The Peacock volleyball team lost at No. 6 University of Minnesota Duluth in three sets to fall to 10-8 overall and 4-7 in the Northern Sun, while the Bulldogs improved to 18-1 overall and 10-1 in the conference. UMD won the three frames by scores of 25-21, 25-22 and 25-16.
 
Zoe Semelroth led the offense with 10 kills, while Emily Kono and Carlee Dove added seven and six kills, respectively. UIU's offense hit .120, but Semelroth stood out with a .421 hitting percentage. Nicole Pozorski handed out 26 assists, while Madelyn Rettler (9), Sarah Stevelinck (9), Pozorski (8), Kaci Beesecker (8) and Lydia Imbrogno (7) held down the back line with a combined 41 digs. Dove scored five blocks at the net as well.
 
Duluth was led by Samantha Paulsen, who had 10 kills, and three other hitters that came away with eight kills each. Madison Gordon registered 35 assists and added 14 digs to help out teammates Sydney Lanoue and Kaylyn Madison, who got to 17 and 14 digs, respectively.
 
In the first set, the teams were tied at 18-all, but a 5-0 for the Bulldogs gave the home team control on the way to a 25-21 win. The Peacocks were strong in the early going of set two and jumped out to a 10-4 advantage. UMD answered and climbed back within one, 10-9, but UIU was able to keep their lead and held a 17-14 lead. The Bulldogs used a 9-0 run to gain the upper hand and then held on for a 25-22 win, despite the Peacocks clawing back to trail by only two, 24-22. In the final frame, Upper Iowa held a 9-7 lead early, but the Bulldogs used an 13-1 run to take control 20-10 and then move on to a 25-16 win.
 
Upper Iowa returns home next weekend for a pair of matches in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium. The Peacocks will host the Beavers of Bemidji State University on Friday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. and then welcome the Golden Eagles of the University of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, Oct. 15 at 2 p.m.