This Week in Peacock Volleyball...

The Upper Iowa Peacock Volleyball team looks to end a two-match skid this weekend when they make their first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference road trip of the season. The Peacocks visit Augustana College on Friday before playing their fourth ranked team of season in the #7-ranked Wildcats of Wayne State.

UIU enters Friday’s matchup with Augustana with a 2-7 overall record and a 0-1 NSIC mark after dropping their NSIC opener to #5-ranked Southwest Minnesota State on Tuesday, 3-0. The Vikings, winners of three of their last four matches are opening their home season Friday night inside the Elmen Center. The match is slated for a 7 p.m. start.

Then on Saturday, the Peacocks enter the hostile environment of Rice Auditorium to battle the highly ranked Wildcats of Wayne State. WSC is undefeated in the early going of 2010 and open their home schedule Friday night by welcoming the Warriors of Winona State.

Both Augustana and Wayne State will be playing their first NSIC matches of the season this weekend.

Scouting the Vikings

The Augustana College Vikings enter Friday’s matchup with a 4-5 record and are coming off of a 3-1 weekend at the Super 8/Days Inn & Suites “Middle of Everywhere” Classic hosted by Missouri S&T in Rolla, Missouri.

The Vikings defeated Chadron State, Southeastern Oklahoma State and Arkansas- Monticello in straight sets before being defeated by Rockhurst. Sophomore setter Dani Haley was named to the Middle of Everywhere Classic All-Classic Team after her outstanding performance last weekend Haley dished out 135 assists in the four matches, totaling 11.25 assists per set. The sophomore also tallied 10 kills, 23 digs and two service aces.

Scouting the #7 Wildcats

The Wildcats of Wayne State are a perfect 8-0 heading into Friday’s matchup with Winona State and are coming off of a very impressive showing at the Colorado Premier Tournament hosted by Regis University in Denver, Colorado.

The Wildcats defeated then #6-ranked St. Leo, 3-0 before taking down Regis, then #1-ranked Concordia-St. Paul and #5-ranked Southwest Minnesota State all by 3-1 margins.

Series History

Since moving to NCAA Division II, the Peacocks have combined for a 0-11 record against the Vikings and Wildcats. UIU is 0-2 against Augustana and 0-9 against the Wildcats of Wayne State.

The Last Meeting

Last season, Upper Iowa and Augustana met on October 16 in Fayette. After the Peacocks took the first set 25-23, Augustana battled back in the second to tie the score at 1-1. UIU took set three 25-22, but the Vikings rattled off two consecutive set wins to take the match, 3-2 The next night, WSC swept the Peacocks in straight sets.