DULUTH, Minn. - Closing out a three-match road trip to open conference play, the University of Sioux Falls volleyball team fell in straight sets to No. 3 Minnesota Duluth on Saturday evening. The Cougars' record drops to 5-7, 0-3 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action, after the 25-17, 25-13, 25-20 loss.

After trailing early in the first set, the Cougars clawed back to a one-point deficit but a big run by the Bulldogs (10-1, 3-0 NSIC) paved the way to a 1-0 lead in the match. Kate Hart drilled five of her team-high 10 kills in the first stanza, but an 8-2 run gave UMD a cushion big enough to keep Sioux Falls at bay for a 25-17 set victory.

Tallying 25 of their 63 digs in the second set, the Bulldogs' defense put the Cougars in a 0-2 hole after a 25-13 second set in favor of the home team. Samantha Lovell smashed an error-free three kills in the second set, but USF only managed a .056 attack percentage.

Lovell and Hart combined for eight kills in the third set, but UMD held off Sioux Falls for a 25-20 set win and a 3-0 match victory. Monica Turner and Mariah Scharf teamed up for 10 kills in the third set and finished with 11 and 13 kills, respectively, with Scharf tallying a match-high.

Reigning NSIC libero of the year Julie Rainey recorded a match-high 26 digs for the Bulldogs while Abby Folk held her own with 13 as the USF libero. Folk has now reached double figures in digs each of the past two matches and four of the past six.

The Cougars will have a quick turnaround when they host nationally-ranked Wayne State on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. before welcoming Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston on Sept. 26 and 27, respectively.