Upper Iowa suffered a 3-1 loss at the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday.  The Peacock offense struggled to find a rhythm against the Cougars as the home team posted a 61-30 advantage in kills in the match.  UIU fell back to .500 overall with a 9-9 mark and a 3-6 record in the Northern Sun, while USF improved to 11-6 overall and 5-4 in the conference.
 
Playing without the reigning NSIC Offensive Player of the Week Haley Poula for the second straight night due to injury, the Peacocks got off to a slow start with only 10 kills in the first two sets compared to 14 attack errors.  Sioux Falls posted 25-13 and 25-9 wins in the first two frames to take a 2-0 lead into the break.
 
The Peacocks came out of the break and took the third set 25-21 thanks to 12 kills including three from both Chelsea Berry and Haley Weepie.  The teams were tied at 18-18 late in the set, but UIU outscored their hosts 7-3 down the stretch to cut the gap to 2-1 in the match.  UIU hit .212 in the frame.
 
UIU got out to an early lead in the fourth set, but a 9-2 run by the Cougars gave them a 13-7 lead which they maintained until a quick three straight points by the Peacocks cut the margin to 19-16. Sioux Falls closed out the match by taking six of the final nine points for a 25-19 win.
 
Berry registered 8 kills, while Alisha VanderWoude scored 6 and Weepie knocked down 5.  Malissa LeClaire and Carlee Ketchum each handed out 14 assists, while Kelsey Hinrichs and Ashley Larson got their hands on 9 and 8 digs, respectively.
 
Upper Iowa will host #8 Augustana University and #9 Wayne State College on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14-15.