Upper Iowa University Athletics

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Peacocks fell in three sets to Missouri-St. Louis (11-5, 6-0 GLVC) on Saturday afternoon, as the Tritons won the first two sets 25-16 and 25-21 before a thrilling 33-31 third set. Freshman Faith Fisher totaled a career-high 18 kills, marking the most by any Peacock in a match this season.

Fisher hit .467 in the match, which is the second-highest hitting percentage by a UIU volleyball player this year. The freshman added a team-high three blocks to her stat total. She totaled 19.5 points, tying for the most in a game for the Peacocks as well. 

Kailey Porter added eight kills and a .389 hitting percentage. Morgan Block was the team's leader in digs with 21, her most in a three-set match this season.

Junior setter Grace Fruzen totaled 32 assists, 10 digs, three service aces and two kills. That's her second-most assists in a three-set match this year. Marissa Becker added 12 digs defensively with three kills. 

With UMSL leading 13-12 in the first set, the Tritons went on a 14-3 run to help eventually win the set, 25-16. The Tritons hit a match-best .306 percentage in the opening set while holding UIU to a match-low .026.

The second set was back-and-forth all the way until both teams were tied at 20-20. UMSL scored five of the next six points with two kills by Alayna Santel and a block by her and Brooklyn Young to end the set, 25-21. Fisher totaled five kills in each of the first two sets for the Peacocks.

The Peacocks used a 6-0 run in the third set, capped off by a Fisher kill to take a 15-12 lead. The Tritons battled all the way back to tie the game at 23-23. Pandemonium ensued with the Peacocks fending off seven match points by the Tritons. It wasn't enough, as a kill by Santel and a Peacock attack error won the set, 33-31. 

Maggie Johnson led the Tritons with 17 kills while Santel had 16. Bridget Cassady had 14 kills. The Tritons outkilled the Peacocks, 54-42, with a .265-.176 attack percentage advantage. Maryl Burbach had 45 assists at setter, and Skylar Weaver led the team with 19 digs.

UIU volleyball starts homecoming week with a match against Clarke (7-12) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6, in Dorman Memorial Gymnasium.