FAYETTE, Iowa - The Upper Iowa volleyball team begins the 2025 season this weekend with competition at the Wayne State (Mich.) Invitational. Action starts at 10 a.m. as the Peacocks take on Cedarville (Ohio) in Detroit, Michigan. The team also competes against Wayne State, Winona State (Minn.) and Northwood (Mich.) over the weekend. 

Head coach Jim Dietz enters his second season with the Peacocks. The team's leader in kills with 423 last season, Zoe Semelroth, graduated and will be one of the top holes to fill. 

MEET THE PEACOCKS: RETURNERS
One of the key returning players for the Peacocks is Martha Pace. She totaled 74 kills and 25 aces last season playing as an opposite hitter. She steps into the role of outside hitter this season. 

"Her hitting got better over the spring and she's doing well in practice," Dietz said. "How she hits will be important for us this year."

The Peacocks return their second, third and fourth leaders in kills in outside hitter Lydia Imbrogno, outside hitter Marissa Becker and middle blocker Alexis Moses. In 2024, Imbrogno tallied 152 kills, Becker tallied 137 kills and Moses tallied 131 kills. 

Last year's setter, Nicole Pozorski, graduated after tallying 979 assists in her final season. Junior Jaeden Cook and sophomore Grace Fruzen aim to take the mantle of setter this season for the Peacocks. 

"Nicole Pozorski was a five-year starter for the program but we are going to replace her with the tandem of Jaeden Cook and Grace Fruzen," Dietz said. "They showed this past spring that they have the potential to be outstanding running our offense."

Defensively, Morgan Block is one of the top players in the back row for the Peacocks. She appeared in 20 matches last season and totaled 61 digs.

"Morgan is this crazy-athletic player that is capable of ESPN-level highlight plays," Dietz said.

MEET THE PEACOCKS: NEWCOMERS
Upper Iowa welcomes nine newcomers to this year's team. Some of the top newcomers that are expected to make an impact are freshmen Brooke Krogmann, Carley Jonker and Erica Conger. 

Krogmann is a middle blocker/outside hitter out of West Delaware High School. 

"Brooke has the capability to contribute with blocking and offense," Dietz said. "She is an all-around athlete and comes to practice everyday set on working on aspects of the game she feels weak at."

Jonker comes from Cedar Rapids Xavier High School and was an all-around great multi-sport athlete for the Saints. Her softball team placed fifth at the Iowa Softball State Tournament. 

"Carley is an outstanding defensive player, we are just working to improve that within what we do as a team system," Dietz said. "She's a great competitive athlete."

Lastly, Conger hails from Parkway West High School in Chesterfield, Missouri and is a 5-10 outside hitter. 

"Erica is sneaky, quiet good," Dietz said. "She's shown the ability to put balls down against college-level defenses. We just need to add to her consistency."

GLVC POLL
The Peacocks were picked 12th in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) Preseason Coaches' Poll. UIU received 37 points in the poll.

2024 GLVC Tournament Champion Lewis (Ill.) was picked first in the poll with 152 points and five first-place votes. Quincy (Ill.) came in second with 150 points and four first-place votes. Rockhurst (Mo.), Missouri St. Louis and Maryville (Mo.) also received first-place votes. 

"The GLVC is a conference where you have to show up every night and cannot assume that you have an easy match," Dietz said. "If you make the assumption that tonight is easy, every team in the conference is capable of stepping up to beat you."

2025 GLVC WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL PRESEASON POLL

1. Lewis 152 (5)
2. Quincy 150 (4)
3. Rockhurst 147 (2)
4. Missouri-St. Louis 139 (2)
5. Maryville 136 (2)
6. Indianapolis 104
7. Illinois Springfield 84
8. McKendree 82
9. Drury 73
10. Missouri S&T 71
11. Truman State 47
12. Upper Iowa 37
13. Southwest Baptist 34
14. William Jewell 18

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
After the Wayne State Invitational this weekend, the Peacocks will be in Mankato, Minnesota, on Sept. 12-13 for the Mankato Invite. UIU will take on Minnesota Crookston, Chadron State (Neb.), Northern State (S.D.) and Minnesota State. 

"The schedule is set up to challenge us," Dietz said. "We are playing teams that are really good. It is a tough schedule, but you don't get better playing a weak schedule."

After that, Upper Iowa will compete in the Truman State Invitational on Sept. 20 for nonconference matches against GLVC foes William Jewell (Mo.) and Rockhurst (Mo.). 

GLVC play starts with the home opener on Friday, Sept. 26, at 6 p.m. against Missouri S&T. The Peacocks will then play Maryville (Mo.) on Sept. 27 at 5 p.m. This season's Midwest Crossover against the GLIAC and G-MAC takes place on Oct. 17-19. 

"The Midwest Crossover is a 36-team tournament involving every team from the Midwest Region," Dietz said. "It is set up to determine conference strength for NCAA seedings. It's a big tournament and it's a lot of fun because you get to see all of the teams from the region."

WEEKEND PREVIEW
UIU starts the season on Saturday at 10 a.m. against Cedarville. The Lady Jackets went 14-11 while winning the G-MAC South Division Title. Cedarville was picked to repeat as champions this season in the G-MAC South Division Preseason Poll. 

Outside hitters Madelyn Hensley and Cassi Shields both return after leading the team in kills last season with 369 and 277, respectively. Defensively, Alivia Rutt is back for her sophomore season; she led the team in kills in 2024 with 338. Head coach Greg Smith enters his eighth season with Cedarville posting a 91-87 career record with the program. 

The Peacocks will then play Wayne State at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Warriors were picked third in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll after a 14-13 campaign in 2024. Wayne State returns 10 players from last season with eight newcomers. 

The top returners are 2024 All-GLIAC performers in senior middle Kayla Giroux, junior setter Kayla Dulgar and senior libero Kendyl Andrews. Head coach Tim Koth enters his 10th season with Wayne State and has a 95-85 record. 

UIU's first game on Saturday is at 10 a.m. against Winona State. The Warriors came in seventh in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll after an 18-12 record last season. Winona State enters the season with first-year head coach Kristy Pelky, who has been on the Warriors' staff since 2019. 

Sophomore outside hitter Abby Ongna was selected as Winona State's player to watch. Ongna totaled 18 kills last season. Sophomores Kenna Kornely and Jayda Berg are also back after totaling 342 and 239 kills, respectively. 

The Peacocks close the weekend against Northwood at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday. The Timberwolves were selected third in the G-MAC North Division Preseason Coaches' Poll. Northwood had a 21-8 record in 2024. 

Redshirt junior Sage Kissman is one of the team's top returners after having the fourth-most kills in 2024 with 164. Setter Renee Brines returns for her senior campaign after hitting quadruple digits in assists with 1,054 last season. Head coach David Shumaker enters his 10th season with Northwood totaling a record of 117-126 with the Timberwolves.