THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK VOLLEYBALL… The No. 21 Upper Iowa volleyball team opens up another three-game homestand that kicks off with matches against Minot State University and University of Mary this weekend. The Peacocks first welcome the Beavers to Dorman Gymnasium on Friday evening at 6 p.m. and then will take the floor against the Marauders on Saturday for a 2 p.m. start time.

LIVE OPTIONS… Live stats and webcast will be available all weekend through the links at UIUPeacocks.com/Live or the games can be streamed live on the Stretch Internet App for fans with Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple or Android televisions. In addition, Friday's match can be broadcast live on KCRG-TV 9.3 and Saturday's match will be aired on KCRG-TV 9.2.

SIX IS SWEET… For the sixth week in a row, the Peacocks grabbed a spot in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Top-25 poll. Upper Iowa is currently ranked No. 21 in the nation, and joins seven other NSIC schools ranked in the poll and two more receiving votes. Of the Peacocks' nine remaining matches in the regular season, five are against these teams either ranked or receiving votes, meaning Upper Iowa will continue to battle the best teams in all of NCAA Division II.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS… Four Peacock seniors have been working their way up the career record charts throughout their final season in Upper Iowa uniform. Outside hitter Anna Winter has powered down 1182 kills in her career, which ranks 4th in program history. She has 302 kills this year, fueled by her 4.44 kills per set average (2nd NSIC, 5th NCAA DII), and would need just 26 more to exceed the 3rd highest career total currently held by Sara Vance (1207 kills). Libero Haley Weepie has recorded 303 digs this season (4.46/set - 6th NSIC) to put her career total at 1209, a number that surpasses former teammate Ashley Larson's mark of 1151 career digs to rank 4th all-time. Gabby Holmes has also cracked into the career digs standings with the 10th-most in program history (909), needing just nine more to move up an additional spot. Last, but certainly not least, setter Carlee Ketchum has notched her name into the record books with 1205 career assists. She has 724 helpers as a senior (10.65/set - 4th NSIC) and can slide into the 5th-highest career total with 31 more this year. 

SCOUTING MINOT STATE… The Beavers (1-19, 0-11 NSIC) enter the weekend searching for their first conference win of the season. Minot State's lone victory of the season came against UMary on Oct. 1 in a non-conference matchup at the Minot State Dome. The Beaver offense is led by Shelby Spuller and Emily Falldorf who has 206 and 117 kills, respectively. Karli Koza leads the team in digs with 275, Mackenzie Froehlich trails with 143, and Shae Pedersen has 123 digs. Froehlich has 487 assists on the year, which is 3rd all-time for the Beavers. Hayley Swain has 49 blocks with Falldorf behind her with 37 blocks.

SCOUTING UMARY… The Marauders (1-19, 0-11 NSIC) are also in the hunt for their first win over an NSIC opponent. UMary captured a 3-1 win over New Mexico Highlands University early in the season but has been unable to find its groove ever since. The Marauders' strongest asset is their ability to dig the ball up; UMary ranks 7^th in the NSIC with 15.43 digs per set led by Natalia Cruz's 3.74 set average. Offensively, UMary is led by Morgan Schnabel who has posted 210 kills this season. Sydney Murphy has been successful from setter spot, recording 509 assists and 174 digs on the year fueled by 11 double-doubles.

UP NEXT… The Peacocks have a stretch of tough NSIC matchups on the horizon that will all take place in the span of just five days. Upper Iowa will welcome No. 17 Winona State University on Thurs., Oct. 31 before hitting the road to face No. 7 Concordia University, St. Paul and (RV) Minnesota State University-Mankato on Nov. 2 and Nov. 4.