The Upper Iowa volleyball team grabbed the No. 19 spot in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Top-25 poll thanks to a program-best 342 votes. The Peacocks are 12-4 overall and 4-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, and have been ranked in the Top-25 for five consecutive polls.
The NSIC is well represented in the national rankings with eight teams in the top-25 - including six in the top-12 - and two more receiving votes. Along with Upper Iowa, Concordia-St. Paul (No. 5), Northern State (No. 6), Minnesota Duluth (No. 7), St. Cloud State (No. 8), Wayne State (No. 11), Southwest Minnesota State (No. 12), and Winona State (No. 20) all earned a spot in this week's poll. Sioux Falls and Minnesota State are among schools receiving votes.
Upper Iowa enters the week having split its latest matches at home. The Peacocks started last week with a quick 3-0 sweep of the Augustana Vikings before dropping a heartbreaking five-set loss to then-No. 15 Wayne State on Saturday. Seniors Anna Winter and Haley Weepie were named NSIC Top Performers on Monday following their weekend performances. Winter averaged an NSIC-best 5.12 kills per set with 18 kills against AU and 23 against against WSC. She hit .284 over the weekend including .486 against the Vikings, and tallied nine digs, three blocks and an ace as well. Weepie spearhead the Peacock defense with 5.25 digs per set, and played a big role against WSC by contributing a career-high seven assists and digging up 24 balls to earn her fifth game of the season with 20+ digs. Carlee Ketchum was also a standout player for the Peacocks, averaging 11.38 assists per set while finishing second on the team with 26 digs (3.25/set) and hitting .368 with eight kills and just one error in 19 attempts. She registered 56 assists and 21 digs against WSC, both career-highs, to notch her sixth double-double of the season.
The Peacocks conclude their three-game homestand with a Tuesday matchup against Minnesota State University-Mankato at 6 p.m. Upper Iowa will then hit the road to face Minnesota State University Moorhead and No. 6 Northern State University later this week.
Upper Iowa All-Time in AVCA Top 25
Oct. 14, 2019 - No. 19
Oct. 7, 2019 - No. 18
Sept. 30, 2019 - No. 22
Sept. 23, 2019 - No. 23
Sept. 16, 2019 - No. 25
Oct. 30, 2017 - No. 25
