Box Score MINOT—With their ninth win in 11 matches, the University of Sioux Falls Volleyball Team (15-7, 10-4 NSIC) swept Minot State, 3-0 (25-23, 25-16, 25-17) on Saturday afternoon.

This sweep was the second of the weekend for the Cougars after beating U-Mary on Friday (Oct.12).

With the win, the Cougars, who improved to 15-7 overall, remained in a tie for fourth place in the NSIC with Southwest Minnesota State at 10-4. USF has already matched last year's win total of 15.

As a team, USF recorded a .406 match hitting percentage while holding Minot to only a .222 clip. USF converted 51 kills on 101 attacks.

Three USF players recorded double digit kills with sophomore Averey Yaksich leading the team with 15 kills on  27 attempts for a .444 hitting percentage. Senior Lexi Scott posted 13 kills while hitting .400 while senior Makenna Rockeman added 10 kills on 22 attempts and hit .364.

Senior setter Megan Hamstad accumulated 45 assists and continually set up the Cougar attackers with quality passes. Hamstad also recorded one kill, one service ace, and four digs throughout the contest.

During the first set, USF struggled to gain an early advantage over Minot State as the teams battled to a 15-15 tie. USF, which hit .361 in the set, went on a three-point run as Scott recorded a kill and senior Bria Barfnecht had an ace for an 18-15 lead. Later, Barfnecht and Rockeman recorded back-to-back kills and sealed the 25-23 first set victory for USF.  

The USF offense exploded to start the second set, gaining an 11-1 advantage over the Beavers behind a trio of kills by Rockeman and a service ace by junior Kasandra Springer. The Beavers attempted to make a late run after winning five points in a row to bring the score to 19-14, but the Cougars, who hit .355 for the set, answered the run with four straight points and a 23-14 lead. Yaksich put the set away with a kill, and USF took the second set 25-16.  

In the third set, USF was dominant at the net with an efficient .500 hitting percentage. However, MiSU battled USF and led the Cougars, 13-12. USF then took nine of the next 11 points to forge a 21-15 advantage as Yaksich had four kills in the momentum changing run. Yaksich was a one-person wrecking crew in the set as she recorded she more kills as USF took a 25-17 win. She had seven of her 15 kills in the final, match-clinching set.

USF will look to continue their recent success as they begin a four-match home stand beginning with No. 2 Northern State on Friday, Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. at the Stewart Center.