The Peacock volleyball team continued to go into unchartered territory on Saturday with their home-opening 3-1 victory over Minnesota State University, Mankato. Upper Iowa improved to 10-1 overall and 1-1 in the Northern Sun Conference with their first-ever win over the Mavericks. UIU dropped the second set in the match after winning the first, but controlled play after intermission to come away with the four-set win.
Upper Iowa rode the hot hands of
Anna Winter and
Haley Poula in the first set as each sophomore hitter came away with 5 kills.
Ashley Larson and Madie Meier kept the ball off the ground on the backline, as the pair both recorded 6 digs. Trailing 22-21, UIU scored three straight points on a pair of Poula kills around a block by Poula and
Bethany Lovhaug. The final point also came on a kill off the right hand of Poula.
The momentum turned in the second set with the Mavericks taking control thanks to a .286 hitting percentage (14 kills/4 errors). The Peacocks struggled on the attack converting only 8 kills while making 7 attack errors. Morgan Olson and Anissa Janzig combined for 10 kills in the set to lead MSU to a 25-16 win.
In the third set, UIU came out with more intensity and jumped out to an early 5-0 lead, but MSU rallied to tie the score at 9-9. The Peacocks were not to be denied in the frame though; Upper Iowa rattled off 16 of the next 19 points to win 25-12. A pair of subs provided a spark in the set and UIU cruised to the big set win. Carlee Ketchum handed out 4 assists and Kenzie Soeken knocked down a kill and added 3 blocks at the net.
Upper Iowa stayed in control to start the fourth set moving out to an 11-5 lead, but Minnesota State didn't roll over. The Mavericks fought back tying the score at 13-13 and eventually taking a 23-21 lead. The home team scored the final four points fueled by a kill from Winter, a service ace by
Malissa LeClaire and a final kill from Poula. The 25-23 win sealed the victory for UIU.
Poula led the offense with 15 kills followed by Winter's 11 and Haley Weepie's 9. LeClaire dished up 26 assists, while Ketchum added 8 and Larson 6. Larson led the back line with 16 digs and LeClaire added 13 and Weepie chipped in 11.
One of the biggest differences was UIU's play at the net where they registered 8 team blocks compared to just 3 for MSU. Lovhaug led the squad with 5 blocks, while Poula and Soeken each added 3 to the mix.
Upper Iowa will remain home for three matches next week including bouts with Winona State University on Tuesday at 6 p.m., Minnesota State University Moorhead on Friday at 6 p.m. and Northern State University on Saturday at 2 p.m.
