The Upper Iowa volleyball team earned the No. 22 spot in the current American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Top-25 poll with 214 total votes. Following a 2-0 weekend at home, the Peacocks are 15-6 overall and 7-6 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
The Peacocks are joined by seven NSIC opponents in the rankings; Minnesota Duluth (No. 3), Concordia-St. Paul (No. 6), Northern State (No. 7), St. Cloud State (No. 11), Wayne State (No. 12), Southwest Minnesota State (No. 15), and Winona State (No. 16) are all nationally ranked as well. Minnesota State is receiving votes just outside the poll.
The Peacocks made quick work of both Minot State University and University of Mary this past weekend, collecting their 10th and 11th sweeps of the season in the process. The team hit .370 as a unit with four Peacocks swinging .400 or better including Anna Winter (.459), Maggie Streightiff (.441), Claire Milnes (.440), and Kaitlin Niedert (.400). Winter paced the offense with 5.17 kills per set, while Niedert added 4.17 per set. Carlee Ketchum coordinated the attack with 12.33 assists per set and also added 11 digs and a team-high three aces. Haley Weepie was a staple on the backline all weekend, averaging 7.00 digs per set with 30 more digs than the next highest person on the team. In the block category, Upper Iowa held a 12.0-1.0 advantage over the weekend led by Sarah Johnson (1.00/set) and Milnes (.83/set).
With just three weeks left of the regular season, Upper Iowa is entering its toughest stretch yet. The Peacocks are to set to face No. 16 Winona State, No. 6 Concordia-St. Paul, and (RV) Minnesota State all within a span of just five days. UIU will host WSU for a Halloween night matchup beginning at 6 p.m., and then will hit the road to face CSP on Saturday night at 5 p.m. and MSU on Monday at 6 p.m.
Upper Iowa All-Time in AVCA Top 25
Oct. 28, 2019 - No. 22
Oct. 21, 2019 - No. 21
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
