FAYETTE, Iowa - The Upper Iowa volleyball team (6-19, 4-8 GLVC) will conclude the 2025 regular season this weekend, facing off against Truman State (Mo.) (12-15, 7-5 GLVC) on Saturday afternoon. First serve is set for 1 p.m. against the Bulldogs.
The Peacocks are looking to continue their success against Truman State, having won each of the two previous GLVC matchups against the Bulldogs in five sets.
LIVE OPTIONS
Fans unable to attend the games this weekend can stay connected with a pair of live options available at UIUPeacocks.com/Live, featuring access to live stats and a pay-per-view webcast through GLVCSN. Fans can also refer to the links attached to this story for all live options.
In addition to GLVCSN.com, viewers can catch the Peacocks on the GLVCSN iOS and Android mobile app, as well as the GLVCSN app on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Android TV.
LAST TIME OUT
The Peacocks fell in straight sets in both matches this past weekend. Illinois Springfield (12-12, 4-7 GLVC) took down Upper Iowa on Friday before Quincy (Ill.) (20-5, 9-2 GLVC) defeated the Peacocks to win its seventh straight match.
Lydia Imbrogno led UIU on the weekend with 17 kills, while Grace Fruzen set up most of the Peacocks' attacks, recording 51 assists (8.50/set) across the two matches. Martha Pace contributed nine kills in Upper Iowa's match against UIS and freshman Erica Conger came off the bench to provide seven kills against Quincy.
Morgan Block led Upper Iowa in digs, recording 21 digs on the weekend, including a team-high 16 digs in the loss to Quincy. Kailey Porter led the Peacock defense along the net as the junior middle blocker notched a solo block and five block assists throughout the two matches.
STATISTICAL LEADERS
Pace has been the Peacocks' top attacker for much of the season, recording 239 kills (3.32/set) on the season. In GLVC play, Pace has 141 kills (3.53/set). She ranks ninth in the GLVC in points per set (3.84/set) and 10th in the conference in kills per set (3.32/set).
Along the net, Porter has been a difference maker in her junior season. She leads the Peacocks in blocks with 57 and ranks second on the team in kills with 192 (2.31/set). Imbrogno is third in kills on the team with 147 (1.88/set) on the year. Alexis Moses is fourth in kills with 119 (1.51/set) and second in blocks with 56.
Fruzen has continued to impress as the setter for Upper Iowa, now totaling 679 assists (8.08/set) on the season. She ranks fourth in the GLVC in assists per set and fifth in total assists. In GLVC play, Fruzen is averaging 9.58 assists per set, ranking fourth in the conference.
Block leads Upper Iowa with 440 digs (5.24/set). The sophomore libero is second in the GLVC in digs per set and 22nd across Division II. Block has recorded 20 or more digs eight times this season, including a career-high 34 digs in the Peacocks' match against Lewis. Imbrogno is second on the team in digs with 214 (2.74/set), with Fruzen just behind her at 213 (2.54/set).
AROUND THE GLVC
As the GLVC regular season comes to a close this weekend, there is plenty of drama in the race for the regular season crown. Missouri-St. Louis (21-4, 11-0 GLVC) is still undefeated, but will face a stern test on the final matchday of the regular season when it hosts second-place Rockhurst (Mo.) (19-8, 10-1 GLVC). The Tritons ride a 14-game winning streak into the weekend, hosting William Jewell on Friday before the matchup with the Hawks.
The Tritons are the lone GLVC team featured in this week's AVCA Coaches Poll, first amongst teams receiving votes with 69.
Behind UMSL and Rockhurst, four teams have clinched their places in the GLVC Tournament, set to be held from Nov. 21-23. Quincy, UIndy (18-9, 8-3 GLVC), Maryville (Mo.) (14-11, 7-4 GLVC) and Truman State have clinched a trip to Williamsville, Illinois, next weekend, but will continue to fight for seeding in the middle of the playoff picture.
The final two spots in the top eight will come down to this weekend, with Drury (Mo.) (15-12, 5-6 GLVC), Lewis (Ill.) (14-12, 5-6 GLVC), Illinois Springfield (12-12, 4-7 GLVC) and McKendree (Ill.) (9-16, 4-7 GLVC) all within a game of each other. The Panthers and Flyers meet in Romeoville Friday night, while the Prairie Stars and Bearcats face off in Rolla on Saturday afternoon.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS - Saturday at 1 p.m.
Truman State hosts Upper Iowa inside Pershing Arena for its Senior Day match. The Bulldogs are coming off a 1-1 weekend road trip, falling in four sets to Quincy on Friday before a 3-1 victory over UIS. Going back to Oct. 25, TSU has won four of its last five matches, clinching a spot in the GLVC Tournament last weekend.
As a team, Truman State ranks top five in the GLVC in blocks per set with an average of 2.09. The Bulldogs are tied for sixth in the conference in hitting percentage with a mark of .205.
Outside hitter Michaela Goad leads TSU with 194 kills (2.34/set). Goad has recorded double digits in kills in five matches this season, including a season-high 17 in the Bulldogs' win over Drury on Nov. 1.
Behind Goad, Autumn Erickson and Laci Neece each average over two kills per set. Erickson ranks second on the team in kills with 191 and Neece is third with 158 kills on the season.
Junior Tori Creason is the Bulldogs' primary setter, recording 674 assists (7.25/set) so far this season. She ranks sixth in the GLVC in assists and seventh in assists per set. Her 56 assists in the Bulldogs' win over Drury are the most assists in a match by a GLVC player other than Caitlin Bishop (UMSL), who has the top four marks.
Addy Janssen leads Truman State in digs this season with a tally of 454 digs (4.88/set). She ranks third in digs in the conference and fifth in digs per set. Her 33 digs against Drury are the fifth-highest total by a player in the GLVC this season.
David Gannon is in his fifth season at the helm of Truman State volleyball. A win this weekend would give Truman State its highest season win total in Gannon's tenure. Before arriving in Kirksville, Gannon was an assistant at Division I programs Idaho and Weber State.
