Records

Upper Iowa 6-7 (2-2 NSIC) || Minnesota Crookston 6-6 (1-3 NSIC)

Recap

The Peacocks played in their third straight five set match tonight in Fayette. Upper Iowa and Minnesota Crookston exchanged blows in tonight's NSIC bout to force a fifth set that was decided by just three points. UIU outlasted UMC in the final set thanks to a 7-1 run that closed the door on the Golden Eagles in Fayette. The home team won the first and third sets by identical 25-19 scores, but the visitors rallied each time with 25-21 and 25-20 wins in the second and fourth sets setting up the deciding set.

After both offenses played well in the first two sets, the Peacocks dominated set three holding UMC to a .036 hitting percentage to claim their win. The Golden Eagles, however, turned the tide in the fourth set as they held the UIU hitters to a .071 percentage.

In the fifth set, the teams played even through the early going, but Minnesota Crookston claimed an 8-6 advantage as the teams switched ends. The Peacocks were able to tie the match at 8-8, but the Golden Eagles looked as if they would take control moving ahead 11-8. After a timeout, UIU returned to the floor and fought back to take a one-point lead, 12-11. After a UMC sideout, Upper Iowa closed the match out with a 3-0 run to claim the 15-12 set win and the match.

Standouts

Brittany Looker had an outstanding match for the Golden Eagles, who had four hitters record double-figure kills. Looker registered a match-high 24 kills, while three other UMC players added 10 kills apiece. Sierra Trost paced the attack with 55 assists, while Maggie Perrel and Morgan VanGerpen patrolled the net with 5 blocks apiece.

Despite their guests registering 10 more kills than them, the Peacocks used 13 team blocks to lessen the damage. Freshman middle Alisha VanderWoude led the team at the net with 7 blocks, while Jennifer Mundt and Haylie Franklin both added four. Mundt led Upper Iowa's attack with 17 kills and a .484 hitting percentage, while Melanie Behnke added 16 kills. Setter Hailey Brown handed out 42 assists and added 6 kills and 3 aces. Chelsea Berry had another solid night with 8 kills and 16 digs. Libero Kelsey Hinrichs got her hands on 14 digs on the back line.

Next Up

Upper Iowa will have little time to rest with the Beavers of Bemidji State University set to take to Prochaska Court tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m.