Upper Iowa claimed the first set of their match with the #9 Warriors of Winona State University on Tuesday night, but the Warriors bounced back to win the next three and claim a 3-1 victory in Fayette. Both teams struggled to put the ball away on the night as hitting percentages were below .200 for the match, but WSU pushed through thanks to a pair of subs that provided the spark. Winona State improved to 8-3 overall and 2-1 in the NSIC, while UIU fell to 10-2 overall and 1-2 in the conference.
The Peacocks had their best hitting set to open the match winning 25-18 behind a .240 percentage.
Anna Winter and
Haley Weepie combined for 9 kills in the first set as Upper Iowa used a 4-0 run midway through the frame to extend their lead to 16-11. The home maintained their cushion to the end of the set winning 25-18.
Late in the second period, the Peacocks trailed 18-16, but Winona State ran away down the stretch scoring seven of the final nine points to win 25-18. UIU hit .241 in the set, but couldn't match Winona State's .324 percentage and 17 kills. The change for the Warriors came in large part to the insertion of Bre Maloney as the primary setter and Maria Fruechte as a hitter on the outside.
UIU came out of the intermission and took the first three points of the third set, but a 7-0 run by the Warriors turned a one-point Peacock lead into a six-point hole. UIU never recovered in the frame and dropped a 25-17 decision to fall behind 2-1 in the match.
The two teams went point-for-point to open the fourth set and were tied at 7-7, but another WSU run, 7-2 this time, pushed the visitors out to a 14-9 lead. The Peacocks were able to close the gap back to three, 19-16, but a Maria Wrage's 14th kill of the match ended a long rally and gave the Warriors a four-point edge. Fruechte ended the match with a kill on an assist from Maloney.
Wrage led the Warriors with 14 kills, while Fruechte knocked down 13 in her three sets. Jordan Runge added 11 and Danielle Rampart chipped in 10. Maloney handed out 40 assists and got her hands on 15 digs, while Becca Pagel picked up 30 digs and Rampart got to 19.
Winter recorded 9 kills for UIU, while Weepie and
Bethany Lovhaug each posted 8 kills.
Malissa LeClaire picked up 20 assists and
Carlee Ketchum had 15.
Ashley Larson led the back line with 20 digs, while LeClaire added 15.
Upper Iowa will return to Dorman Gym this Friday and Saturday to close out their current four-match home stand. The Peacocks will host Minnesota State University Moorhead on Friday at 6 p.m. and #19 Northern State University on Saturday at 2 p.m.
