The Peacock volleyball team showed off their defense on Saturday evening in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium and scored a 3-0 sweep of Minnesota State University, Mankato to stay in the hunt for a NSIC Tournament spot in a few weeks.
 
UIU won by scores of 25-20, 25-15 and 25-20 to improve to 13-9 overall and 7-8 in the conference, while the Mavericks fell to 6-17 overall and 5-10 in the NSIC.
 
Upper Iowa held their guests to a .095 hitting percentage forcing 22 attack errors from MSU. In contrast, the Peacocks hit .282 after notching just 12 attack errors in the three sets. A big advantage in service aces, 8-4, also paid dividends for the home squad.
 
In the final set of the match, the Peacock attack was nearly unstoppable as they hit .429 with 13 kills and one error on 28 swings.
 
Kaci Beesecker recorded 13 digs and added three aces and three assists, while Madelyn Rettler got her hands on eight digs. Maggie Streightiff and Zoe Semelroth each grabbed three blocks as well.
 
Streightiff (8), Rettler (7), Semelroth (7), and Emily Kono (5) combined for 27 of the teams 34 kills with a balanced attack that was orchestrated by Nicole Pozorski. The Peacock setter registered 29 assists in the match.
 
Next week, UIU will host Winona State University on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 6 p.m. and then travel west to face Augustana University and Wayne State College on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29.