SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Led by a three-headed offense attack, a strong team effort from the University of Sioux Falls volleyball team defeated Bemidji State 3-0 (25-20, 25-17, 25-19) on Friday night. The Cougars grab their first conference victory and snap a five-match losing streak to improve their overall record to 6-8 and 1-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
Directing the offense to 20 kills while she was on the floor, Sydney Schaap dished out a season-best 20 assists to help the Cougars to a .283 attack percentage. Schaap's defense nearly notched a double-double as she and Abby Folk combined for 23 digs and forced 23 Bemidji State attack errors, limiting he Beavers to a .041 attack percentage.
The Cougars built a slight lead early in the first set, but took control with a key 7-3 run then closed with four straight points for the 25-20 first-set win. Kate Hart and Samantha Lovell teamed up for 10 kills in the opening set, but it was three blocks and 12 digs that forced Bemidji State into a -.033 attack percentage.
The tides seemed to have turned when Bemidji State reeled off five straight points to take an early second-set lead, but the Cougars wouldn't allow the match to be evened. Sioux Falls answered with four consecutive points to retake the lead and dominated from thereon -- winning 10 of the last 13 points to close the set -- for a 25-17 set win.
Emily Johnson reeled off six of her match-high 13 kills in the second set and the Cougars tacked on four more blocks. Lovell and Jordan Calef each tallied a pair of stuffs from their middle blocker position.
The Cougars appeared to be running away with the third set and match, but Bemidji State gradually erased a seven-point deficit to tie the set at 16-16. Johnson wasn't a fan of the BSU comeback attempt so she ripped off three kills to spark a 9-3 run which closed out the set, 25-19, and gave the Cougars a key conference victory.
Folk's 14 digs were equaled by BSU libero Kayla DeJong. Lovell finished her night with an error-free eight kills -- the second straight match of eight or more kills without an attack error.
USF will host Minnesota Crookston tomorrow at 4 p.m. in the Stewart Center as the contest of a six-match home stand.
