Box Score SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- The University of Sioux Falls Volleyball (7-6, 2-3 NSIC) team lost a tough five-set match to yet another nationally-ranked opponent on Saturday afternoon in the Stewart Center.
The Cougars, who were led by senior outside hitter
Averey Yaksich with a team-high 26 kills, battled the #20 St. Cloud State Huskies to a fifth set at home (17-25, 25-20, 26-28, 26-24, and 13-15).
In its third straight match against a nationally-ranked opponent, the Cougars fought hard and Head Coach
Dan Mathews was happy to see his team fight back.
"We continue to battle against some of the nation's and this league's best teams and we are seeing continuing growth as a squad," said Mathews. "We played inspired volleyball throughout the weekend and it was good to see. We just have to find a way to get one of these to go our way. But the team is showing incredible resilience and focus," he said.
As a team, the Cougars totaled 67 kills on 171 attempts, for a .292 overall hitting percentage. On offense, USF also had 65 assists and four service aces. On the defensive side of the ball, the Coo tallied 32 total blocks, including four solo blocks and 28 block assists. USF dug 64 balls and managed zero ball handling errors.
Individually, USF was led by Yaksich on offense with 26 kills, followed by 14 kills from freshman middle
Jordan Kuper, who also had a team-high .500 hitting percentage on the match. Senior setter
Krista Goerger had 56 assists - one off her career-best for a game- for the Coo and also had a team-high 20 digs as she recorded her 19th career double double.
Madison Wassink tallied two service aces for USF.
Early on, SCSU and USF traded points with a block and kill by Kuper tying the match at 3-3. Yaksich came through with a kill followed by a Hamm block for a 5-4 lead. Then, with an 8-2 run, SCSU took a 12-7 advantage. The run was ended on a Kuper kill but ultimately the Huskies took the 25-17 win as they out hit USF, .444 to .233 in set one.
In set two, the Cougars open up an 8-6 lead. Then, after a block by Kuper and a service ace from Jacobson, the Cougars led, 13-8. SCSU put together a 4-1 run to cut lead to 14-12. Later, the Cougars had a 3-0 run with Yaksich's seventh kill of the match to take an 18-14 lead. The Cougars continued to dominate the set and hit .333 to close out with a 7-6 run winning the set 25-20.
In the third set, the Cougars fell behind, 9-5 before rallying within a point before SCSU turned a 3-0 run into a 14-10 lead. After a trio of Yaksich kills, USF went on a 6-0 run to take a 16-14 lead. SCSU answered with a 3-0 run for a 17-16 lead. Late, USF took a one-point lead before falling, 28-26, when the ball hit a rafter and the Cougars were unable to return it on set point. SCSU had a .395 to .286 hitting edge and 21-19 margin in kills.
In set four, SCSU opened up a 10-4 lead before USF rebounded for two straight points. Senior middle blocker Kenzie Byers had two straight kills to draw USF within 11-9. Down 14-11, Kuper had a block to draw the Cougars to 14-12. Off a Jacobson serve, USF tied the match at 21-21. USF closed the set with three straight kills and took a 26-24 win.
The fifth and final set had the Cougars and Huskies trading points yet again, until SCSU went on a run and took a wide lead at 13-8. The Cougars battled back and closed within 14-13. But SCSU closed it out on a kill and captured the five-setter thriller.
The Cougars head back on the road next weekend, taking on the Northern State Wolves on Friday, Oct. 1 at 6 pm in Aberdeen, S.D., from there they head to Moorhead, Minn. to take on the MSUM Dragons at 3:30 pm on Saturday (Oct. 2). USF returns home the following weekend (Oct.8-9) to host U-Mary and Minot State.
