After a pair of wins at home this week, the Peacock volleyball team welcomed perennial power Northern State University to Prochaska Court. The Wolves outlasted their hosts in a four-set decision which included a pair of two-point final margins that went well above 25 points. NSU secured the win by scores of 30-28, 20-25, 25-19 and 28-26. After the match, NSU improved to 7-3 overall and 2-0 in the conference, while UIU fell to 8-3 overall and 1-1 in the conference.
 
The Wolves were able to hit at a higher percentage than the Peacocks, .285 to .209, but UIU logged a 64-62 advantage in total kills. Upper Iowa's effort at the service line made up the difference in attack percentage as the home notched a 10-3 advantage in aces.
 
In the first set, the Peacocks trailed 18-14, but a 5-0 run which included three aces from Sarah Stevelinck pushed Upper Iowa back into the lead, 19-18. UIU fell behind again 23-19 after the Wolves answered the run with one of their own. The home team fought back once more tying the set at 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28-all. The Peacocks did have set points at 26-25 and 27-26, but couldn't seal the win with a final point. A Wolves kill and an attack error from the Peacocks provided the final two points for Northern State to win 30-28.
 
UIU trailed 12-8 midway through the second set, but the Peacocks used a 12-1 run to race out to a 20-13 lead fueled by six kills in the run including three from Madelyn Rettler. Upper Iowa turned to their two middles Zoe Semelroth and Carlee Dove to close out the frame; Semelroth knocked three kills to the hardwood and Dove hit the final two kills to lock down the 25-20 win.
 
The Peacocks began the third set well taking an 11-9 lead early on, but a 6-2 run by the Wolves gave the visitors the lead that they would not surrender. Northern State led by as many as six points, 23-17, en route to a 25-19 win.
 
In the fourth set, the Peacocks took a 13-10 lead thanks to a hat trick of kills from both Rettler and Semelroth. Northern State tied the match at 15-15, but Upper Iowa was able to get away again to the tune of a 20-17 lead highlighted by three Kaitlin Niedert kills. UIU was still gripping tightly to a three-point advantage, 22-19, but Olivia Rud began to take over for the Wolves converting three kills and a block into a 24-23 lead for the Wolves. After a block by Dove and Niedert, UIU moved forward with set points at 25-24 and 26-25, but the home team couldn't grab the winning point. NSU scored the final three points to secure the set 28-26 and the match 3-1.
 
Semelroth led a balanced scoring attack with 15 kills, while Rettler added 14 and 11 digs. Dove put down 12 kills, and Maggie Streightiff and Kaitlyn Niedert each notched 10 kills in the match. Nicole Pozorski handed out 50 assists to set up the attack, while Charisma Herr (16) and Stevelinck (15) combined for 31 digs. Semelroth played big at the net as well with 6 blocks.
 
Upper Iowa is away for three matches next week including matches at Concordia University, St. Paul on Wednesday, at Minot State University on Friday and at the University of Mar on Saturday. Live options will be available for all three matches.