Box Score Box Score
Upper Iowa salvaged a weekend road split in the Northern Sun thanks to a five-set victory at Bemidji State University on Saturday. The Peacocks won sets two and three, but needed a fifth and deciding set to claim the win and improve to 12-15 overall and 6-12 in the conference moving back into a tie for 10th place with the University of Minnesota Crookston.
Upper Iowa had a few different leads in the first set, but Bemidji state rallied each time. The final tie came at 22-22, but BSU closed out the set scoring three of the final four points on a pair of kills and an ace to take a 1-0 lead in the match.
Thanks to a great start, the Peacocks were able to claim the second set 25-21. After jumping out to a 12-6 lead, UIU had to withstand a run by the Beavers before closing the set out on a 7-4 run. Upper Iowa and Bemidji State were tied at 10, 19, 20, 21 and 22 in the third set as both defenses continued to force sideouts and exchange serves. UIU had trailed 22-21, but score the final four points on kills to claim the 2-1 lead.
Bemidji State controlled the fourth set and did not allow the Peacocks to get a strong foothold. BSU hit .444 in the frame and tied the match 2-2 thanks to their 25-17 win.
In the fifth set, Hinrichs started the Peacocks off on the right foot with a service ace. UIU pushed their lead to 9-6 when Hinrichs knocked down a kill from a Ketchum assist. After a BSU kill, the Peacocks led 12-10; the road team scored kills on the final three serves off the right hands of Lovhaug,
Haley Poula and VanderWoude to seal the set (15-10) and the match 3-2.
The Peacocks will be at home for their final two matches of the season when they battle the #2 Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota Duluth on Friday at 7 p.m. and the Huskies of St. Cloud State University on Saturday at 3 p.m.
