Box Score SIOUS FALLS-- Facing their seventh top-25 rated team of the season, the University of Sioux Falls Volleyball Team (12-7, 7-4 NSIC) dropped a 3-0 (21-25, 21-25, 13-25) at the Stewart Center to No. 5 Minnesota Duluth Saturday afternoon. The Cougars have yet to defeat a top-25 ranked opponent so far this year.
With the loss, USF fell to a conference record of 7-4, and currently sits tied for fifth place in the NSIC with Wayne State and St.Cloud State.
USF was held to a .200 hitting percentage throughout the three set match, while UMD finished the match swinging at a .356 clip. USF totaled 35 kills on 96 attempts during the contest and committed 16 total attack errors.
Senior
Bria Barfnecht led the USF offense with 13 total kills and a hitting percentage of .522.
Lexi Scott added 11 kills of her own while hitting at a .333 hitting percentage. The Cougar offense found little room at the net with the stifling UMD defense recording eight total blocks in the contest.
The Cougars hit for their highest hitting percentage in the first set as they hit for .265, and went toe-to-toe with the Bulldogs through the majority of the set. After a kill by Scott, USF gained a 14-13 advantage over UMD, but the Bulldogs bounced back and went on a streak where they scored five of six points to go up 24-19. USF fought back, but the Bulldogs would ultimately take the set, 25-21.
In the second set, USF gained an early 12-9 lead over UMD behind a couple of big kills by Scott. UMD then went on two separate three point runs to gain a 21-20 edge over the Cougars. Barfnecht recorded one of her kills to tie the set up at 21-21, but UMD finished the set by winning the next four points and took the set, 25-21. USF hit for a .222 match hitting percentage.
UMD controlled the third set from the beginning, jumping out to an early 17-6 lead. Senior
Makenna Rockeman and Scott tried to rally USF by recording two consecutive blocks, but the UMD offense, which hit .500 in the set, proved to be too much for the Cougars. USF posted a .118 hitting percentage in the 13-25 third set defeat.
USF will look to rebound quickly as they host No. 10 Southwest Minnesota State on Tuesday, Oct. 10 for a 6 p.m. match start time.
