SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Volleyball team delivered a complete performance Friday night inside the Stewart Center, sweeping MSU Moorhead in straight sets, 25-16, 25-22 and 25-21. The Cougars combined an efficient offensive attack with a standout defensive effort from
Maci Lerseth, who recorded 22 digs to move into third place in program history for digs in a three-set match. Lerseth sits behind Janelle Lam (23) and Allie Maloney (25).
Sioux Falls hit .346 as a team, recording 46 kills against just 10 attacking errors while holding the Dragons to a .242 hitting percentage.
Ella Walker and
Abby Haus paced the offense with 10 kills apiece, while Lerseth anchored the back row with a match-high 22 digs. The victory improved USF to 7-13 overall and 3-9 in NSIC play, while MSU Moorhead moved to 11-10 overall and 4-8 in conference action.
The Basics
Final: Sioux Falls 3, MSU Moorhead 0
Set Scores: 25-16, 25-22, 25-21
Records: Sioux Falls 7-13 (3-9 NSIC) | MSU Moorhead 11-10 (4-8 NSIC)
Location: Stewart Center | Sioux Falls, S.D.
How It Happened
Set One | Sioux Falls 25, MSU Moorhead 16
The Cougars established control early, opening the match with a 6-2 advantage behind kills from Haus,
Haley Wolfe and
Kyleigh Tangen. Walker added her first kill of the evening, and 200th on the season, to extend the lead to 7-3, and Sioux Falls continued building momentum with a three-point run to push the advantage to 11-4.
USF maintained its offensive rhythm throughout the frame, stretching its lead to 20-11 following a service ace from
Lucy Larson. The Dragons trimmed the deficit to six late in the set, but the Cougars responded with three of the final four points.
Aubrey Gates delivered a kill before
Hollie Peterson closed the frame with a service ace, securing the 25-16 victory. Sioux Falls hit .333 with 15 kills in the opening set.
Set Two | Sioux Falls 25, MSU Moorhead 22
Sioux Falls carried its momentum into the second set, jumping ahead 5-2 and extending the advantage to 13-9. MSU Moorhead responded with a run of its own, tying the frame at 14-14 before eventually taking a 19-16 lead.
The Cougars answered with five consecutive points, highlighted by kills from Gates and Wolfe, to regain a 21-19 advantage. USF maintained its composure down the stretch as Haus delivered a kill to bring up set point before Wolfe finished the frame with another kill, giving Sioux Falls the 25-22 victory and a two-set advantage.
The Cougars posted their best offensive performance of the night in the second set, hitting .400 with 16 kills and just two attacking errors.
Set Three | Sioux Falls 25, MSU Moorhead 21
MSU Moorhead looked to extend the match in the third set, overcoming an early deficit and eventually building a 16-10 advantage. Sioux Falls continued battling, cutting into the deficit before putting together a decisive run late in the frame.
Trailing 20-16, the Cougars scored five consecutive points to take a 21-20 lead. Haus sparked the rally with a kill, while
Faith Van Eck delivered a service ace to tie the frame at 20-20. Tangen followed with a kill to give USF its first lead since the opening points of the set.
After the Dragons tied the score at 21-21, Wolfe put the Cougars back in front with a kill before Walker and Haus combined for a block to extend the advantage to 23-21. Tangen followed with another kill, and Walker delivered the match-winning point to complete the comeback and secure the sweep.
Sioux Falls closed the third set on a 15-5 run after trailing 16-10, hitting .306 in the frame.
Key Cougars
Maci Lerseth delivered a historic defensive performance, finishing with a match-high 22 digs to rank third in program history for digs in a three-set match. Lerseth also contributed three assists and a service ace, helping the Cougars maintain their defensive presence throughout the evening.
Ella Walker recorded 10 kills on 16 attempts while hitting .438. Walker added two blocks and finished with a team-high 11 points, including the match-winning kill in the third set.
Abby Haus matched Walker with 10 kills while posting a team-best .471 hitting percentage. Haus committed just two errors on 17 attempts while adding three digs and a block.
Kyleigh Tangen contributed nine kills, six digs and three assists, while
Haley Wolfe and
Aubrey Gates each added eight kills. Wolfe hit .389 with two blocks, while Gates finished at .318 with two blocks of her own.
Hollie Peterson directed the offense with 35 assists while adding nine digs, a service ace and a kill.
Faith Van Eck contributed seven digs and two service aces, while
Lucy Larson added five digs and an ace.
By the Numbers
22 – Digs recorded by
Maci Lerseth, ranking third in program history for a three-set match.
.346 – Team hitting percentage for Sioux Falls, finishing with 46 kills and just 10 attacking errors.
.471 – Hitting percentage for
Abby Haus, who recorded 10 kills on 17 attempts.
10 – Kills apiece from Walker and Haus to lead the Cougar offense.
35 – Assists from
Hollie Peterson, directing an offense that hit above .300 in all three sets.
15-5 – Sioux Falls' scoring advantage to close the third set after trailing 16-10.
5 – Service aces for USF, including two from Van Eck.
3 – Consecutive sets won by Sioux Falls to complete the sweep.
Up Next
Sioux Falls will host Minnesota Crookston tomorrow, October 17th, at 2pm before hitting the road for a 3 match series with Bemidji State, Minnesota Duluth and Augustana.
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