Peacock volleyball vied with McKendree in their first contest of the weekend and fell in a 3-1 decision. UIU claimed set one 25-20 but came up short in the next three by scores of 25-18, 25-22 and 25-22. The Peacocks shifted to 10-12 (2-5 GLVC) on the season, and the Bearcats improved to 8-13 and 3-5 in conference play, 
 
Upper Iowa hit .103 as a unit and gathered 45 kills, while McKendree recorded a .130 and tallied 55 kills. 
 
Lydia Imbrogno led the Peacocks at the net with 13 kills and two aces, McKenna Diermeier collected 20 digs and Nicole Pozorski notched a couple-double with 35 assists and 14 digs.
 
Emily Kono stepped into a larger offensive role in Friday's matchup as she mustered a season-high 11 kills. Zoe Semelroth managed 11 kills, two aces and a team-high five blocks. 
 
Upper Iowa jumped out to a 6-1 lead in set one, but McKendree responded immediately with a 6-1 run of their own to tie the game up 7-7. UIU held an 18-15 advantage after a 5-1 burst, keeping their lead through the remainder of the set and collecting four of the last five points of the match for the 25-20 victory. 
 
The Peacocks hit their lowest percentage in set two (.022) and mustered six kills. The Bearcats rattled off a 7-1 run while taking advantage of three Upper Iowa errors to get out to a 21-12 lead. McKendree then committed three attacking errors, putting UIU behind by six (21-15). The Bearcats maintained their comfortable lead to conclude the second period. 
 
UIU fought back at the beginning of set three as kills from Pozorski and Semelroth and an ace by Martha Pace put the crew ahead 3-0. The Bearcats countered with a 7-1 burst, commanding a 7-4 lead. The guests trailed 21-19, but a Semelroth and Kylie Gustafson slam tied up the game. McKendree claimed four out of the next five points to take set three. The Peacocks dropped the set despite their game-high 17 kills to McKendree's 12. 
 
The final frame saw a 5-1 start from the Bearcats guided them in the right direction as they kept their lead until the tail-end of the set. The Bearcats led 19-15, but Upper Iowa gave one final push as a kill from Kono and back-to-back aces from Semelroth kept them in the game for the time being to trail only by one (19-18). The game was tied at 21 apiece, but the Bearcats rattled off four of the last five points to take control and nab their third GLVC win. 
 
The Peacocks are back in action on the road tomorrow at Missouri-St. Louis at 3 p.m.