Box Score Trailing 2-1, the Peacock volleyball team put together their most dominant set of the season. Upper Iowa took the fourth set of tonight's match with the Warriors of Winona State by a 25-6 count and then held off their guests in the fifth set to win 20-18 and claim the Northern Sun victory 3-2. The win improved UIU's home record to 8-1 on the season; the Peacocks are now 13-8 on the year and 7-5 in conference action, while the Warriors fall to 17-5 overall and 9-3 in the NSIC.
UIU's offense hit .394 in the first set thanks to 15 kills as the home team pushed their way to a 25-20 win.
Melanie Behnke led the way with 5 kills, while Winona State stayed close thanks to 6 kills from Bekah Saugen.
The Warriors controlled the second and third sets claiming a 34-23 advantage in kills over the two periods. Winona State took a 2-1 lead heading into the fourth set thanks to wins of 25-19 and 25-18.
Upper Iowa regrouped between sets and came on the floor determined to force a fifth set. The Peacocks steamrolled out to a 10-1 lead and never looked back. The home team nearly registered as many team blocks (7) as kills (8) in the set en route to a 25-6 win.
Kayla Wagner picked up five assisted blocks in the set, while
Hailey Brown added 3. UIU forced the Warriors into a -.200 hitting percentage to push the match to the decisive fifth set.
The final set began tight with each team scoring big points. UIU was the first team to pull away and took a 12-9 lead, but Winona State found their swing and used a 4-0 run to take a one point lead, 13-12. The Peacocks were able to tie the match at 13 and had the first match point of the night leading 14-13. Winona State survived with a sideout and UIU had to stave off two WSU match points.
In the end, it was Upper Iowa who finally claimed the victory on their fourth match point. Leading 19-18,
Emily Sparks served the ball to the Winona State back line. The Warriors set up a middle attack, but senior
Maryn Fulton was there to earn the final solo block of the night.
Upper Iowa dominated the play at the net with 16 team blocks including the game-winning stop.
Wagner led the Peacocks with a huge night on both sides of the ledger. The senior middle tallied a team-high 14 kills and added 8 assisted blocks at the net. Brown also played very well recording 24 digs, 11 kills and 8 assisted blocks.
Behnke finished the night with 12 kills, while
Skylar Lesan handed out 39 assists and put 6 kills to the floor. Fulton added 5 kills to her 5 blocks.
Amanda Weiss and Sparks earned 23 and 15 digs, respectively on the back line for the Peacocks.
Upper Iowa will be on the road this weekend, Oct. 19-20. The Peacocks will face the #6 Bulldogs of Minnesota Duluth on Friday and then visit the Huskies of St. Cloud State on Saturday.
