The Peacock volleyball team lost for just the third time in their last twelve matches on Saturday evening at Wayne State College. UIU led the match 2-1 in sets, but the Wildcats rallied to claim a five-set victory and stay ahead of the Peacocks in the NSIC standings. 

Upper Iowa is tied for seventh place in the conference standings with Winona State University, who the Peacocks have beaten twice this season. UIU and WSU hold a one-match lead over Minnesota State University, Mankato and St. Cloud State University, who are tied for 9th place in the standings.

With her final assist of the night, senior setter Malissa LeClaire reached 3,000 career assists as a Peacock. LeClaire handed out 99 assists over the weekend including 64 on Saturday at Wayne State for a 12.8 per set average.

Anna Winter knocked down 26 kills, while Lauren Wombles added 19 and Kaitlin Niedert chipped in 16. Defensively, Haley Weepie got her hands on 36 digs and Kasey Brennan and Gabby Holmes registered 26 and 18, respectively. Bethany Lovhaug recorded 7 blocks and Wombles and LeClaire added 5 and 4, respectively.

After both teams scored a pair of wins, the match moved to a deciding fifth set. Wayne State took an early 5-2 lead, but Upper Iowa bounced back with a 7-1 run to go ahead 9-6. The run was highlighted by a pair of Winter aces and two Peacock blocks. The UIU offense missed on four straight attacks as WSC used a 6-0 run to take a 12-9 lead. UIU continued to push back and cut the gap to one, 14-13, after three kills from Wombles, but Wayne State got the final point of the night on a kill to claim the set 15-13 and win the match.

Upper Iowa will host a pair of NSIC matches next Friday and Saturday, Nov. 2-3 to close out their regular season. The Peacocks will host Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday at 6 p.m. and the University of Sioux Falls on Saturday at 4 p.m.