Box Score
What a difference a month makes... well, that and location.  The Peacocks were blown out in Marshall, Minn. on Oct. 5, but this afternoon in Fayette, Upper Iowa pushed back against the number one team in the land.  After SMSU won a very close opening set, the Peacocks fired back to tie the match at one set apiece.  The #1 Mustangs controlled the third set, but Upper Iowa bounced back and took a 14-9 lead midway through the fourth set.  Southwest Minnesota State (23-1, 15-1 NSIC) rallied and showed their mettle claiming the set and the match 3-1.  With the loss, UIU falls to 15-10 overall and 9-7 in the conference.

The Peacocks remain tied in eighth place in the standings after Northern State fell to #4 Minnesota Duluth in four sets as well.  Upper Iowa is now 9-2 on the season in Dorman Gym.  The set won by UIU was only the eighth set that SMSU has lost this season.

UIU forced Southwest Minnesota State to rely on their defense for much of the match as the Mustangs only solid hitting percentage came in the third set (.432).  Upper Iowa only tallied 14 hitting errors in the match keeping the ball in play, while SMSU recorded 35 errors on the attack.  The Peacocks also held a huge advantage in team blocks, 13-3, led by senior middle Kayla Wagner's 10 (6 solo). 

Brooke Burmeister led all attackers with 23 kills for SMSU, while Emilee Gutzmer handed out 63 assists.  Five Mustangs reached double figures in digs, while two surpassed the 20-dig mark.

For UIU, junior Melanie Behnke led the way on offense with 17 kills, while Hailey Brown and Jennifer Mundt added 7 each.  Skylar Lesan dished up 30 assists and added 19 digs, while the back line was led by Amanda Weiss and her 20 digs.  Emily Sparks added 16 digs, while Danielle Gernes picked up 11.

Upper Iowa will now travel to #14 Minnesota State on Thursday, Nov. 1, for the team's final regular season road match.  The first serve is slated for 7 p.m.