By: Madie Brink
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Riding the momentum of a historic upset, the University of Sioux Falls volleyball team (11-9, 6-6 NSIC) is set to hit the road for a pair of key conference matchups this weekend. The Cougars will face MSU Moorhead on Friday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. before heading north to take on Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m.
Cougars Coming In Hot
The Cougars enter the weekend on a high note following their thrilling 3-1 road victory over No. 17 Southwest Minnesota State on Tuesday night — marking the program's first series sweep over the Mustangs while handing them their first home loss of the season.
USF outhit SMSU .232 to .201 while tallying 54 kills, 62 digs, and 8 total blocks. Senior Courtney Holsteen powered the attack with 12 kills and a block along with Abby Haus adding 12 kills on a .391 attack. Haley Wolfe and Ella Walker combined for 11 kills and eight blocks while setters Elise Gillen and Liz Kopp orchestrated the offense with 44 combined assists. Maci Lerseth and Sadie Voss anchored the back row with 36 digs.
Overall this season, the Cougars are hitting .261 as a team, averaging 12.9 kills, 12.1 assists, and 2.0 blocks per set — all among the best marks in the NSIC.
Opponent Notes & Matchups
MSU Moorhead (13-7, 7-5 NSIC)
MSU Moorhead enters the weekend 13-7 overall and 7-5 in NSIC play, sitting seventh in the conference standings with momentum after winning five of their last seven matches. The Dragons boast a balanced offense, hitting .237 as a team while averaging 12.8 kills per set and 1.8 blocks per set.
Their attack is led by Raiah Mandell and Brielle Riess, who pace the team with 226 and 218 kills, respectively—both averaging nearly 3.0 per set. Mandell has been particularly efficient, swinging at a .300 clip, while Riess adds power on the pins and contributes defensively with 2.9 digs per set. Madi Colby runs the offense with 433 assists (5.70 per set), while setter Amanda Lisi adds 320 assists (4.57 per set) and 19 aces.
Defensively, the Dragons rely on back-row stability from Maci Martini (247 digs, 3.25 per set) and front-row presence from Leah Laqua and Mya Pfeifer, who have combined for 77 total blocks.
Moorhead's strength lies in its balanced attack and scrappy defense; slowing their offensive rhythm and maintaining serve-receive consistency will be key for USF to secure the season sweep. The Cougars took a 3-0 sweep over the Dragons earlier this season with set scores of 25-20, 25-17, and 25-20.
Minnesota Crookston (6-14, 0-12 NSIC)
Minnesota Crookston enters the weekend 6-14 overall and 0-12 in NSIC play, still searching for their first conference victory. The Golden Eagles average 11.9 kills per set while hitting .150 as a team, leaning heavily on outside hitter Madison Carsten, who leads the NSIC in total kills with 282 (4.09 per set).
Setter Dana Melby anchors the offense with 336 assists (5.33 per set), while Ellery Ehresmann adds another 285 assists to help distribute the attack. Carizma Muth (189 kills, 2.74 K/S) and Emma Malek (123 kills, .218) provide secondary scoring options, with Lexi Scharold adding a strong blocking presence at the net (41 total blocks).
Defensively, libero Kailee Waasdorp has been a bright spot, ranking among league leaders with 385 digs (5.66 per set), helping Crookston stay competitive in long rallies.
While the Golden Eagles have faced challenges in conference play, they've shown flashes of balance and grit—particularly when serve-receive holds steady and Carsten gets early touches.
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