The Peacock volleyball team fought back from a 1-0 deficit to claim a 3-1 victory over the #22 Winona State University Warriors. The win marked the program's second victory over a nationally-ranked opponent and first since Sept. 10, 2011 when UIU upset #18 Rollins University in four sets. Upper Iowa improved to 7-5 overall and 1-2 in the Northern Sun, while the Warriors dropped to 7-3 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
After a forgettable first set, which Winona State won 25-16 and Upper Iowa hit just .081 with 8 errors on the attack, the team bounced back in front of a loud and rowdy crowd to take the victory. The Peacocks offense came alive in the second set with 15 kills and a .273 hitting percentage, while the defense also carried their weight forcing the Warriors to hit .056 in the second frame.
Jennifer Mundt had five kills and
Alisha VanderWoude had four kills in the set as UIU reversed the score for a 25-16 win of their own.
Following the intermission, Upper Iowa kept improving on offense and put down 19 kills in the third set led by Mundt's nine bombs. The Peacocks held on for a 25-23 win to take a 2-1 lead in Dorman Gym. Midway through the third set, the home team pushed their lead to five points, 16-11, and held on to the very end getting the win on a kill by
Miranda LeJeune.
Winona State claimed the first two points of the fourth set, but Upper Iowa bounced back quickly and jumped out to large lead, 17-7. The Warriors slowly began to creep back in and get within five, 19-14, thanks to a 7-2 run. UIU found their stride again and won the fourth and final set of the night, 25-20.
Mundt led all hitters on the night with 27 kills on the night, just two short of her all-time high, which she set two weekends ago against St. Cloud State in a five-set match. Mundt got stronger as the night moved along; she had 11 kills at intermission and then added 16 more in the third and fourth sets.
Jenna Hermsen (23 assists) and
Malissa LeClaire (19) both paced the Peacock offense. Defensively,
Taylor Williams and LeClaire took care of business on the back line. Williams picked up 28 balls, while LeClaire recorded 22 digs.
The Peacocks will head to Augustana University in Sioux Falls, S.D. for a match with the #22 Vikings on Friday night and then travel to Wayne, Neb. For a match against the #5 Wayne State College Wildcats on Saturday afternoon.
