The Peacock volleyball team took the first set of their match with No. 10 Winona State University at home on Thursday night, but the nationally-ranked Warriors rallied with wins in the next three sets to claim a 3-1 Northern Sun Conference win. WSU improved to 20-3 on the year and 11-3 in the conference, while UIU fell to 15-8 overall and 8-6 in the NSIC.
 
Fueled by four service aces in the opening frame, Upper Iowa jumped out to a commanding 20-13 lead. During the early play, the Peacocks got balanced scoring and kept the ball off the floor as the Warriors attacked. UIU forced Winona State into nine attack errors, but had to hold on for a 25-22 win when the visitors rallied to within two points, 22-20, thanks to a 7-2 run.
 
In the second set, Winona State scored four straight points to push a narrow advantage into a 19-14 lead. Upper Iowa scored six of the next seven points fueled by kills from Emily Kono, Zoe Semelroth, Kaitlin Niedert and Nicole Pozorski and tied the score at 20-20. The home team couldn't keep the run going as the Warriors closed out the set on a 5-1 run to win 25-21 and tie the match at one set apiece.
 
Upper Iowa was able to hang with Winona State in the third set trailing 19-17 late, but the Warriors ended the frame by scoring six of the final eight points to win 25-19. In the fourth set, the Peacocks used a 6-2 run to climb back into the set pull within three, 18-15, but the visitors were able to finish the set on a 7-2 run and claim the match three sets to one.
 
Winona State hit .208 on the night with 55 kills led by Megan Flom's 13 kills and Sidney Paulson's 12 kills. Bre Maloney handed out 44 assists, while Becca Pagel notched 24 digs and Flom, Madison Larson and Madison Rizner paced WSU's 12 team blocks.
 
The Peacocks hit .119 on the night with 43 kills. Niedert led Upper Iowa's offense with 13 kills, while Maggie Streightiff added 9 and Emily Kono and Zoe Semelroth chipped in 8 and 7, respectively. Nicole Pozorski dished out 35 assists and added 5 kills and 6 digs. Charisma Herr recorded 25 digs, while Kaci Beesecker and Sarah Stevelinck recorded 14 and 12 digs apiece.
 
Upper Iowa will look to snap their current three-match slide when they line up against Minnesota State University, Mankato on Saturday, Oct. 30 in Mankato, Minn. The two teams are scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.