Upper Iowa snapped a four-match losing streak on Saturday in Owatonna, Minn.  The Peacocks edged the Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota Duluth, 5-4, improving to 3-5 overall this spring and getting back to .500 in the NSIC at 3-3.

UIU picked up two points in doubles and split the singles matches to secure the win.  Karli Loewecke and Paige Olson earned a hard-fought 9-8 (14-12) decision at #1 singles and Nicole Pothen and Rosangel Espinoza picked up a decisive 8-4 victory at #2.  The Bulldogs claimed a point at #3 doubles with a 7-1 win by Katie Lincoln and Kelsey Cunningham; the UMD tag team defeated UIU's Meredith Worrall and Laura Alvarez.

In singles play, Loewecke earned a 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 victory at #1, while Pothen claimed a dominating 6-0, 6-0 win in the match at #3.  The final Peacock win of the day came from Espinoza, who recorded a pair of 7-5 sets at #4.

After the match, Head Coach Joey Barnes said, "We did what we needed to and got the job done today.  I saw a lot of improvements across the board, but we still have a lot to learn.  We also have a long season left ahead of ourselves." He continued, "The matches over spring break in Orlando will give us some opportunities to work on some things and see if we can translate our what we learn in practice to our matches.  We are very excited about the trip."

The Peacocks will take on Abraham Baldwin College and Wayne State University on Mar. 12 in Orlando and wrap up their time in the Sunshine State with a pair of matches against ASA College of Brooklyn and Northwood Unversity on Mar. 14.

Upper Iowa 5 - Minnesota Duluth 4
March 9, 2013 -- Owatonna, Minn.

Doubles:
#1  Loewecke and Olson (UIU) defeat Alyssa Brunelli and Kara Saemann... 9-8 (14-12)
#2  Pothen and Espinoza (UIU) defeat Bailey Kolles and Delaney Dobbs... 8-4
#3  Katie Lincoln and Kelsey Cunningham (UMD) defeat Worrall and Alvarez... 7-1

Singles:
#1  Loewecke (UIU) defeats Alyssa Brunelli... 7-6 (7-1), 6-1
#2  Kara Saemann (UMD) defeats Olson... 1-6, 7-6 (10-6 Tiebreaker)
#3  Pothen (UIU) defeats Bailey Kolles... 6-0, 6-0
#4  Espinoza (UIU) defeats Katie Lincoln... 7-5, 7-5
#5  Kelsey Cunningham (UMD) defeats Worrall... 7-6 (6-1), 6-1
#6  Delaney Dobbs (UMD) defeats Alvarez... 6-4, 6-2