BEMDJI, Minn. – With stellar back-line defense and timely offense, University of Sioux Falls Volleyball won their second straight match, defeating Bemidji State, 3-1 (25-11, 20-25, 25-14, 25-20), on Saturday evening. The Cougars improve to 8-2 on the season with a 3-2 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
 
Janelle Lam was stellar in the back row for USF, picking up 24 of the Cougars' 69 digs. USF's back row defense limited the Bemidji State offense to a .008 hitting percentage as Averey Yaksich and Bria Barfnecht joined Lam with double digit digs. Lexi Scott had three total blocks, including a pair of solo stuffs, as USF registered six blocks on the night.
 
Offensively, USF did just enough to move past the Beavers, hitting .157 as a team with three Cougars in double figures for kills. The USF junior trio of Makenna Rockeman, Barfnecht and Lexi Scott combined for 39 of the Cougars' 52 kills. Rockeman connected on a match-high 16 terminations, Barfnecht put down an efficient 13 kills with a .393 attack percentage, and Scott tacked on an even 10 kills for the night.
 
The USF defense led the charge all night and was especially the driving factor in the first and third sets. The Cougars held BSU to a negative attack percentage in both frames, limiting the Beavers to four and seven kills in the first and third sets, respectively. USF raced out to a nine-point lead in the opening set then rolled to a 25-11 victory with nine straight points to close it.
 
Despite the furious finish to the first set, Bemidji State stole the momentum with a big spree to start the second, using their cushion to tie the match at one set apiece. Down nine points late in the second set, Rockeman connected on three kills to lead a brief comeback, but it was too late as the Beavers took the set, 25-20.
 
Returning to their defensive ways, Sioux Falls rolled in the third set, using a bevy of BSU errors and a steady offensive attack to win 25-14. In the final set, the Cougars and Beavers were knotted in a tough battle before a late charge sealed the victory for USF. Bemidji State pulled within one point at 13-12, but three errors and three Rockeman kills quickly turned the tides. Another three-point burst had USF's rebuilt lead diminish, but Abby Feyereisen, Barfnecht and Scott smashed three kills to end the match in the fourth set at 25-20.
 
The Cougars return home next weekend to host top-10 ranked Minnesota Duluth on Friday, Sept. 29 and St. Cloud State on Saturday, Sept. 30.