SIOUX FALLS- With 10 matches—and victories—under their belts, the No. 19 University of Sioux Falls volleyball team, under the direction of head coach Joel McCartney, will make their 2019 home debut at the Stewart Center when the MSU Moorhead Dragons and No. 8 Northern State Wolves come to town on Friday and Saturday, respectively, for Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play.
Undefeated records:
Of 1,058 women's volleyball teams in NCAA Division I, II, and III, the Cougars are one of 15 teams to still have an undefeated record as of Wednesday. Of the 15 undefeated teams in the NCAA, 11 reside in Division II. USF is among those ranks, but the Cougars further separate themselves from any other team in that nation, as the Cougars are the only team to have lost only one set thus far.
The Rundown (2019 Record):
Fri., Sept. 27, 6 p.m. vs. MSU Moorhead Dragons (5-5, 0-2 NSIC)
Sat., Sept. 28, 2 p.m. vs. No. 8 Northern State Wolves (9-1, 2-0 NSIC)
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Watch Live:
For all USF Volleyball home matches and all Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference contests, watch the Cougars live on Stretch Internet at USFCougars.com/watch. Live stats will be available for all matches. Links to home match live stats are available at USFCougars.com/livestats while links to all road match live stats are available on the USF Volleyball schedule at USFCougars.com.
MSU Moorhead Dragons (5-5, 0-2 NSIC):
The Dragons, under the direction of the winningest head coach in Dragons program history, 25th-year head coach Tammy Blake, are led offensively by sophomore outside hitter Sarah Petrbok and senior middle blocker Kaylyn Jenkins. Petrbok leads the team in kills (81), kills/set (2.25), service aces (14), and aces/set (0.39). Jenkins has also had a start to her senior campaign, leading the dragons in hitting percentage (.306), blocks (6BS-32BA-38Blks) whilst also being second on the team in kills (73), service aces (10), and digs (106).
As a team, the Dragons have a less-than-desirable .185 hitting percentage have held opponents to just a .197 hitting percentage. Defense has been key to staying in games for the Dragons, with senior libero Taylor Thorson pacing the team with 115 digs. Four Dragons have recorded over 50 digs on the season.
The Dragons had a hot start to the season, going 4-0 in their first tournament of the season in Edinboro, Pa. In the Reebichs Investments Tournament, the Dragons only dropped one set a piece to host Edinboro and Glenville State (W.V.), whilst sweeping West Virginia Wesleyan and Lock Haven (Pa.).
The Dragons then had their young season stall, going 1-3 in the UIndy Tournament in Indianapolis, Ind. Their sole win of the tournament came down to the wire in a five-set victory over Northern Michigan. Their losses came to Saginaw Valley State (Mich.), Gannon (Pa.), and Illinois-Springfield, all of whom have received votes to be in the Top 25 at one point in 2019.
Heading into NSIC action with a 5-3 record, the Dragons played host to two strong NSIC teams in then-20th ranked Wayne State and Augustana, who is receiving votes. The Dragons were outpowered by the Wildcats last Friday, falling in straight sets (25-16, 25-14, 25-9). The Wildcats were able to hold the Dragons two best hitters to only 13 combined kills (13K-6E-37TA) and a .189 hitting percentage. As a team, the Dragons were outhit by the Wildcats .361-to-.143. Against the Vikings, the Dragons looked poised for a potential upset, taking the first set handily (25-14) whilst outhitting .333-to-.081. The next three sets turned momentum towards the Vikings though, as the Dragons got outhit by the Vikings .388-to-.043. Set three and four were all Vikings, as the Dragons were held to hitting percentages of -.036 (5K-6E-28TA) and .000 (6K-6E-29TA).
No. 8 Northern State Wolves (9-1, 2-0 NSIC):
The Wolves, under the direction of ninth-year head coach Brent Aldridge, have looked to the group of junior right side hitter Laura Snyder and senior setter Ashley Rozell. Two-time NSIC Setter of the Week Rozell has assisted her teammates 419 times (12.32 assists/set), whilst also recording nine service aces and 30 kills. Snyder, who claimed the first NSIC Offensive Player of the Week, leads the Wolves with 151 kills (4.44 kills/set) and a hitting percentage of .392 (151K-36E-293TA).
As a team, the Wolves had amassed a .318 hitting percentage whilst holding opponents to a hitting percentage of .165, with a plethora of that defensive prowess being accredited to reigning NSIC Defensive Player of the Week in senior libero Jaiden Langlie, who has dug the ball up 149 times (4.38 digs/set), and freshman middle hitter Peyton Ellingson who has recorded 42 blocks (2BS-40BA).
In the Wolves' first tournament in Golden, Colo., it was smooth sailing, only losing a single set to the host of the Oredigger Volleyball Classic, (RV) Colorado School of Mines. The Wolves also swept (RV) Colorado Mesa in the Oredigger Volleyball Classic.
The Wolves then made a trip to Springfield, Mo., to partake in the Drury Invitational where they suffered their sole loss of the season. In their first match of the tournament, the No. 18 Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State took three of four sets from the Wolves. The Wolves were able to rebound and take out (RV) Drury in straight sets.
Heading into NSIC play with a 7-1 record, the Wolves were able to take their fourth and fifth matches in a row when they defeated (RV) Augustana in four sets, followed by a sweep of No. 20 Wayne State.
USF Volleyball cracks Top 20 in latest AVCA Coaches Poll:
The University of Sioux Falls volleyball team has moved into the top 20 of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Division II Coaches Poll for the first time in program history, receiving 316 points to earn the Cougars 19th place in the Week 3 poll released by the AVCA on Monday.
The Cougars earned their uptick in national recognition after a pair of road sweeps against the Minot State Beavers and Mary Marauders this past weekend, beating the Beavers 25-19, 25-20, 25-9, then going to Bismarck, N.D., to claim a 25-16, 25-21, 25-19 victory over the Marauders. The Cougars are also one of only 11 Division II teams that remained undefeated through the weekend.
University of Sioux Falls Cougars Profile:
The Cougars are continuing their historic start to the season, sweeping Minot State and UMary this past weekend on their way to a 10-0 start. Against the Marauders of UMary, senior middle blocker Abby Feyereisen tied the school record for hitting percentage in a match (.750 (16K-1E-20TA)) versus Mary, and concluding the weekend with a .718 hitting percentage in the two matches. Feyereisen averaged 4.83 kills/set and recorded two service aces, four digs, and three blocks in two matches.
Junior setter Krista Goerger also had a strong performance this past weekend, recording 78 assists (13.0 assists/set), including 43 assists against UMary. Goerger helped USF to a team hitting percentage of .377 against Minot State and UMary, whilst also recording six kills, two service aces, eight digs, and two block assists in six sets.
Feyereisen, Goerger named NSIC Top Performers of the Week:
In the NSIC Players of the Week, Feyereisen and Goerger were recognized for their performances, being named one of the Top Offensive Players of the Week and Top Setters of the Week, respectively. Coach McCartney had many positive things to say about Feyereisen and Goerger's performances this past weekend, noting "[Feyereisen] got better from week one to week two, and then even better from week two to week three. You can't ask more than that from a fifth-year Senior. We preach growing and getting better throughout the season and Abby's leadership in that area is so important to our success. [Goerger] is setting well for us right now, but I think she has another gear and a higher level. Her focus is good and she is making solid decisions, but I would like to see her get a little tighter in form and then I think she will be as good a Setter that has played here."
