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ESU - UIU Box Score

The Peacock volleyball team was able to take both of their matches today at the Middle of Everywhere Tournament to split their four decisions on the weekend. The two victories improve UIU's record to 6-2 on the season.

In the first match of the day, Upper Iowa defeated the Griffons of Missouri Western State University is straight sets. The scores went 26-24, 25-16 and 25-23. Melanie Behnke again led the attack with 14 kills while Skylar Lesan dished out 35 assists. On the defense, Danielle Gernes dug out 18 digs and Maryn Fulton and Behnke stopped four and three balls, respectively.

In their next match, the Peacocks took on the Hornets of Emporia State University, but this time it took all five sets to decide the winner.

In the first set, the Hornets flew out to a 5-1 lead, but UIU battled back to tie the score at 9-9. The set would see several more ties, but ESU was able to hold on and take the set by a count of 25-20.

The next set started much of the same way and Emporia led until the Peacocks were able to tie it up at 10-10. ESU would score five straight points to go up 15-10 before UIU stormed back to make it 15-14. Upper Iowa finally took the lead, 21-20 on a service ace from Gernes. The Hornets, however, scored five of the next six points to take a 25-22 set victory and take a 2-0 lead.

UIU held a 9-3 lead to begin set number three and never relinquished it going on to win the set 25-20 to cut the gap to 2-1 advantage. 

In set number four, Upper Iowa led by as many as seven 18-11 and didn't look back. A 25-16 set victory evened the match up at two sets a piece.

In the fifth and deciding set, the Peacocks led all the way until the score was tied at ten points a piece.  ESU took the lead, 12-10, after a six point run. UIU scored five of the final six points to win the set 15-13 and take the match.

Four players totaled double digit kills. Jennifer Mundt led the way with 16 kills while Behnke and Kayla Wagner both tallied 12 apiece and Hailey Brown accumulated 10 of her own. Lesan handed out 48 assists to help the attack. Five players reached double figures in digs including Amanda Weiss (32), Lesan (19), Brown (18), Gernes (15), and Behnke (12). Wagner led the defense above the net with 10 blocks.

For the second straight weekend, Behnke was named to the All-Tournament Team after being named the MVP for the UIU Fall Invite.

Upper Iowa will head to Augustana and Wayne State next Friday and Saturday, Sept. 14-15, to open their Northern Sun Conference season.