Box Score

Box Score

Upper Iowa got back above. 500 in the NSIC (5-4) thanks to a five-set win this afternoon at the University of Sioux Falls.  The Peacocks won the first two matches, but couldn't grab the deciding set until the fifth and final one.  With the 3-2 victory, UIU improves to 11-7 overall, while the host Cougars fall to 9-9 on the season.

The formula was simple on Saturday afternoon for the Peacocks... when the offense clicked and hit above .300, the Peacocks were on top, but when the hitting percentage dipped below .200, the Cougars took advantage. 

Upper Iowa came out strong on offense bouncing back from Friday night's struggles.  The Peacocks recorded 29 kills and just 6 attacking errors in the first two sets winning by scores of 25-22 and 25-20.

Improved hitting by the Cougars in sets three and four, combined with six errors in each set for the Peacocks, led to a pair of two-point decisions going to the home team, 26-24 and 25-23. 

In the fifth set, UIU took an early 5-1 lead and maintained that advantage through the midway point.  The Cougars cut the gap to just one point, 10-9, after a 4-0 run.  Upper Iowa never surrendered the lead though and scored five of the final six points to claim the match with a 15-10 victory.

Melanie Behnke drilled home 17 kills for UIU; she was joined in double figures by Hailey Brown and Kayla Wagner, who each chipped in 12.  Skylar Lesan dished out 48 assists and picked up 7 kills as well.  Wagner played well at the net adding 2 solo blocks and 5 assisted stops, while Brown recorded 18 digs.  Danielle Gernes and Amanda Weiss each dug up 14 Cougar attacks.

Upper Iowa will be back at home this weekend for a pair of NSIC matches.  The Peacocks will host the Dragons of MSU Moorhead on Friday night at 7 p.m. and then welcome the Wolves of Northern State at 5 p.m. Saturday following the UIU football game versus Augustana.