SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- After a hard-fought last NSIC weekend on the road, the University of Sioux Falls Volleyball Team (15-11, 10-8 NSIC) will conclude their regular season with two matches at home this weekend, and will honor their seniors on Saturday. The Cougars start the weekend hosting Bemidji State (2-24, 2-16 NSIC) on Friday, Nov. 12 at 6 pm in the Stewart Center. From there, they host Minnesota Crookston (1-22, 0-18 NSIC) on Saturday, Nov. 13 for Senior Night at 4 pm. 

Following the match on Saturday, the Cougars will be honoring their five seniors for their contributions to the USF Volleyball Program. This year's senior include Averey Yaksich of Omaha, Nebraska, Kenzie Byers of Goodyear, Arizona, TiaRose Nagami of Pearl City, Hawaii, Krista Goerger of Mankato, Minnesota, and Marlee Schneider of Custer, South Dakota. These five seniors and their parents will be honored for the time and dedication they have given to Cougar Volleyball. 

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 15-11 and two matches to play. They stand 10-8 in NSIC play and tied for ninth with Minnesota Duluth in a bunched up NSIC. Ten teams, including USF are battling for the eight spots in the NSIC Postseason Tournament. 

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Bemidji State
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Minnesota Crookston
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History 
Bemidji State
Since their first meeting in 2011, the Cougars own an 11-1 advantage in the overall series. The Beavers started the series with a 3-1 win over USF in the Stewart Center on September 3, 2011. Since then, USF has gone on an 11-match winning streak, with their most recent win a 3-0 decision over the Beavers in Bemidji, Minn. on September 18, 2021. In the latest home matchup, the Cougars took a 3-0 win over the Beavers in the Stewart Center on October 19, 2019. 

Minnesota Crookston
Since their first meeting in 2013, the Cougars own a 10-1 overall advantage in the series. The Golden Eagles started the series with a 3-0 win over USF in the Stewart Center on October 25, 2013. Since then, USF has gone on a 10-match winning streak, with their most recent win a 3-0 decision over UMC on September 17, 2021 in Crookston, Minn. In their latest home matchup, the Cougars took a 3-0 win over the Golden Eagles in the Stewart Center on October 18, 2019. 

Breaking Down the Opponents 
Bemidji State
As a team, the Beavers are hitting .106 percent, with 848 kills on 2,871 attempts and 555 errors (9.7 kills per set). With 795 set assists, the Beavers are averaging 9.1 assists per set and have seven ball handling errors. From the service line, BSU has tallied 96 service aces for an average of 1.1 aces per set. On defense, the Beavers have 1,109 digs (12.7 per set) and 101 blocks (1.2 per set). Individually, the Beavers are led on offense by Anna Averkamp, with 234 kills and a .154 hitting percent. Emily Wade has 621 set assists for BSU, while Madison Weyker and Lauren Justesen are tied for a team-high 14 service aces. Madison Weyker also leads the defense for the Beavers, with 255 digs (2.93 per set), while Rylie Bjerklie holds down the net with 46 blocks, including eight solo blocks. 

Minnesota Crookston
As a team, the Golden Eagles are hitting .109 percent, with 665 kills on 2,299 attempts and 415 errors (8.9 kills per set). With 605 set assists, UMC is averaging 8.1 assists per set and has 13 ball handling errors. From the service line, the Eagles have put down 95 service aces for an average of 1.3 per set. On defense, UMC has 836 digs (11.1 per set) and 81 blocks (1.1 per set). Individually, the Eagles are led on offense by Lauren Wallace, with 161 kills and a .143 hitting percentage. Natalie Koke has 509 set assists (6.79 per set) for UMC and leads the team with 23 service aces. On defense, Layne Whaley has 186 digs (2.7 per set) for the Eagles, while Mara Weisensel holds down the net with 40 blocks (13 solo blocks). 

Breaking Down the Cougars 
As a team, the Cougars are hitting .268 percent on the year so far, with 1,254 kills on 3,115 attempts and 418 errors (13.5 kills per set). With 1,171 set assists, USF is averaging 12.6 assists per set and have 26 ball handling errors. From the service line, the Cougars have racked up 171 service aces for an average of 1.8 aces per set. On defense, the Cougars have 1,253 digs (13.5 per set) and 218 blocks (2.3 per set).

Individually, USF is led on offense by Averey Yaksich with 417 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 4.48 kills per set and is hitting .290 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 now the all-time season leader with 417 kills on the season with two matches regular season matches left.
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 988 set assists so far. Goerger, who surpassed 3,000 assists (3,306, school record) earlier this season, averages 10.62 assists per set for fourth in the NSIC. Goerger has the sixth-highest season total in assists and is just 12 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 33 service aces for the Cougars. On defense, TiaRose Nagami leads USF with 300 digs on the season so far (3.3 per set). At the net, Jordan Kuper has racked up 111 blocks for the Cougars, including 17 solo blocks. 

How USF stands in NCAA DII/NSIC
Aces Per Set - 1.84, 2nd, NSIC
Assists Per Set -- 12.59, 30th, DII; 4th, NSIC
Blocks Per Set --  2.34, 20th, DII; 2nd, NSIC
Hitting Pct. -- .268, 8th, DII; 2nd, NSIC
Kills Per Set -- 13.48, 35th, DII, 5th NSIC
Team Services Aces -- 171, 3rd, NSIC
Team Assists -- 1171, 44th, DII, 7th, NSIC

Individual - NSIC and NCAA DII rankings
Assists Per Set -- Krista Goerger, 10.62, 24th, DII, 4th, NSIC
Attacks Per Set -- Averey Yaksich, 11.0, 30th, DII
Kills Per Set -- Averey Yaksich, 4.48, 7th, DII; 1st, NSIC
Total Kills -- Averey Yaksich, 417, 4th, DII; 1st, NSIC
Total Attacks -- Averey Yaksich, 1023, 25th, DII, 1st, NSIC
Total Assists -- Krista Goerger, 988, 16th, DII, 4th, NSIC
Hitting Pct. -- Jordan Kuper, .349, 6th, NSIC

Senior Spotlights
Averey Yaksich - Outside Hitter | Redshirt Senior | Omaha, Nebraska
Daughter of Dan and Maribeth Yaksich
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
Daughter of Kim and Rich Goerger
Career - 3,306 assists (1st all-time at USF) & 216 kills
2021 - 912 assists & 66 kills 

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

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

Marlee Schneider - Setter/Defensive Specialist | Senior | Custer, South Dakota
Daughter of Renae and Kent Schneider
Career - 33 aces & 53 digs
2021 - 19 assists & 25 aces & 38 digs 


Looking Ahead 
The Cougars will head to the NSIC Postseason Tournament Nov. 18-21 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Fall, S.D. Further details to come about game times and opponents.