A USF volleyball team still putting things together enjoyed some home cooking on Thursday night.

The Cougars swept former conference foe Dakota Wesleyan 3-0 (29-27, 25-19, 25-15) in front of a good-sized crowd at the Stewart Center.

The Cougars move to 4-15 under first-year head coach Joel McCartney.

"It was a great grade for us; we'd certainly been struggling," McCartney said. "Sets two and three and the way we finished the match, that's the best feel we've had for awhile."

The Cougars averaged a .228 hitting percentage in the match (37 K/19 E/79 TA) while holding the Tigers to an average clip of -.033 (24 K/27 E/91 TA).

USF also held an 11-to-7 edge in total blocks.

"Overall, we're still growing and still trying to piece things together to build the confidence to be able to be in these kinds of matches night in and night out, whether we're at home or on the road," McCartney added.

Freshman outside hitter Emily Johnson (Platte), the Cougars' kill leader for the season, floored 10 shots to lead USF's offense. She also had four digs and a pair of block assists.

Senior middle blocker Alyssa Chambers (Sioux Falls/Roosevelt) continued her dominance at the net, racking up nine kills on 15 swings (.467 hitting efficiency) and posting two solo blocks and five block assists.

Junior outside hitter Chanda Goedken (Farley, Iowa) added six kills, eight digs
and a pair of aces.

Freshman starting setter and Mitchell High School graduate Charlee Nelson shined against the Tigers, tallying 36 of the Cougars' 37 assists. She also contributed four digs, two block assists and a solo block.

Nelson has tallied 363 set assists in her first 18 collegiate matches.

The Cougars head to Rapid City on Saturday for back-to-back matches against the South Dakota School of Mines and Black Hills State.