The Peacock volleyball team came up on the wrong end of a 3-1 decision for the first time this season. Upper Iowa traveled to St. Paul, Minn. on Thursday to face the defending national champions and No. 2 Golden Bears of Concordia University, St. Paul. The Golden Bears have won eight of the last ten national championships and improved to 8-1 overall and 1-0 in the NSIC with the win. UIU is now 9-1 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
 
The Peacocks and Golden Bears were evenly matched in sets two, three and four, but the home team dominated the first set by a 25-13 count. Upper Iowa struggled to put the ball away in the first set coming up with only 8 kills to counter their 7 attack errors. However, the team settled in during the second set and forced the frame into extra points before falling 28-26. Upper Iowa trailed 24-22 in the second set, but scored three straight points as sophomore Haley Weepie cut loose with three straight kills giving the Peacocks a set point, 25-24. After a pair of Golden Bear points, UIU tied the set again at 26-26, but a CSP kill and ace ended the set and gave the home team a 2-0 lead.
 
UIU came out of the intermission and controlled the conclusion of the third set racking up 19 kills to score a 25-21 victory. With the set tied at 19-19, the Peacocks scored six of the final eight points behind three kills from Weepie and a pair from Lauren Wombles. In the fourth and final set, Concordia built a late lead and held on for a 25-20 win to claim the match. UIU trailed 22-15, but rallied behind the right hands of Anna Winter, Weepie and Wombles to pull within four, 24-20. CSP ended the match with a final kill.
 
Weepie led the Peacocks with 21 kills and 15 digs on the night; her second double-double of the season. Winter added 14 kills, while Wombles knocked down 8 balls. Both Winter, who only committed one attack error, and Weepie hit at a high percentage converting .325 and .304 of their attempts. Malissa LeClaire distributed 42 assists and picked up 15 digs in the match. Ashley Larson recorded a team-high 16 digs in the match.
 
After the match, Head Coach Aaron Nelson said, "We started off a bit slow tonight and never really settled into the first set.  We talked about executing and taking better care of our side as we started the second set and responded very well to that challenge. We came out and played with more consistency in our serving, passing and defense. From the second set on, the scoring was point for point for the rest of the match. I am proud of the fight we had tonight on the road against a good team."
 
The Peacocks will finally open their home schedule this Saturday, Sept. 16, when they welcome the Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato at 2 p.m. in Dorman Gym.