Box Score
The Northern Sun Conference does not have a shortage of nationally-ranked volleyball teams. In the latest AVCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, five of the top fourteen teams in the nation call the NSIC home. The Peacocks welcomed the #5 Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State to Dorman Gym in Fayette on Tuesday night to open their home and Northern Sun schedule.The Peacocks and Mustangs battled back and forth for the opening half of the first set. SMSU began to creep away as they took a four-point lead, 19-15, but UIU refused to let them get away as they attempted to close the gap. The Peacocks closed to 21-19, but four straight points by the visitors gave set one to SMSU, 25-19.
Upper Iowa came out strong in set two taking a 7-5 lead, but an 8-2 run by Southwest Minnesota State forced Coach Shari Robertson to call a timeout and settle her troops. The mighty Mustangs continued to pound the offensive attack at the Peacocks and pushed out to a 19-9 lead. Sara Vance gave the home team a spark with a kill, an ace and a second tough serve that set up a Peacock point, but in the end the hole was too great to dig out of. SMSU took set two by a 25-15 count. The visitors hit .382 in set two with 15 kills and only 2 hitting errors, while UIU only managed a .103 percentage with 8 kills and 5 hitting errors.
Upper Iowa returned after the break and showed the home crowd and their guests that they were ready to fight back. The Peacocks took an early 10-6 lead fueled by a 6-1 run while Brown and Alex Fink were on the service line. The Mustangs proved their mettle though as they began to climb back in and tied the match at 14-14. The set remained tied as the teams crept closer to the magic 25. With the match tied at 22-22, Kayla Wagner registered her fifth kill of the night to put the Peacocks ahead by one. After the team exchanged points, UIU’s guests picked up two straight points to claim a 25-24 lead. Vance stepped up and tallied a kill to tie the match at 25-25. Five consecutive sideouts gave SMSU a 28-27 lead and the #5 team in the land was able to convert their final serve to win the set 29-27 and the match 3-0.
For the match, Vance led UIU with 12 kills and a .281 hitting percentage. Skylar Lesan dished out 27 assists to set up the offense, while the defense was led by Brown’s 14 digs and Gernes’ 11 digs.
SMSU held wide advantages in kills, 49-30, and team blocks, 9-4. Brooke Burmeister and Mary Groth led SMSU’s offense with 14 kills apiece, while Cara Carson earned 42 assists.
The Peacocks will travel to Augustana and #7 Wayne State this Friday and Saturday. Friday's match will begin at 7 p.m., while Saturday's match will start at 4 p.m.
