The Peacock volleyball team dropped a 3-0 decision on the road Friday night at the University of Sioux Falls. The home team came out of the gates on fire on offense and tallied a 52-37 advantage in kills despite only a small margin in attack errors in the match. The Cougars avenged a three-set loss in Fayette at the hands of the Peacocks a year ago to improve to 7-5 overall and 2-2 in the conference. UIU falls to 8-4 overall and 1-3 in the NSIC.
 
While Sioux Falls was collecting their 52 kills, Upper Iowa was only able to force the Cougars into 8 attack errors in the three sets for a .358 hitting percentage. The Peacocks only made 4 additional attack errors, but only knocked down 37 kills hitting .223.
 
Sioux Falls pulled off the sweep thanks to set scores of 25-20, 25-16, 25-18. In the first set with the score tied at 15-15, the home team doubled their guests output over the remainder of the set to claim the opening frame. UIU trailed 14-13 in the second set when a Sioux Falls 11-3 run pushed the Cougars to a 2-0 lead. An 8-2 run midway through the third set turned a two-point lead for UIU into a four-point deficit late in the set.
 
Sioux Falls was led by Makenna Rockeman, who tallied 14 kills, Averey Yaksich, who put down 13 kills, and Lexi Scott, who knocked in 8 kills. The trio of Cougars combined for just 4 attack errors for the match. Krista Goerger added 45 assists and 13 digs, while Kasandra Springer got her hands on 14 digs.
 
Anna Winter (12 kills) and Kaitlin Niedert (10 kills) led the offense in kills, while Malissa LeClaire handed out 30 assists. Haley Weepie paced the back line with 17 digs.
 
The Peacocks will face No. 7 Southwest Minnesota State University on Saturday at 2 p.m. in Marshall, Minn. Live stats and a webcast are available if you can't be at the match.