FAYETTE, Iowa --- Freshman Micayla Porter tallied a match-high 27 assists as Upper Iowa outlasted Minnesota State, 3-1 (23-25, 25-16, 12-25, 23-25), Saturday afternoon at Dorman Gymnasium. 

With the loss, Minnesota State falls to 6-4 (0-2 NSIC) overall while Upper Iowa improves to 10-1 (1-1 NSIC) on the season. 

In the opening set, both teams traded points to knot the frame at 13. Minnesota State then rattled off two straight points to make the score 15-13 after Mara Quam delivered a service ace. Upper Iowa battled back to lock the frame late at 22. The Peacocks then went on to close out the Mavericks with a 3-1 run to win the opening stanza, 25-23. 

Upper Iowa jumped out to quick 9-6 edge in the second frame. Minnesota State fought back with a 4-0 run to steal a 10-9 advantage with the aid of a Micayla Porter service ace. The Mavericks pushed their advantage to five, 16-11, after a Peacock attack error. Minnesota State continued its offensive rhythm as Autumn Risch set up Anissa Janzig for a kill to make the score 22-14. The Mavericks went on to win the set, 25-16, and lock the match, 1-1. Morgan Olson set the pace with a match-high 10 kills after two frames.

Following intermission, Upper Iowa stormed out to a rapid 5-0 lead. The Peacocks continued to apply pressure with an Anna Winter kill stretching its edge to 16-9. Upper Iowa rode momentum increasing its lead into double-digits, 22-12, on its way to a 25-12 win in set three. 

In the fourth and final frame, the Peacocks once again started fast with a 6-3 edge. The Mavericks battled back to draw within two, 6-4, following a Janzig kill from Porter. Upper Iowa then created a four point edge, 12-8, lead before Minnesota State opened up a 5-1 run to lock the set at 13. Later in the stanza, the Mavericks established a two point, 21-19, advantage as Sydney Powell smashed back-to-back kills. Upper Iowa retaliated tying the set at 23 before using a two point burst to close out the frame, 25-23, and earn the 3-1 win. 

Minnesota State held the edge in kills (51-43), assists (49-42), and digs (65-59). Additionally, the Mavericks posted 10 aces as a team. 

Porter posted a match-high 27 assists to go along with 17 digs. Olson also contributed a match-high 16 kills while Quam notched a match-best 21 digs. FreshmanAlivia Garbe (11) and Powell (10) also reached double-digits in digs to round out the top performers.

Minnesota State returns to action on Tuesday at defending National Champion Concordia-St. Paul. First serve is set for 6:00 p.m.