SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- After a 3-0 home sweep over the No. 13 Wayne State Wildcats, the University of Sioux Falls Volleyball Team (15-9, 10-6 NSIC) is heading back out on the road for their last away weekend in NSIC regular season play. The Cougars travel to St. Cloud, Minn. to take on the #12 St. Cloud State Huskies (20-4, 15-1 NSIC) on Friday, Nov. 5 at 6 pm. From there they head to Duluth, Minn. to face the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (17-8, 9-7) on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 4 pm. 

So far this season, the Cougars have defeated three top-25 teams, including two top-15 teams at home in the Stewart Center. To this point, USF has clinched a fifth straight winning season at 15-9 and four matches to play. They stand 10-6 in NSIC play and tied for fifth with five other teams in a bunched up NSIC. Ten teams, including USF are battling for the eight spots in the NSIC Postseason Tournament. In fact, seven teams are just separated by two games, ranging from Wayne State in fourth at 11-5 to UMD in 10th at 9-7.

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#12 St. Cloud State
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(RV) Minnesota Duluth
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History 
SCSU
Since their first meeting in 2013, the Cougars and Huskies sit in an overall tie, with each having five win and five losses. USF started the series with a win; taking a 3-2 decision over the Huskies on November 2, 2013 in St. Cloud, Minn. In their most recent matchup, the nationally ranked Huskies took a 3-2 win over the Cougars in the Stewart Center on September 25, 2021. In the matchup, USF lost by set scores of 17-25, 25-20, 26-28, 26-24 and 13-15 in a highly competitive match.

UMD
Since their first meeting in 2013, the Bulldogs own a 12-1 advantage over the Cougars in the overall series. UMD started the series on a six-game winning streak, before the Cougars took a 3-2 win over the Bulldogs in Duluth, Minn. on October 28, 2016. Since then, the Bulldogs have gone on to win six-straight matchups, including the most recent matchup on September 24, 2021, when UMD took a 3-2 win over USF in the Stewart Center.  In that matchup, USF lost in five sets by scores of 25-16, 26-28, 15-12, 23-25 and 13-15 in a contest that close throughout the match.

Breaking Down the Opponents 
SCSU
As a team, the No. 12 Huskies, which lead the NSIC with a 15-1 lead mark (20-4 overall) are hitting .272 percent, with 1,241 kills on 3,060 attempts and 408 errors (13.9 kills per set). With 1,152 set assists, the Huskies are averaging 12.9 assists per set and have 17 ball handling errors. From the service line, SCSU has tallied 137 service aces for an average of 1.5 aces per set. On defense, the Huskies have 1,335 digs (15.0 per set) and 211 blocks (2.4 per set). Individually, the Huskies are led on offense by Kenzie Foley, with 315 kills and a .291 hitting percentage (3.8 kills per set). Maddy Torve has 1,003 set assists for the Huskies, while Abigail Groeneweg has 35 service aces. On defense, Linsey Rachel has 272 digs for the Huskies, while Phebie Rossi holds down the net with 96 blocks (20 solo blocks). 

UMD
As a team, the Bulldogs, which sit 9-7 (10th) in the NSIC and 17-8 overall, are hitting .203 percent, with 1,233 kills on 3,336 attempts and 557 errors (13.3 kills per set). With 1,160 set assists, the Bulldogs are averaging 12.5 assists per set and have 24 ball handling errors. From the service line, the Bulldogs have put down 140 service aces for an average of 1.5 aces per set. On defense, the Bulldogs have 1,465 digs (15.8 per set) and 185.5 blocks (2.0 per set). Individually, the Bulldogs are led on offense by Cianna Selbitschka, with 355 kills and a .209 hitting percentage (4.08 kills per set), as well as a team-high 34 service aces. Madison Gordon has 928 set assists for the Bulldogs. On defense, the Bulldogs have 436 digs from Sydney Lanoue, while Grace Daak holds down the net with 113 blocks (23 solo blocks). 

Breaking Down the Cougars 
As a team, the Cougars are hitting .273 percent on the year so far, with 1,162 kills on 2,876 attempts and 378 errors (13.5 kills per set). With 1,083 set assists, USF is averaging 12.6 assists per set and have 21 ball handling errors. From the service line, the Cougars have racked up 162 service aces for an average of 1.9 aces per set. On defense, the Cougars have 1,169 digs (13.6 per set) and 201 blocks (2.3 per set).

