The Peacock volleyball team played host to No. 2 Concordia University, St. Paul, the defending NCAA DII Champion, to open their Northern Sun Conference slate on Thursday night in Fayette. The Golden Bears rallied from a four-point deficit late and a Peacock set-point to steal the first set and then controlled the second and third sets to claim the sweep. With the win, Concordia-St. Paul moved to 7-2 (1-0 NSIC), while Upper Iowa fell to 7-2 (0-1 NSIC).
 
The home team played with a comfortable lead for much of the first set fueled by the right hands of Anna Winter and Kaitlin Niedert, who recorded 6 and 3 kills in the first set. UIU's largest lead was five points in the first set and the Peacocks still had a 20-16 lead late in the frame, but the Golden Bears scored four straight to tie the score at 20-all. 
 
Later in the set, CSP held a 23-22 lead, but a pair of kills by Winter gave UIU a set-point at 24-23. The visitors scored three straight thanks to two kills from Hope Schiller and a service ace off the tape to win 26-24.
 
Concordia-St. Paul controlled the second and third sets thanks to 27 kills and only 7 attack errors and won by scores of 25-15 and 25-17. Upper Iowa hit .081 in the second set with 10 kills and .147 in the third set with 8 kills. 
 
The Golden Bears were led by Brooklyn Lewis, who knocked down 14 kills including 7 in the second set and 5 in the third. Schiller and Sara Macek each recorded 10 kills. Elizabeth Mohr handed out 41 assists, while Tori Hanson picked up 20 digs and Schiller tallied 14. 
 
Winter led Upper Iowa's offense with 11 kills, while Lauren Wombles and Haley Poula each added 6. Malissa LeClaire set up the attack with 22 assists and added a team-high 19 digs. 
 
The Peacocks will get back on the court Saturday night in Mankato, Minn. Upper Iowa will line up against the Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato at 7 p.m.