Upper Iowa University Athletics

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Peacock volleyball (3-3) fell in a pair of matchups at the Sioux Falls Classic to No. 6 Washburn (Mo.) (6-0) and Chadron State (Neb.) (3-3). Junior setter Grace Fruzen totaled 54 assists (7.71/set) on the day, while junior libero Morgan Block added 40 digs (5.71/set).

The Peacocks were defeated in three sets to the Ichabods (25-16, 25-18, 25-18). UIU led midway through the first set and late in the third set, but Washburn closed it out both times. The Peacocks were able to take the third set against the Eagles, but lost in four (25-18, 25-18, 20-25, 25-19).

Freshman Natalie Bystol led the Peacock attack on the day with 19 kills. Marissa Becker added 18 kills and Kailey Porter totaled 15 kills in the middle with a .324 hitting percentage. 

UIU is back in action on Saturday at 10 a.m. against Black Hills State (S.D.) (3-4) and then at 1 p.m. against Emporia State (Kan.) (5-1). Both games take place at the Stewart Center, hosted by Sioux Falls (S.D.).  

Washburn 3, Upper Iowa 0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-18)
UIU jumped out to an early 5-1 lead after Block started the match with back-to-back aces. Washburn came back and tied the game 15-15. After that, the Ichabods scored 10 out of the next 11 points to win the opening set.

Washburn controlled the second set, 25-18, and the Peacocks never led. In the third set, the Peacocks battled back from a deficit by scoring six out of seven points to lead, 18-17. After that, Washburn closed the set with eight straight points, five of which came off Ichabod kills.

WU hit .313 with 50 kills compared to UIU's .148 attack percentage with 32 kills. Bystol led the Peacocks with 12 kills while Porter and Becker added six each. Fruzen totaled 27 assists and seven digs while Block had 16 digs and two assists. 

Emma Siron was the match's digs leader for Washburn. She totaled 18 kills while Natalie Hedlund and Brynne Topolski each had 11 kills. Setter Shannon Frakes had 38 assists with 11 digs.

Chadron State 3, Upper Iowa 1 (25-18, 25-18, 20-25, 25-19)
The Eagles controlled the first two sets, leading by 10 points in each of them before finishing with 25-18 victories. After trailing 5-1 early in the third set, UIU built its way back to tie it at 10-10. 

Two Eagle attack errors, two kills by Porter, a kill by Becker and a service ace from Claire Edwards put UIU up 16-13. Leading 18-17 later in the set, a kill by Alexis Mose, a kill by Bystol and two attack errors by Chadron put UIU up 22-17. A Porter kill ended the set to give UIU the 25-20 win. 

The fourth set was a back-and-forth battle until the Eagles scored five straight points to take an 18-15 advantage. UIU came back to cut the deficit to a point, but Chadron State scored seven of the last nine points to win the set, 25-19. 

Becker led the Peacocks with 12 kills, Porter had nine kills and Bystol had seven. Fruzen totaled 27 assists and 12 digs. Block tallied 24 digs, and Avery Agnew got down for nine digs, her second-most of the season. 

Kally Kirkwood and Mataya Ward each had 13 kills for Chadron State. Jillian Donovan totaled 21 assists and was the team's co-leader in digs with 16. Avery Lacy joined that co-lead with 16 digs of her own. 

CSU outkilled the Peacocks 52-41 and hit .213 to UIU's .072. The Eagles unblocked the Peacocks 9-4 while UIU had the slight edge in digs, 72-71.