THIS WEEKEND IN UIU VOLLEYBALL… Upper Iowa opens their 2021 run in the Northern Sun Conference this weekend in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium. The Peacocks wrapped up their non-conference slate with a 7-2 record thanks to a pair of three-win weekends and a win over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside on Tuesday to open their home schedule. UIU will host the Dragons of Minnesota State University Moorhead on Friday night at 6 p.m. and then turn around quickly to line up against the Wolves of Northern State University on Saturday at 1 p.m.
LIVE OPTIONS... Both NSIC matches will have multiple options for following live if fans can't get to Fayette for the action. Both matches will have live stats and a NSIC Network webcast available through links at UIUPeacocks.com/Live. The matches can also be streamed through most mobile devices at NSICNetwork.com/UIUPeacocks or through the NSIC Network app on Roku and Amazon Fire devices, as well as Apple and Android televisions. Friday's match with the Dragons will air at approximately 9:30 p.m. on KCRG 9.2 across Eastern Iowa, while Saturday's match will air live at 1 p.m. on Eastern Iowa's CW 9.3.
DIGITAL GAMEDAY PROGRAM… Upper Iowa will not be printing gameday programs this season. Fans can access the interactive and digital gameday program at any time at
UIUPeacocks.com/Programs. The digital programs are available to fans both at our games and those at home listening to or watching the action. QR Codes will also be located around the stadium to scan with your cell phone's camera that will link you directly to that game's specific digital gameday program.
CAN YOU DIG IT? Charisma Herr was named the NSIC Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after leading the Peacocks to a second-straight, three-win weekend. Herr earned her second straight all-tournament nod at the Capital Classic in Springfield, Illinois. The St. Paul, Minnesota native held down the Peacocks' back line defense with 72 digs and a 4.80 digs per set average. Herr added 19 assists and eight service aces to lead the team to three wins over Purdue University-Northwest, the University of Illinois-Springfield, and McKendree University.
AMONG THE NSIC LEADERS… As a team, Upper Iowa is hitting .253, which ranks fourth in the NSIC, with a conference-high 452 kills. The Peacocks are also fourth in defensive hitting percentage after holding their nine opponents to a .163 percentage.
Madelyn Rettler is ranked ninth in the NSIC in kills/set with 3.33, while
Nicole Pozorski is ninth in assists/set with a 9.82 average. Pozorski's 54 assists on Tuesday night against Parkside rank as the second-highest total in the conference this season. Defensively, Herr has recorded the most digs in the NSIC with 165, but her 5.0 assists/set are second in the conference.
PEACOCKS FIND BALANCE… The Peacocks have shown a balanced offense through the first nine matches of the season. Four Peacocks are averaging over two kills per set including Rettler (3.33),
Maggie Streightiff (2.76),
Zoe Semelroth (2.39) and
Kaitlin Niedert (2.30). Semelroth and fellow middle blocker
Carlee Dove are both hitting at a high rate of efficiency registering .350 and .373 hitting percentages, respectively. The back line has also shown great distribution in their digs. After Herr's team-best 5.00 per set, Rettler (2.76), Stevelinck (2.64) and Pozorski (2.42) have all averaged over two digs per set.
SCOUTING THE DRAGONS… MSUM started the season 0-8 after going 0-4 at the Northern State Classic last weekend. Outside hitter Amanda Carlson leads the Dragons in kills with 107, followed by right-side hitter Teeya Doppler with 46. Setter Halle Erickson leads the team in assists with 104. Libero Sarah Petrbok leads with 145 digs, while Elise Bakke and Lexi Pew have 25 blocks each.
SCOUTING THE WOLVES… The Wolves enter NSIC competition with a 5-3 record overall and a 3-1 weekend to close out non-conference play. Northern State fell out of the AVCA Top-25 Poll this week, however are still receiving votes. Sally Gaul and Natalia Szybinska sit atop the team with 110 and 99 kills respectively this season, with Szybinska hitting a team best .286 thus far. Keri Walker has taken on a bulk of the setting duties, racking up 310 total assists, averaging 11.07 per set. Havyn Heinz stepped into the libero role for the Wolves in 2021 and leads the team with 129 digs, averaging 4.30 per set. Olivia Rud leads the defensive effort at the net with 34.0 blocks, averaging just over one per set.
UP NEXT… Upper Iowa will play another three matches in the Northern Sun next week, but all three are on the road. The Peacocks will face Concordia University, St. Paul on Wednesday in St. Paul, Minn. at 6 p.m. before taking their longest road trip of the season. UIU will head to North Dakota to line up against Minot State University on Friday at 6 p.m. and the University of Mary on Saturday at 11 a.m.
