MOORHEAD, Minn. – Led by junior outside hitter Makenna Rockeman, University of Sioux Falls Volleyball rebounded from a loss to defeat Minnesota State University, Moorhead, 3-1 (25-11, 20-25, 25-19, 25-23), on Saturday night. With the win, the Cougars stay in eighth place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings at 5-4 while they improve their overall record to 10-4.
 
The workhorse for USF all season, Rockeman not only took nearly a third of all the attack attempts for USF's offense, but she did so with a .349 attack percentage. She finished with a match-high 17 kills on 43 attempts while fellow juniors Lexi Scott and Bria Barfnecht tacked on 12 and 11 kills, respectively. Four different Cougars recorded at least three blocks with Barfnecht's four leading the way. Abby Feyereisen added three block assists to her eight kills to help the Cougars offense with 9.5 points on the night and Barfnecht had three block assists to pair with USF's only block solo.
 
Paced by Rockeman's efficiency, the Cougar offense finished the match with a .241 attack percentage.  Megan Hamstad (26 assists) and Krista Goerger (19 assists) directed the USF offense to 52 kills.
 
Along with their eight blocks, USF's defense was stingy enough to hold MSUM to a paltry .109 attack percentage for the match. In the Cougars' three set wins, MSUM hit just .052 as USF picked up 66 digs to MSUM's 53. Janelle Lam rounded out her weekend with a team-high 18 digs on Saturday evening, and Barfnecht completed a double-double with 13 digs to pair with her 11 kills. Averey Yaksich shook off a slow offensive night to contribute 13 digs and Rockeman was one pickup shy of a double-double with nine digs.
 
When rolling, the USF offensewas nearly unstoppable, combining for 27 kills and just four attack errors in the first and third sets. Overall, USF swung at a .326 clip, hitting above .200 in three of the four sets, including an impressive 12-kill, two-error .588 in the opening frame.
 
Sioux Falls returns to the Stewart Center to host the NSIC's North Dakota representatives. The Cougars face University of Mary on Friday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. then welcome Minot State on Saturday, Oct. 14 for a 2 p.m. contest.