Upper Iowa played point-for-point with the nation's third-ranked team in all of NCAA Division II on Friday night in Fayette, but Wayne State College controlled the second and third sets to help secure a 3-1 victory and improve to 13-0 on the season. UIU falls to 6-4 overall and 0-3 in the NSIC.
The Peacocks knocked down 58 kills in the four sets including 20 kills in the fourth set and 18 in the opening frame, which they won 25-23. While the home team tallied seven more kills than their guests, they also racked up 16 more attack errors half of which came on Wildcat blocks. Wayne State was able to control their attacks and keep them in play notching just 11 attack errors in the four sets.
Upper Iowa came out of the gate firing and hit .273 in the opening set. The Peacocks took a few different eight-point leads in the first set, the last of which came at 19-11. The Wildcats used a 12-5 run to pull back within one point, 24-23, but
Zoe Semelroth put one final kill away to secure the win for the ladies in blue.
Wayne State kept Upper Iowa off their stride in the second and third sets claiming wins by scores of 25-13 and 25-16. The Peacocks came out for the fourth set with a renewed spring in their step and took an early 9-4 lead. WSC didn't let the Peacocks get away tying the score at 13-all. The teams kept trading points all the way to a 20-20 tie. The visitors were able to score the set's first set point at 24-21, but Upper Iowa was able to push back to within one, 24-23. Unfortunately, the Wildcats got the final kill and a 25-23 win to claim the match win.
Maggie Streightiff and Semelroth each posted 16 kills in the match and
Sarah Johnson added eight.
Kaci Beesecker (21) and
Nicole Pozorski (18) combined for 39 digs in the four sets and Pozorski added 44 assists as well.
The trio of Kelsie Cada (16), Maggie Brahmer (15) and Taya Beller (14) paced the attack that ran through Rachel Walker, who registered 46 assists. Jessie Brandl picked up a match-high 24 digs.
UIU will be back on the court on Saturday in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium. The Peacocks will line up against the No. 23 Vikings of Augustana University at 2 p.m.
