The Peacocks dropped a five-set match for just the second time this season; the team entered the match with a 5-1 record in matches that went the distance. Sioux Falls took the first set, but Upper Iowa rallied with a pair of wins in sets two and three. The home team claimed the win with two straight set victories to close the match. The loss dropped UIU's record to 14-12 overall and 8-9 in the NSIC, while USF improved to 13-13 overall and 5-12 in the conference.
The two teams exchanged control of the first two sets with the Cougars claiming a 25-18 win in the opening set. The Peacocks took over the second set posting a 25-14 victory to tie the match at 1-1. The third set featured runs by both squads; USF took an early 9-4 lead, but UIU bounced back to tie the match at 16-16. The Cougars once again pushed out to a three-point lead, 23-20, but the Peacocks claimed the final five points of the frame to win 25-23.
Upper Iowa took a 16-15 lead midway through the fourth set, but a 5-2 run from Sioux Falls gave the Cougars a 20-18 lead. The home team scored on five of the next seven serves to tie the match at 2-2 thanks to a 25-20 set win.
in the fifth set, the Cougars got off to a good start claiming a 6-3 lead, but the Peacocks rallied to take a 7-6 lead. The lead bounced back and forth, but Sioux Falls slowly pulled out to a 13-10 lead. Upper Iowa scored two points in a row to cut the margin to one, 13-12, but Sioux Falls reached match point. UIU pulled back within one, 14-13, but couldn't complete the comeback.
Jennifer Mundt put down 25 kills to lead the UIU offense.
Lauren Wombles (11),
Alisha VanderWoude (9) and
Sarah Frisch (8) combined for 28 kills.
Malissa LeClaire and
Jenna Hermsen paced the attack with 28 and 23 assists, respectively, while
Taylor Williams got her hands on 21 digs and
Kelsey Hinrichs added 16 and Hermsen and LeClaire both chipped in 11.
Blocking made a huge difference in the match as the Cougars posted a 15-5 advantage in team blocks.
The Peacocks will face the #2 Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minn. on Saturday at 3 p.m.