The Upper Iowa volleyball team is receiving votes in the AVCA Division II Coaches Top 25 poll for the first time since Sept. 4 of last season when the Peacocks claimed their 14^th straight appearance in the poll dating back to the historic 2017 season. UIU received 59 votes to be in the Top 25 following a perfect 4-0 start to the season, joining nine other Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schools in the rankings or receiving votes.

Upper Iowa opened the 2019 season as the only team to go undefeated at the Keweenaw Volleyball Classic hosted by Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Mich. After a four-set victory against Northern Michigan University, the Peacocks shutout Lake Superior State University and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside in their next two matches. UIU closed out the weekend in exciting fashion, defeating Michigan Tech, who is now ranked No. 21 in the AVCA poll, in a thrilling five-set match on Saturday evening. Following the tournament, Anna Winter was selected to the all-tournament team and named Tournament MVP after leading the tournament with 4.80 kills/set and posting the highest hitting percentage (.371) among all attackers who had over 100 attempts. She was also designated one of this week's NSIC Top Performers on Monday afternoon.

Over the weekend, Upper Iowa complied 207 kills, 278 digs, 26 blocks, and 28 aces compared to opponents' 176 kills, 247 digs, 24 blocks, and 14 aces. Winter led the team with 72 kills while Maggie Streightiff added 37 and Kaitlin Niedert had 35. Haley Weepie, another one of this week's NSIC Top Performers, averaged 5.47 digs per set to finish top-3 in the conference with 82 digs. The senior libero had plenty of help on the backline from Kasey Brennan (39 digs), Charisma Herr (37 digs), and Gabby Holmes (36 digs). Setter Carlee Ketchum dished out 158 assists, contributed 30 digs, and led the team with seven aces. Sarah Johnson was a force at the net in her first collegiate matches, tallying 25 kills and a team-leading 18 blocks (1.20/set – 3^rd in NSIC).

Upper Iowa is one of nine Northern Sun Conference teams mentioned the poll. The first five are in the top 25 including #6 University of Minnesota Duluth, #7 Northern State University, #10 Concordia University-St. Paul, #15 Southwest Minnesota State University and #22 Wayne State College. Along with the Peacocks, the University of Sioux Falls (37), Winona State University (24), and St. Cloud State University (17) are receiving votes.

The Peacocks have posted an impressive 20-1 non-conference record over the last three seasons, and will look to build upon that mark this weekend at the UW-Parkside Invitational in Kenosha, Wis. UIU will face Purdue University-Northwest, UW-Parkside, McKendree University, and Quincy University on Friday and Saturday.