THIS WEEKEND IN UIU VOLLEYBALL… The Peacocks are hosting the Beavers of Bemidji State University and the Golden Eagles of the University of Minnesota Crookston on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 14-15 on Prochaska Court in Fayette. Upper Iowa will look to improve on their current 2-2 record inside Dorman Memorial Gymnasium this season. Both BSU and UMC come into the weekend with 2-9 marks in NSIC play and 3-16 records overall, while UIU is currently 10-8 overall and 4-7 in the conference.
LIVE OPTIONS… Both matches will have a pair of live options available for fans who can't make it into northeast Iowa this weekend. Live stats and a webcast will be available through links at UIUPeacocks.com/Live. In addition, the game can 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. The matches will also be broadcasted on KCRG-TV 9.2 with Friday's action delayed to 9:30 p.m.; Saturday's match will be broadcast live.
GET YOUR TICKETS… Upper Iowa has partnered with HomeTown Ticketing for all of this season's volleyball matches in Dorman. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at UIUPeacocks.com/Tickets or by paying cash in person prior to the match. Fans are encouraged to stay ahead of the curve this season with the HomeTown Ticketing Fan App available on all mobile device platforms.
DIGITAL MATCHDAY PROGRAM… Digital programs are available to fans in the stadium or at home for both matches. Fans can access the interactive gameday program at any time at
UIUPeacocks.com/Programs. QR Codes will also be located around the lobby to scan with your cell phone's camera that will link you directly to that game's specific digital gameday program.
CHECKING THE REARVIEW… Upper Iowa came up on the short end of three road matches last week, but the Peacocks took a set from both Winona State University and No. 7 St. Cloud State University and nearly grabbed a second as both the Warriors and Huskies stole one set apiece in extra time. UIU stayed close with the No. 6 University of Minnesota Duluth on Saturday as well in the first and second sets of a 3-0 loss. UIU held their opponents to a .183 hitting percentage, but only managed a .115 clip on offense. Zoe Semelroth led the offense with 37 kills, while Emily Kono added 25 kills. Nicole Pozorski ran the offense and recorded 107 assists and added 14 kills. Kaci Beesecker paced the backline defenders with 58 digs (5.27/set) and Madelyn Rettler chipped in 45 digs. Carlee Dove played big at the net with 11 blocks in just seven sets, while Rettler added eight and Semelroth logged seven stops at the tape.
SCOUTING THE BEAVERS… Bemidji State is averaging 10.2 kills per set while hitting .142 this season. The Beavers defense is picking up 13.1 digs per set and earning 1.5 blocks per set. Hallie Mertz leads the BSU offense with 184 kills, while Lauren Sitter has recorded 108 this season. Bemidji State employs two setters in their offense in the form of Hally Holker and Emily Wade. Lauren Justesen paces the Beaver backline with 3.95 digs/set and Ryle Bjerklie has 41 blocks on the year.
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES… Minnesota Crookston is hitting .123 this season on offense and averaging 10.1 kills per set. Defensively, the Golden Eagles are posting 12.9 digs and 1.2 blocks per set. Audrey Cariveau paces the offense with 187 kills, while Mara Weisensel and Bailey Schaefer follow closely behind with 158 and 144 kills, respectively. Natalie Koke runs the offense with 524 assists this season. Layne Whaley sets the tone for the defense with 233 digs, while Maria Jose Bustos Garcia is averaging 0.70 blocks/et.
NEXT UP… Upper Iowa has three matches in a five day span next week. The Peacocks will head to St. Paul, Minn. to line up against Concordia University, St. Paul on Thursday, Oct. 20 before hosting a pair of matches on Saturday, Oct. 22 and Tuesday, Oct. 25. UIU will take on Minnesota State University, Mankato on Saturday at 5 p.m. and Winona State on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
