The Upper Iowa volleyball team moved up to the No. 23 spot in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II rankings in the latest Top 25 poll released on Monday afternoon. The Peacocks collected 135 votes en route to their highest ranking in program history.
Upper Iowa opened the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule last week against two tough opponents, No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth and No. 19 St. Cloud State University. The Peacocks fell 3-0 to the Bulldogs on Friday evening but gave the Bulldogs their toughest fight of the season and scored at least 20 points in each set, something no other opponent has done in UMD's victories thus far. UIU then fell to St. Cloud State on Saturday afternoon in a five-set thriller; the Peacocks took a 2-1 lead on their hosts and had several chances to end the match in the fourth set, but the Huskies battled to force the deciding set and eventually won the tightly-contested match.
The Peacocks join seven other Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schools in the Top 25 including No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth, No. 7 Concordia University, St. Paul, No. 8 Northern State University, No. 9 Southwest Minnesota State University, No. 15 St. Cloud State University, No. 17 Wayne State College, and No. 19 University of Sioux Falls. Winona State University, Augustana University, and Minnesota State University, Mankato are amongst schools receiving votes.
Anna Winter is averaging 4.66 kills per set (2nd in NSIC, 6th in NCAA DII) this season and leads the UIU offense and NSIC attackers with 163 total kills, while Kaitlin Niedert adds 2.69 kills per set and Maggie Streightiff tallies 2.33/set. Libero Haley Weepie averages 4.49 digs per set (6th in NSIC), Kasey Brennan chips in 2.74/set, and Gabby Holmes contributes 2.24/set to lead the Peacock backline. Freshman Sarah Johnson has the second-best hitting percentage (.338) 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 and 1.29 blocks per set (3rd in NSIC, 19th in NCAA DII), both team highs. Carlee Ketchum has registered 358 assists (10.23/set) from the setter position as well as 86 digs, 30 kills, 21 blocks, and 12 aces.
The Peacocks are set to 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. 23, 2019 - No. 23
Sept. 16, 2019 - No. 25
Oct. 30, 2017 - No. 25
