The Peacock volleyball team lost the first two sets against #20 Wayne State College on Friday night, but the team rallied for a five-set road win to mark their third win of the season against an AVCA Top 25 (or receiving votes) team. Upper Iowa improved to 18-5 overall and 9-5 in the NSIC, while Wayne State falls to 15-9 overall and 8-6 in the conference.

Two Peacocks set new career highs as Malissa LeClaire handed out 59 assists and Bethany Lovhaug put down 19 kills while swinging at a .519 clip for the match. UIU hit .297 for the match, which marks the team's third highest percentage of the season. Anna Winter led the Peacocks with 21 kills, while fellow sophomores Haley Poula and Haley Weepie added 14 and 13, respectively.

While the offense was scoring points, the defense was keeping the Wildcat attack under control. The Peacocks picked up 98 digs in the match with Weepie and LeClaire leading the way with 19 and 18, respectively. In total, six Peacocks had double figure digs including Ashley Larson's 14. Lovhaug recorded 5 blocks on the night, but Wayne State outblocked Upper Iowa 10-6 in the match.

After dropping the first two sets by just two points apiece (25-23 & 25-23), the Peacocks came together in set three. With the score tied at 16-16, Upper Iowa used a 7-2 run fueled by a pair of Winter kills and two more kills and a block from Lovhuag and Winter. The run put UIU in control and ahead 23-18 in the frame.

Once the Peacocks closed out the third set, 25-21, the team dominated the fourth set posting a 25-9 win.  Upper Iowa scored the first five points and ran their lead to an early nine points, 11-2. The road team kept the pressure on and continued to build on their lead until the Peacocks claimed the 16-point win. UIU hit .343 in the set and held their hosts to just 8 kills and a .051 percentage.

With the match tied at 2-2, the Peacocks and Wildcats entered a deciding fifth set. Upper Iowa jumped out to an early 7-3 lead thanks to three kills from Winter and two more from Poula. Wayne State climbed within one point on four occasions with the latest slim disadvantage coming at 11-10 in favor of Upper Iowa. The Peacocks built their advantage to 14-11 and closed the set and match out on a kill from the right hand of Weepie.

With the win, the Peacocks improved to 2-0 on the season in five-set matches and 3-5 against teams in the AVCA Top 25 or receiving votes.

Upper Iowa will take the short road trip up to Sioux Falls, S.D. for another matchup of teams mentioned with the AVCA Top 25. The Peacocks, who receive the second most votes of the teams not listed in the Top 25, will challenge the #15 Vikings of Augustana University on Saturday at 2 p.m.