The Peacock volleyball team was swept in a Northern Sun Conference match on the road on Saturday.  Upper Iowa visited the Taylor Center in Mankato, Minn. to challenge the Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato.  The Mavericks used the home court to their advantage to post the 3-0 win and improve to 7-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference; UIU fell to 6-5 overall and 0-2 in the NSIC.
 
The Mavericks pushed out to an early 13-7 lead in set one thanks to a 6-1 run following a Chelsea Berry kill that pulled the Peacocks within one, 7-6.  The home team followed with a second run to move out to an 18-9 advantage.  Upper Iowa dug in and made a run of their own to close the gap to just three points, 21-18, behind kills from three different players including two from Berry.  The run came too late for the Peacocks; Minnesota State closed out the set to win 25-21.
 
The teams were neck-and-neck in the second set locking up in a tie at 13-13.  MSU tried to pull away, but each time UIU stayed within a striking distance of one point.  Leading 19-18, the home team scored five of the next eight points to get ahead 24-21.  Upper Iowa tried to rally cutting the gap to one, 24-23, but a final kill from the Mavericks ended the comeback.
 
In the final set, the Peacocks jumped out to an early 6-2 lead, but the Mavericks were able to tie the match at 7-7.  With the score still knotted at 10-10, MSU went on an 8-1 run to separate from their guests. Minnesota State kept the pressure up and finished off Upper Iowa claiming the match with a 25-16 set three win.
 
Anna Winter led the Peacock offense, which hit .093 for the match, with 9 kills, while Berry added 8 and Lauren Wombles put down 7.  Malissa LeClaire and Carlee Ketchum both tallied 12 assists, while Ashley Larson had 11 digs and Ketchum added 9. Miranda LeJeune registered 3 blocks to add to UIU's defense.
 
Upper Iowa will return to Dorman Gym on Tuesday night, Sept. 20, for their next match.  The Peacocks will host the #9 Warriors of Winona State University at 7 p.m.  Members of the Upper Iowa Athletic Director's Honor Roll will be recognized between sets two and three.