SIOUX FALLS- The No. 19 University of Sioux Falls Volleyball Team dropped a tough battle to No. 8 Northern State on Saturday at the Stewart Center. Unfortunately for the Cougars, the result was their first loss of the season by set totals of 29-27, 12-25, 20-25, 15-25  to the Wolves. As a result, the Cougars fell to  11-1 overall and 3-1 for a tie for third in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

Leading the Cougars' offense was senior KaSandra Springer with a .320 hitting percentage (20K-4E-50TA). Springer finished the game with a double-double, adding 14 digs to her 20 career-best kills. Junior Krista Goerger finished the match with a team-high 40 assists. Senior transfer Allie Maloney led the team defensively with 20 digs.

The Cougars will have the week to regroup and look at film before Winona State comes to the Stewart Center on Friday. First serve is slated for 7 p.m.

In front of an electric crowd at the Stewart Center, the Cougars and Wolves fought tooth-and-nail in the first set, trading points and small runs in the first 22 rallies. The first Cougar lead of the set did not come until redshirt senior Abby Feyereisen collect a kill to put the Cougars ahead 12-11. Down 19-18, the Wolves went on a 6-1 to take a 24-20 lead on set point, but the Cougars responded with a 6-0 run to turn the set point into their favor. It was another battle between the teams, but Northern did not see another set point, as freshman Hayley Fox made a crucial kill to give the Cougars a 28-27 lead, followed by a Wolves error to give the Cougars the 29-27 set one victory.

In the second set, the Cougars were able to battle to an 8-7 lead off a Springer kill, but the Wolves went on a huge 12-1 run to go ahead 19-9. The Wolves kept the pressure coming in the rest of the set, taking six of the last eight rallies to win the set 25-12.

Out of intermission, the Wolves carried their momentum from the second set to jump ahead 10-4 over the Cougars. Down 16-10, the Cougars were able to battle back to within three of the Wolves with a 5-2 run. The Wolves were able to hold off the run, taking the third set 25-20 and earn a 2-1 match lead.

The Wolves again started the fourth set on a 10-4 run, but the Cougars answered with a 9-5 run to make it a two-point, 15-13 lead for the Wolves. At this point, the Wolves heated up, going on an 8-1 run to get within two of taking the match, which they did three rallies later.