SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- After a tough weekend of back-to-back five set setback against two nationally-ranked teams, the University of Sioux Falls Volleyball Team (7-6, 2-3 NSIC) will travel to take on the Northern State Wolves (Friday, Oct. 1) and the Minnesota State - Moorhead Dragons (Saturday, Oct. 2) in another weekend of NSIC play. 

The Cougars started the season strong, with two preseason tourneys and a 2-0 sweep in the first weekend of NSIC play. After dropping five set matches to #19 Minnesota Duluth (25-16, 26-28, 25-12, 23-25, 13-15) and No. 20 St. Cloud State (17-25, 25-20, 26-28, 26-24, 13-15), USF is looking to bounce back on Friday night as they face a Northern State team receiving votes in the most recent AVCA poll. Then, the Cougars will travel to MSUM for the second of two weekend matches. In those five-set losses to UMD and SCSU, twice, USF lost a set, 28-26, and in both matches fell, 15-13, in the final set.. 

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Northern State (9-4, 4-1 NSIC)
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MSUM
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History 
NSU
The Cougars and Wolves have faced off 11 times, with NSU holding an 8-3 overall advantage over the Cougars. USF last match won was a 3-1 decision in Aberdeen on November 5, 2016, since then, the Cougars have been on a four match losing streak. In their most recent matchup, the Wolves took a 3-1 win over USF in Aberdeen on November 9, 2019. 

MSUM
The Dragons and Cougars have played each other 10 times, with USF owning a 8-2 overall advantage over MSUM. The Cougars have won the last four matchups, with their last loss being a 2-3 decision on Moorhead, Minn. on November 4, 2016. In their most recent matchup on November 8, 2019, the Cougars took home a 3-1 win in Moorhead, Minn. 

Breaking Down the Opponents 
NSU
As a team, the Wolves are currently hitting .245, with 678 kills on 1,771 attempts. They are averaging 13.8 kills per set and 12.9 assists. NSU currently has 632 assists and just four ball handling errors, as well as 65 services aces and are averaging 1.3 aces per set. On defense, the Wolves have racked up 756 digs (15.4 per set) and 105 blocks (2.1 per set). Individually, the Wolves are led by Sally Gaul, with 186 kills on the season so far, averaging 3.8 kills per set. Also on offense, Keri Walker leads the way in assists for NSU, with 539 on the year and 11.47 per set. Walker also has a team-high 18 service aces on the year so far. On the defensive side of the net, the Wolves are led by Havyn Heinz with 201 digs (4.1 per set). Olivia Rud holds down the net for the Wolves, with 56 blocks on the season so far (1.14), including five solo blocks. 

MSUM
As a team, the Dragons are hitting .105 percent, with 456 kills on 1,779 attempts. They are averaging 9.7 kills per set and 9 assists. MSUM has 425 set assists on the season, with six ball handling errors, as well as 67 service aces (1.4 per set). On defense, the Dragons have 727 digs (15.5 per set) and 109 blocks (2.3 per set). Individually, the Dragons are led on offense by Amanda Carlson with 153 kills on the season so far, with a 3.26 average per set. Halle Erickson has a team-high 180 assists for MSUM, while Carlson and Sarah Petrbok are tied at a team-high 16 service aces. On defense, Elise Bakke holds down the net for the Dragons, with 31 blocks so far on the year. Petrbok also has a team-high 208 digs. 

Breaking Down the Cougars So Far 
As a team, the Cougars are hitting .283 on the season so far, which ranks fourth in the NSIC. The Cougars have 633 kills on 1,581 attempts. They are averaging 12.92 kills per set and 11.88 assists. USF has 582 set assists on the year, with nine ball handling errors, as well as 96 service aces (1.96 per set). On defense, the Cougars have 626 digs (12.7 per set) and 103 blocks (2.1 per set). Individually, the Cougars are led on offense by NSIC leader Averey Yaksich, with 210 kills on the season (4.44 per set). Krista Goerger leads the way in set assists, with 476 so far (9.71 per set), while Nicole Jacobson, who had double-doubles in both matches last weekend, holds a team-high 20 service aces. She is second on USF with 116 kills and 2.47 per set. TiaRose Nagami has 164 digs (3.47 per set) for the Cougars as she set a career best of 26 digs against UMD. 

Player Notes
Averey Yaksich of Omaha, Neb., ranks 4th in NCAA DII and first in the NSIC with 210 kills on 521 attacks and a .280 hitting mark. She is ninth in DII and first in the NSIC with 4.29 kills per set. In addition, she is ninth in DII in points with 238.0. She continued her outstanding season with a standout weekend against nationally ranked Minn. Duluth and St. Cloud State. In a pair of 5 set losses both nights, Yaksich had 50 kills on 127 attacks and a .316 hitting mark as well as a service ace, 23 digs, double-double and 53.5 points. Against UMD, she had 24 kills on 62 attacks for a .306 hitting mark with a service ace, six total blocks, 15 digs and 28 points. In the five set loss to SCSU, she bettered her performance with 26 kills on 65 attacks and a .323 hitting mark while recording eight digs and 28.5 points. She moved into sixth on USF's career kills (718) and attacks 2,056. She rank

The reigning NSIC Setter of the Week, Krista Goerger had season-highs in set assists in back to back times with 54 assists vs UMD and 56 assists against SCSU. She also had three service aces against UMD along with eight digs. She added her third double double this year with 20 digs - a season high - vs SCSU. She now has a school record of 2,872 assists. She is averaging 9.7 assists with year on 476 total. With 100 digs she now has 543 digs for her career (8th all-time at USF) and 105 service aces is second all-time at USF. Last weekend against SCSU she had a career high with four blocks and 20 digs.

Jordan Kuper, a standout freshman middle blocker, is off  to a fast start with 105 kills or 2.14 per set and a .316 hitting mark. She has 48 blocks including 36 block assists and 12 solos. She recorded a career-high 14 kills in both matches this weekend against SCSU and UMD. 

Looking Ahead
After this weekend, the Cougars return home and will hold a staff appreciation night on Friday, October 8 while hosting the UMary Marauders at 5 pm. On Saturday (Oct. 9), USF faces off against the Minot State Beavers at 2 pm in the Stewart Center.