The Upper Iowa volleyball team continued to rise in the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Top-25 poll, receiving over 200 votes for the first time as a program. Following a perfect 2-0 weekend of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action, the Peacocks landed in the No. 22 spot in the latest poll released on Monday afternoon. Upper Iowa has made an appearance in four straight polls now, and has reached its highest program ranking for the second week in a row after last week's No. 23 nod.

The Peacocks collected their 10th win of the season this past weekend while evening their NSIC record at 2-2 with a pair of 3-0 sweeps against University of Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University. Upper Iowa hit .307 in front of the home crowd, including a season-high .362 on Saturday against BSU, while containing their opponents to a .075 mark. Three Peacock seniors were named NSIC Top Performers following their weekend performances in Dorman Gymnasium. Outside hitter Anna Winter led the team with 4.5 kills per set, and tallied 27 kills with just two errors in 60 attempts for a .417 hitting efficiency. She hit a season-high .542 (13 kills, 0 errors) on Saturday to push her streak of matches with double-figure kills to 25 dating back to last season, and contributed six digs and a block. Carlee Ketchum paced the Peacock offense with 11.33 assists per set, while also recording 13 digs, five kills (.308), two blocks and two aces. On the backline, Haley Weepie averaged 6.33 digs per set thanks to 19 digs in each match, and added five assists and a kill. 

The Peacocks join seven other Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schools in the Top 25 including No. 3 University of Minnesota Duluth, No. 7 Concordia University, St. Paul, No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State University, No. 9 Northern State University, No. 12 St. Cloud State University, No. 15 Wayne State College, and No. 19 University of Sioux Falls. Winona State University and Augustana University are amongst schools receiving votes. 

The Peacocks are back on the road this week for two tough contests against No. 8 Southwest Minnesota State and No. 19 Sioux Falls on Oct. 4-5. SMSU traded spots in the poll with Northern State after the Mustangs captured a five-set victory against the Wolves to go with a 3-0 sweep of Minnesota State University Moorhead last weekend. USF retained its No. 19 spot after a 3-0 win against MSUM and 3-1 loss to NSU.

Upper Iowa All-Time in AVCA Top 25
Sept. 30, 2019 - No. 22
Sept. 23, 2019 - No. 23
Sept. 16, 2019 - No. 25
Oct. 30, 2017 - No. 25