Gym last weekend.  Upper Iowa defeated Northern State and U-Mary by scores of 3-2. 

Upper Iowa has also won three matches in a row for the first time since they defeated Winona State, U-Mary and Northern State last season. (October 30-Novermber 7).

Scouting the Huskies

The St. Cloud State Huskies enter Tuesday’s match with a 9-5 overall record and a 4-2 mark in NSIC play and are winners of two of their last three matches after falling to the #7-ranked Golden Bears of Concordia-St. Paul last Saturday, 3-0

Even with their 4-2 record, the Huskies enter the match ranked near the bottom of the league in kills (11th) and assists (12th).

Scouting the #7 Golden Bears

Concordia-St. Paul enters Tuesday’s matchup with Winona State with a 11-4 record which includes a 6-0 record in league play and are winners of six of their last seven matches.  The Golden Bears last defeat came last Tuesday in a non-conference match with #3-ranked SW Minnesota State, 3-1.

The Golden Bears rank second in the NSIC in hitting percentage (.268), kills (14. 86/set) and assists (13.79/set).  CU also boasts the league leader in kills (Emily Palkert) and assists (Amanda Konetchy).

Series History

The Peacocks haven’t fared too well against this week’s opponents since transitioning to NCAA Division II.  The Peacocks are 2-6 against the St. Cloud State Huskies and have never defeated the three-time defending NCAA Champion Golden Bears as they are 0-8 against CU.

Under Coach Robertson, the Peacocks are 2-1 against St. Cloud State and 0-4 against the highly-ranked Golden Bears of Concordia-St. Paul.

The Last Meeting

Upper Iowa last met St. Cloud State on September 19, 2009 in St. Cloud, Minn.  The Huskies avenged a loss earlier in the 2009 season to the Peacocks, 3-2.

The Peacocks and Golden Bears met back-to-back last season with the Golden Bears taking both matches 3-0, 3-0.

Aces Wild

The Peacocks rank fourth in the NSIC in service aces with 1.53 per set.  Upper Iowa ranks only behind Minnesota State, Wayne State and Northern State in this category.

Junior Sara Vance is ranked second in the NSIC in service aces with nearly a half ace per set (.47).