The Upper Iowa volleyball team enters the final week of the regular season ranked No. 21 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Top-25 poll. After a perfect 3-0 week of action, the Peacocks collected 252 votes in this week's poll to move up one spot after sitting at No. 22 the past two weeks. Upper Iowa is currently 19-7 (11-7 NSIC) and will look to extend the 2019 campaign into the postseason when the Peacocks host a pair of conference matchups this weekend in Dorman Gymnasium.
The seven other NSIC teams recognized in the poll retained their national ranking with the exception of St. Cloud State University who fell one spot to No. 9 and Southwest Minnesota State University who climbed a spot to No. 17. University of Minnesota Duluth (No. 5), Concordia University, St. Paul (No. 6), Northern State University (No. 7), Wayne State College (No. 13), and Winona State University (No. 16) all stayed put this week. Augustana University (71 votes) is just eight votes outside of the top-25 and Minnesota State University-Mankato (18 votes) is collecting votes for the fifth straight week.
Upper Iowa has won six of its last seven matches including a pair of wins over opponents either ranked or receiving votes in the AVCA poll. All six wins have come in straight-set victories as the Peacocks now have 15 sweeps on the year, a new program-best. Most recently, Upper Iowa played three matches on the road against (RV) Minnesota State, University of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University. In the three wins, the Peacocks hit .303 as a unit led by Kaitlin Niedert (39 kills, .333), Anna Winter (35 kills, .302), and Maggie Streightiff (22 kills, .357). Haley Weepie (46 digs) spearheaded the UIU backline that averaged 17.0 digs per set, while Charisma Herr (29) and Gabby Holmes (22) each contributed as well. Carlee Ketchum handed out 100 assists to lead the team, and Sarah Johnson tallied 12 total blocks including four solo denials.
The Peacocks will have two more chances to secure a spot in the elite NSIC Championships this week. UIU will host No. 5 Minnesota Duluth first for a 6 p.m. matchup on Friday evening, and then will close out the regular season when No. 9 St. Cloud State comes to town for a 4 p.m. clash on Saturday. Upper Iowa currently ranks 8th in NSIC standings, one game ahead of SMSU who will face University of Mary and Minot State University this weekend and one game behind both Winona State and Augustana. WSU will host the same opponents as UIU, while AU welcomes Northern State and Minnesota State University Moorhead to Sioux Falls.
Upper Iowa All-Time in AVCA Top 25
Nov. 11, 2019 - No. 21
Nov. 4, 2019 - No. 22
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
