SIOUX FALLS – Recording their first sweep of the conference season, University of Sioux Falls Volleyball dispatched Bemidji State in straight sets, winning 3-0 (26-24, 25-21, 25-20) on Friday night. The Cougars improve to 14-10 on the season with a 9-10 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.
 
In a balanced offensive performance that had the Cougars hit .302 as a team, five different players recorded seven or more kills and three did so with an attack percentage of .400 or higher. Averey Yaksich posted a team-high 13 kills while Abby Feyereisen matched her career-high with 11 kills and only committed one error for an impressive .588 attack percentage.
 
Bria Barfnecht was right behind her front-row partner, putting down nine kills with one error for an even .500 attack mark. Recent All-NSIC second team honorees Makenna Rockeman and Lexi Scott finished with eight and seven kills, respectively, as USF held a 50-32 advantage in kills over the Beavers.
 
Helping the Cougars limit the Beaver attack to a .185 mark, Janelle Lam picked up a match-high 18 digs and Barfnecht added 11, missing out on a double-double by one kill. Feyereisen was in on all five of the Cougars' blocks including the only solo stuff of the night.
 
Despite 21 kills on a .409 attack percentage, the Cougars were pushed to the limit in the first set. Barfnecht, Rockeman and Yaksich combined for 13 kills without committing an error, and it was Yaksich's final two kills that staved off BSU's comeback for a 26-24 win.
 
Yaksich and Feyereisen sparked a 9-1 run in the middle of the second set, giving the Cougars a cushion for their 25-21 victory. Every point was needed for USF as the Beavers closed to within one point before Yaksich put down her fourth and fifth kills of the set and Lam connected on a service ace to seal the set.
 
Another efficient set paved the way for USF to notch their first conference sweep victory. Steadily building a lead, the Cougars held a six-point advantage after Megan Hamstad's service ace spurred a four-point burst. Answering Bemidji State's every push, Rockeman scored three points – two kills and an ace – before Yaksich once again closed the door on the Beavers, giving USF a 25-20 third-set win.
 
USF closes the season on Saturday, Nov. 11 when they host Minnesota Crookston at 4 p.m., after which they will honor senior Janelle lam for Senior Day.