The #19 Wolves of Northern State University rallied for a four-set victory against the Peacock volleyball team in Dorman Gym on Saturday. Upper Iowa won an offensive first set by two points, 25-23, but the Peacocks could not sustain their offensive pace to stay with the Wolves in the second, third and fourth sets scoring 15, 16 and 16 points in the frames. With the loss, Upper Iowa falls to 11-3 on the season and 2-3 in the NSIC. All three losses have come against NCAA Top 25 teams. Northern State improved to 12-1 overall and 5-0 in the conference.
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A back-and-forth first set came down to the final few points before a decision. The Wolves led 21-19, but the Peacocks rallied behind the right hand of
Anna Winter. Upper Iowa reached set point first, 24-22, and put the win on the board with a final kill by Winter. The sophomore outside hitter knocked down four kills during the Peacocks' final six points in the set; Winter had seven kills in the opening action.
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A kill from
Krisha Tonne in the second set pulled UIU within three, 16-13, but NSU went on a run that the Peacocks couldn't answer to pull away for a 25-15 win to even the score 1-1. The Wolves came out of intermission and took an early lead in the third set and maintained their advantage to get a 25-16 win. UIU was within one, 10-9, midway through the fourth set, but NSU used another run to close the match out with a 25-16 win.
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Northern State registered 65 kills and a .335 hitting percentage thanks to just 13 attack errors in the match. The Wolves were led by Laura Snyder's 20 kills and Jenna Reiff's 16 kills on the afternoon. Ashley Rozell dished up 58 assists in the match, while Holly Vancura put her hands on 24 digs.
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Winter led the Peacocks with 17 of the team's 41 kills.
Malissa LeClaire handed out 34 assists and added 17 digs, while
Ashley Larson led the team in digs with 21.
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Upper Iowa will set out on a pair of long road trips over the next two weekends. The Peacocks will first head to Minot State University and the University of Mary on Sept. 29 and 30 and then visit Bemidji State University and the University of Minnesota Crookston on Oct. 6 and 7. UIU will finally return home to face St. Cloud State University and the University of Minnesota Duluth on Oct. 13 and 14.