Individually, USF is led on offense by Averey Yaksich with 383 kills on the season so far. Yaksich, who is now the sixth player in USF history to reach the 800 kill mark, is averaging a league-best 4.45 kills per set and is hitting .285 percent. Yaksich leads the NSIC and ranks seventh in DII in kills/set at 4.45 and is first in the league and fifth in DII in total kills this season. In addition, the Omaha, Neb., senior is fourth all-time in kills for a season at USF with 383. She has a chance to become the all-time season leader with a combined 20 kills this weekend. Ahead of Yaksich is Emily Johnson at 391, 2013, 3rd; Emily Johnson, 398, 2014, 2nd; and Makenna Rockeman, 402, 2016.Yaksich has already set a five-set match record at USF with 30 kills and owns the three-set mark with 22 against Wayne State on Tuesday. She has 21 matches of double-digit kills this season plus five contests with 20 or more. Additionally, she is seventh all-time in attacks for a season with 946 and just 16 away from fifth in a season at USF (Emily Johnson, 961, 5th, 2013). Three-time NSIC Setter of the Week Krista Goerger leads the Cougars with 912 set assists so far. Goerger, who surpassed 3,000 assists (3,306, school record) earlier this season, averages 10.6 assists per set for fourth in the NSIC. Goerger has the sixth-highest season total in assists and is just 88 away from being the fifth player at USF (including herself with 1,057, 2018, 2nd all-time) to reach 1K in assists in a season. From the service line, Madison Wassink leads the NSIC and holds a team-high 31 service aces for the Cougars. On defense, TiaRose Nagami leads USF with 277 digs on the season so far (3.3 per set). At the net, Jordan Kuper has racked up 101 blocks for the Cougars, including 15 solo blocks. 

How USF stands in NCAA DII/NSIC
Aces Per Set - 1.88, 3rd, NSIC
Assists Per Set -- 12.59, 29th, DII; 4th, NSIC
Blocks Per Set --  2.34, 20th, DII; 3rd, NSIC
Hitting Pct. -- .273, 8th, DII; 1st, NSIC
Kills Per Set -- 13.51, 32nd, DII, 5th NSIC
Team Services Aces -- 162, 3rd, NSIC
Team Assists -- 1083, 4th, NSIC

Individual - NSIC and NCAA DII rankings
Assists Per Set -- Krista Goerger, 10.6, 22nd, DII, 4th, NSIC
Attacks Per Set -- Averey Yaksich, 11.0, 27th, DII
Kills Per Set -- Averey Yaksich, 4.45, 7th, DII; 1st, NSIC
Total Kills -- Averey Yaksich, 383, 5th, DII; 1st, NSIC
Total Attacks -- Averey Yaksich, 946, 30th, DII, 1st, NSIC
Total Assists -- Krista Goerger, 912, 23rd, DII, 6th, NSIC
Hitting Pct. -- Jordan Kuper, .367, 28th, DII; 4th, NSIC

Averey Yaksich - Outside Hitter | Redshirt Senior | Omaha, Nebraska
Career - 891 kills (6th all-time at USF) & .222 hitting percentage & 132 blocks 
2021 - 383 kills & .285 hitting percentage & 52 blocks 

Krista Goerger - Setter | Senior | Mankato, Minnesota
Career - 3,306 assists (1st all-time at USF) & 216 kills
2021 - 912 assists & 66 kills 

TiaRose Nagami - Defensive Specialist | Senior | Pearl City, Hawaii
Career - 425 digs & 91 assists
2021 - 277 digs & 75 assists

Kenzie Byers - Middle Blocker | Redshirt Senior | Goodyear, Arizona
Career - 289 kills & .278 hitting percentage & 95 blocks
2021 - 49 kills & .343 hitting percentage & 15 blocks

Nicole Jacobson - Outside Hitter | Sophomore | Dakota Dunes, South Dakota
Career - 335 kills & .174 hitting percentage & 45 blocks
2021 - 191 kills & .175 hitting percentage & 27 blocks 

Jordan Kuper - Middle Blocker | Freshman | Scotch Grove, Iowa
Career & 2021 - 217 kills & .367 hitting percentage & 101 blocks & seven double-digit kills game (high of 15 vs MSU Moorhead, 10/2/2021)

Brooklynne Albrecht - Opposite | Sophomore | Kihei, Hawaii 
Career - 199 kills & .224 hitting percentage & 56 blocks
2021 - 98 kills & .312 hitting percentage & 24 blocks

Looking Ahead 
The Cougars will host Bemidji State (Friday, Nov. 12) and Minnesota Crookston (Saturday, Nov. 13) to wrap up their regular season in the Stewart Center.