THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK VOLLEYBALL… The No. 22 Upper Iowa volleyball will play their final road matches of the 2019 regular season against University of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University. The Peacocks will first travel to Crookston, Minn. for a 6 p.m. match with the Golden Eagles on Friday evening before making their way to Bemidji, Minn. to face the Beavers at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

ROAD TO SIOUX FALLS… In approximately two weeks, the top eight teams in the conference will travel to the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D. for the elite NSIC Tournament. Upper Iowa currently rounds out the top-8 in NSIC standings with a 9-7 record in conference play, and is looking to qualify for the postseason for the third season in a row. The Peacocks are one game ahead of (RV) Minnesota State University-Mankato and No. 18 Southwest Minnesota State University, and one game behind No. 16 Winona State University and (RV) Augustana University.

NOTHING GETS PAST WEEPIE… Libero Haley Weepie has been a staple in the backrow for the Peacocks all season long, but especially in the last five matches. The senior accounted for nearly 40% of UIU's total digs during that stretch to average an impressive 6.3 digs per set fueled by two 20+ performances. Weepie is averaging 4.78 digs per set this season (4^th in NSIC) with 397 total digs. She now has 1,303 career digs and could slide into 3^rd all-time with 58 more this year.

KAITLIN'S KILLIN' IT… Junior Kaitlin Niedert has also played a vital role in the Peacocks going 4-1 in the last five matches. The outside hitter averaged 4.1 kills per set to lead the team offensively during the stretch, while hitting .269 including a pair of games over .400. Defensively, Niedert also tallied seven total blocks (5 assists, 2 solo) and seven digs in those games.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES… Minnesota Crookston (4-20, 2-14 NSIC) enters the weekend having lost eight straight matches to NSIC opponents. The Golden Eagles rank 14^th with a .144 team hitting percentage and 15^th in opponent hitting percentage (.251). UMC collectively averages 9.47 kills, 8.59 assists, 14.57 digs, 1.61 blocks, and 1.16 aces per set. Porsha Porath leads the way with 3.02 kills per set, Katie Lienemann averages 3.46 digs per set to pace the defensive, and Sydney Kruisselbrink is the primary setter with 5.58 assists per set.

SCOUTING THE BEAVERS… Bemidji State (7-17, 4-12 NSIC) has gone 2-3 over the last two weeks of play with a pair of 3-1 wins over No. 8 Wayne State College and Minnesota Crookston at home. The Beavers rank 13^th in both hitting percentage (.171) and opponent hitting percentage (.236), and average 11.31 kills, 10.66 assists, 14.36 digs, 1.61 blocks, and 1.38 aces as a unit. BSU is led offensively by Becky Schroeder's 2.8 kills per set and defensively by Emma Hallmann who averages 4.13 digs per set. Maddie Mackinac paces the offense with 9.58 assists per set, while Julie Touchett leads the team at the net with 70 blocks (.79/set) and has a team-best .286 attack percentage.

EARLIER THIS SEASON… Upper Iowa earned a pair of sweeps against UMC and BSU earlier this season when the Peacocks hosted the teams in Fayette. UIU hit .307 in front of the home crowd, including a .362 mark on Saturday against the Beavers, while containing their opponents to a .075 efficiency. The Peacocks averaged 14.67 kill/set, 13.0 assists/set, 16.83 digs/set, 1.5 blocks/set, and 1.33 aces/set compared to their opponents' 8.83 kills/set, 8.5 assists/set, 12.5 digs/set, 1.0 blocks/set, and 1.0 aces/set.

UP NEXT… The Peacocks will play their final matches of the regular season in the friendly confines of Dorman Gymnasium. Upper Iowa will host the No. 5 University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs on Friday night at 6 p.m. and the No. 8 St. Cloud State University Huskies on Saturday at 4 p.m.