The Peacock volleyball team ran into a buzzsaw in the form of the #2 Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota Duluth on the road Friday night.  UMD swept their guests and outhit Upper Iowa .349 to .112 to improve to 12-0 overall and 4-0 in the Northern Sun Conference.  UIU fell to 6-7 overall and 0-4 in the conference after losses to three nationally-ranked opponents.

After the Bulldogs dominated set one 25-5, the Peacocks got off on the right foot in set two.  The Peacocks used a 7-1 run to erase a three-point deficit and gain a three-point advantage.  A pair of service aces from Malissa LeClaire highlighted the run.  The home team battled back to tie the set at 17-17 and then closed out the set doubling up on UIU over the final serves 8-4 to secure the 25-21 win.

In set three, the two teams matched each other point for point forcing 16 ties from 4-4 all the way to 24-24.  Neither team could get a way by more than a point through the middle of the set.  UMD scored the final two points of the set to claim the win, 26-24, and the match, 3-0.

Haley Weepie came off the bench to knock down 8 kills, while LeClaire registered 17 assists. Ashley Larson led the defense with 14 digs.

Makenzie Morgen led the Bulldogs with 16 kills and 7 digs.

Upper Iowa will look to break their current four-match skid with a NSIC match at St. Cloud State University at 4 p.m. in St. Cloud, Minn.