The Peacock volleyball had their five-match win streak snapped on Saturday afternoon in Fayette. Upper Iowa dropped a hard-fought, three-set loss to the #5 Bulldogs of the University of Minnesota Duluth. UMD secured the win by set scores of 25-21, 28-26 and 25-23. The Bulldogs are now 17-2 overall and 10-1 in the Northern Sun, while the Peacocks fell to 16-4 overall and 7-4 in the conference. The sweep marked the first time all season that UIU had been defeated in straight sets; Upper Iowa is 10-1 in three set matches this season.
 
The Bulldogs offense racked up 55 kills, but UIU made them work forcing 26 errors. While the Peacock defense was playing tough, the offense found it hard to put the ball to the floor against Minnesota Duluth. UIU recorded just 29 kills in the match and hit .153 against UMD.
 
UMD jumped out to an early 14-8 lead, but Upper Iowa began to chip away at their lead. Upper Iowa cut the deficit to three, 19-16, but the teams went back and forth the rest of the way as Minnesota Duluth posted the 25-21 victory.
 
In the second set, the Peacocks took control midway through holding a 21-16 advantage, but the nationally-ranked Bulldogs bounced back with a 7-2 run to tie the score at 23-23. UIU fought off one set point for UMD and then earned a pair at 25-24 and 26-25, but couldn't get the finishing point. The Bulldogs scored the final three points to end the set, 28-26, and take a 2-0 lead.
 
The Bulldogs pushed out to a 16-9 advantage in set three, but the Peacocks were able to get back into the set pulling within one, 17-16, thanks to a 7-1 run. The home team kept up the pressure and took a slim 20-19 lead. The teams were tied at 20, 21, 22 before UMD scored two in a row to lead 24-22. UIU cut the gap to one, but a Bulldog kill ended the set, 25-23, and the match, 3-0.
 
Kate Berg (15 kills), Abby Thor (12 kills) and Sarah Kelly (11 kills) all reached double figures on offense for the Bulldogs, while Emily Torve registered 42 assists.
 
The Peacocks were led by Haley Weepie on the day with 8 kills, 12 digs and 3 blocks. Lauren Wombles added 7 kills and 4 blocks, while Bethany Lovhaug chipped in 4 kills and 6 blocks.
 
Upper Iowa stays at home this week and will host the University of Sioux Falls on Friday night at 6 p.m. and Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.