The Peacock volleyball team came out on the short end of the score tonight in Dorman Gym, but Upper Iowa did make the #8 team in NCAA Division II work for the victory.  The Wolves of Northern State University dropped a set to their hosts marking just the second time all year that a team has taken a frame from them.  Northern State remained undefeated on the season with a perfect 16-0 overall record and an 8-0 mark in the Northern Sun Conference.  The 3-1 loss dropped Upper Iowa's record to 8-9 overall and 2-6 in the conference.  

The match up also continued UIU's run through the gauntlet of the conference schedule.  Through the eight NSIC matches this season, the Peacocks have played six nationally-ranked opponents, an opponent receiving votes in the top 25 poll and one squad not mentioned in the poll.  The Peacocks have been up to the challenge and continue to pull sets away from the nationally-ranked foes.

Northern State came into the match as one of the most error-free teams in the country and the Wolves held true to form.  For the match, the visitors tallied just 11 kills in the four sets including the second set's five miscues.  NSU rode the formula in the first set posting 16 kills and just 2 errors for a .378 hitting percentage and thanks in large part to an 11-4 run after the teams were tied at 8 apiece.  The run accompanied by a 6 Peacock errorrs allowed NSU to win the first set 25-18.

The Peacock offense hit its stride in the second set led by Jennifer Mundt's 5 kills in the set.  Upper Iowa broke a 14-14 tie and put the set out of reach with an 11-3 run including a pair of late service aces from Lauren Wombles.  UIU hit .433 in the second set with 14 kills and just 1 error to win 25-17.

After the break, the Wolves controlled the pace of play and kept the offensive attack spread out so that UIU's defense couldn't lock into one target.  Northern State won the third and fourth sets by scores of 25-10 and 25-14.

Four Wolves hit double figures in kills led by Kelsey Chambers and Mandy Kurosky, who both posted 15, Tori Biach, who put down 14, and Cari McGarvie, who claimed 10. Drew Smith set up the whole attack with 56 assists; she also held down the defensive line with 14 digs. 

For the Peacocks, Jennifer Mundt (12) and Kelsey Hinrichs (11) combined for 23 kills as the team hit .214 on the night.  Malissa LeClaire handed out 23 assists and Jenna Hermsen tallied 12.  Mundt and Bethany Lovhaug combined on four team blocks, while Taylor Williams claimed 18 digs.

Upper iowa will host the Dragons of Minnesota State University Moorhead on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. in Dorman Gym to close out their four-match homestand.