Upper Iowa dropped their fourth straight match with a 3-0 loss at the hands of the #9 Wildcats of Wayne State College.  The Peacocks have faced three top-ten teams over the last two weekends during the streak.  Wayne State only notched six more kills than Upper Iowa, but 10 service aces for the Wildcats provided the edge for the road team. WSC improved to 15-5 overall and 6-5 in the Northern Sun, while UIU falls to 9-11 overall and 3-8 in the conference.
 
Erin Gross led the Wildcat offense with 14 kills including 6 in the second set, while Megan Gebhardt paced the attack with 34 assists. Michaela Mestl headed up the defense with 15 digs and added 3 aces and Haley Kauth tallied 13 digs and 4 aces.
 
Chelsea Berry and Alisha VanderWoude led the attack for Upper Iowa with 10 and 9 kills, respectively. Malissa LeClaire (13) and Carlee Ketchum (11) set up the offense from their setter positions, while Ashley Larson recorded 15 digs to lead the defense.  Bethany Lovhaug came up with 3 blocks at the net in her two sets played.
 
After the Wildcats controlled the first set, the Peacocks found their stride in the second set matching their guests point for point as the teams were tied at 11-11. Wayne State got away from their hosts with an 8-2 run to establish a 19-13 advantage. UIU still trailed 23-15 when they scored four straight points to close the gap to four, but the team couldn't get any closer losing 25-19. In the third set, the home team led 13-11, when Wayne State rallied and put the match away fueled by a 14-1 run. Berry scored the lone point for UIU with a kill during the Wildcat run.
 
UIU's run through the NSIC gauntlet continues on the road in a few days.  The Peacocks will travel north to face #7 Winona State University on Tuesday at 7 p.m.