The American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) released their second Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll of the season on Monday afternoon, and Upper Iowa checked into the rankings for the second time in program history. The Peacocks were four spots away from the Top 25 just one week ago but four straight sweeps at the Hampton Inn Invitational hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Parkside earned UIU the No. 25 spot in this week's rankings with 142 votes.  

Upper Iowa is one of 20 NCAA Division II schools remaining with unblemished records and one of nine with eight or more wins already. In addition, UIU was the only team to go undefeated at their first tournament of the season, and was the only team to not drop a set at last weekend's tournament. 

The Peacocks join seven other Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schools in the Top 25 including No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth, No. 6 Concordia University, St. Paul, No. 8 Northern State University, No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State University, No. 19 St. Cloud State University, No. 20 Wayne State College, and No. 24 University of Sioux Falls. Winona State University and Augustana University are amongst schools receiving votes. 

Anna Winter is averaging 4.67 kills per set (2nd in NSIC, 6th in NCAA DII) this season and leads the UIU offense and NSIC attackers with 126 total kills (7th in NCAA DII). On the backline, libero Haley Weepie averages 4.78 digs per set (6th in NSIC) while Kasey Brennan chips in 2.85 per set to lead the Peacocks. Freshman Sarah Johnson has the second-best hitting percentage (.343) among Peacock hitters with over 100 attempts and has proven to be quite a weapon both behind the service line and at the net with 14 aces (5th in NSIC) and 1.33 blocks per set (2nd in NSIC, 20th in NCAA DII), both team highs. Carlee Ketchum has registered 289 assists (10.7/set) from the setter position as well as 67 digs, 22 kills, 15 blocks, and 10 aces. 

UIU will face two tough opponents in its first NSIC matches of the season including No. 4 Minnesota Duluth on Friday at 6 p.m. and No. 19 St. Cloud State University on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Peacocks will then return home for the first time this season to challenge the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles and Bemidji State University Beavers in Dorman Gymnasium on Sept. 27-28.

Upper Iowa All-Time in AVCA Top 25
Sept. 16, 2019 - No. 25
Oct. 30, 2017 - No. 25