Upper Iowa volleyball posted a 3-1 victory over Winona State University in front of a rowdy Peacock fan base on Tuesday night in Fayette. The Peacocks posted set wins in the first and second frames and then grabbed the match victory in set four after the Warriors picked up the third set. The win pushes UIU into a three-way tie for eighth place in the Northern Sun Conference and improves their record to 14-9 overall and 8-8 in the NSIC. Winona State falls to 12-11 overall and 8-8 in the conference.
 
While Upper Iowa's offense hit .201 for the match with 54 kills and only 21 attack errors, the defense was as big a part of the victory. UIU held their guests to a .083 hitting percentage and 30 attack errors. The Peacocks held advantages in both blocks (8-4) and digs (80-77).
 
Kaci Beesecker (23) and Lydia Imbrogno (20) combined for over half of the team's digs with 43, while Madelyn Rettler added 12. At the net, Rettler (5 block assists) and Zoe Semelroth (6 block assists) combined for some massive blocks.
 
Offensively, Maggie Streightiff (14), Semelroth (13) and Rettler (12) combined for 39 kills and Kylie Willis and Emily Kono added seven and five kills, respectively. The Peacocks ran into great touches by the Warriors, but Nicole Pozorski stayed patient and ran the offense well distributing 42 assists. Pozorski just missed double digits in digs with nine and added three kills as well.
 
In the opening set, the Peacocks led 11-10 nearing the midway point, but the home team claimed 14 of the final 19 points to runaway with a 25-15 win. The big run was fueled by three kills and an assisted block from Streightiff.
 
The Warriors got out to a big lead in the second set, 8-3, and pushed their advantage to 13-6. Upper Iowa began to climb back in pulling within one, 15-14, before tying the score at 17-all. Winona State pushed ahead once again to leads of 21-17 and 24-21 behind a pair of kills from Taylor Pagel, but Upper Iowa dug deep and clawed back. UIU scored three straight to tie the set at 24-all with a kill from Streightiff. After WSU scored a 25-24 lead, the Peacocks got three straight points on a service error and two attack errors to rally for the 27-25 win.
 
In the third set, the Warriors had their best hitting percentage of the match converting on 14 kills with only two attack errors. Winona State jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but UIU was able to catch up and tie their guests at 10-all. The teams battled back and forth in the third frame as they lead changed hands several times. UIU's last lead was at 22-21, but the Peacocks managed to stave off two set points on kills by Semelroth and Rettler and knot the score at 24-all. Winona State put the finishing touches on the set with two kills of their own to win 26-24 and force a fourth set.
 
Upper Iowa took control of the fourth set early getting ahead 11-6 after back-to-back kills by Willis from the middle. A few points later, UIU recorded three straight points on kills by Rettler (2) and Streightiff to move ahead 14-8. WSU pulled within two points on several occasions; the last of which came at 18-16. The home team scored the final four points with three coming on kills by Semelroth to win the set 25-18 and claim the match victory.
 
The Peacocks will now head west to face Augustana University and No. 3 Wayne State College on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29. UIU will line up against the Vikings at 6 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D on Friday and then challenge the Wildcats at 3 p.m. in Wayne, Neb. on Saturday.