SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Sioux Falls volleyball team saw its three-match winning streak snapped, but after a Tuesday-night victory, the Cougars look to regain momentum on a conference road trip. USF heads to Aberdeen, S.D. tonight for a 7 p.m. match against No. 24 Northern State and trips to Moorhead, Minn. for a 4 p.m. match against MSU Moorhead on Saturday, Oct. 11. The Cougars evened their overall record to 9-9 with nonconference win and they currently own a 3-5 record in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference competitions.

Week in review
Sioux Falls split at home to a pair of conference opponents over the weekend then handled Mount Marty with ease in their final non-conference match to finish with a 2-1 record this past week. Against University of Mary, the Cougars hit .398 with Emily Johnson leading all players with 10 kills and notching her third double-double of the season with 11 digs. USF and Minot State went five sets, but the Cougars saw their three-match win streak snapped by the visiting Beavers. Abby Folk kept Sioux Falls alive with a career-best 27 digs while three different Cougars tallied double-digit kills. USF seized the opportunity to quickly respond and swept Mount Marty on Tuesday night with Kayla Crane directing the offense to a .462 attack percentage by way of a career-high 37 assists.

The week ahead
Sioux Falls will close out a five-match road swing, beginning cross-town rival Augustana on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. The Cougars then head east on 1-90 for matches against Winona State and Upper Iowa on Oct. 17 and 18, respectively.

Scouting the competition

• No. 24 Northern State (12-4, 5-3 NSIC)

Northern State boasts one of the top offenses in the NSIC, featuring the preseason player of the year, right-side hitter Kelsey Chambers. The left-handed Chambers averages 3.82 kills per game while her middle blocker counterparts do more efficient work. Cari McGarvie and Tori Biach both rank in the top four of the NSIC in hitting percentage with McGarvie in second at a stunning .441. As a team, the Wolves rank second in the conference with a .296 attack percentage while limiting their opponents to a .171 attack percentage, tied for fourth in the conference. Aiding that opponent attack percentage is NSU's 2.25 blocks per game which is also second in the conference. Drew Smith runs the offense and is in second in the conference with a 13.13 assists per set mark.

• MSU Moorhead (7-9, 2-6 NSIC)

MSU Moorhead enters the weekend having lost seven of their last nine matches, even before they take on top-ten ranked Southwest Minnesota State before hosting USF. As a team, the Dragons rank in the middle of most statistical categories when compared to other conference programs. A .210 team attack percentage is paced by Kaitlin VanWinkle from her middle blocker position, but the next closest MSUM hitter is nearly 90 points behind her. Sam Sullivan and Sydney Foss have split the setting duties and are averaging 12.42 assists a set. VanWinkle headlines the Dragon front-line defense that averages over two blocks per contest and is averaging over one block per set herself. Amber Krenske carries on MSUM's strong pedigree of liberos and is averaging 4.93 digs/set, third in the conference.

Playoff push
Sioux Falls is in the thick of the NSIC standings and is fighting for a top-eight finish that earns them a place in the NSIC Tournament beginning on Nov. 12. Last season the Cougars tied for seventh with Minnesota Crookston and after eight matches, it looks to be another tight race. USF is currently locked in a tie with Upper Iowa for ninth, and there figures to be a tight race the final two spots. Currently six teams from the NSIC are ranked in the top 25 of the AVCA coaches' poll and Augustana and Northern State are one spot ahead of the Cougars with a 5-3 record. Surprising starts aided by a fortunate schedule have Winona State and Minnesota State in fourth with 6-2 records each. The Cougars can continue their climb up the standings after a 0-4 start with a big win over Northern State tonight and an undefeated weekend that would place them at 5-5 in the conference.