SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Volleyball team delivered a thrilling five-set victory over crosstown rival Augustana Tuesday night, defeating the Vikings 3-2 at the Elmen Center. The Cougars battled through 30 ties and 13 lead changes to secure the victory by set scores of 25-20, 19-25, 26-24, 22-25 and 15-13.
Sioux Falls was led by a balanced offensive attack that featured three Cougars with 15 kills apiece.
Kyleigh Tangen,
Aubrey Gates and
Abby Haus each reached the 15-kill mark, while
Ella Walker added 11 kills and five blocks.
Hollie Peterson directed the offense with 50 assists, and
Maci Lerseth anchored the defense with 23 digs.
The Cougars finished with 64 kills and a .261 hitting percentage while recording 83 digs and nine team blocks. Sioux Falls was especially efficient in the decisive fifth set, hitting .450 with 10 kills and just one attacking error to secure the rivalry victory.
With the win, Sioux Falls improves to 9-15 overall and 5-11 in NSIC play, while Augustana falls to 15-9 overall and 9-7 in conference action.
The Basics
Final: Sioux Falls 3, Augustana 2
Set Scores: 25-20, 19-25, 26-24, 22-25, 15-13
Records: Sioux Falls 9-15 (5-11 NSIC) | Augustana 15-9 (9-7 NSIC)
Location: Elmen Center | Sioux Falls, S.D.
Attendance: 421
How It Happened
Set One | Sioux Falls 25, Augustana 20
Sioux Falls came out firing in the opening set, building an early 6-1 advantage behind kills from
Aubrey Gates and
Ella Walker and several Augustana attacking errors.
The Vikings gradually worked their way back into the set, cutting the deficit to 7-6 before the Cougars responded with another scoring run. A kill from
Kyleigh Tangen and an Augustana attacking error helped Sioux Falls build a 14-11 advantage.
The Cougars continued to find success offensively as
Abby Haus and Walker combined to push the lead to 17-12. Augustana responded to pull within two at 21-19, but Sioux Falls closed the set strong.
A kill from
Haley Wolfe extended the advantage to 22-19 before Haus delivered three of the Cougars' final four points, including the set-clinching kill, to secure the 25-20 victory.
Sioux Falls hit .333 in the opening frame, recording 15 kills on 36 attempts while limiting Augustana to a .070 hitting percentage.
Set Two | Augustana 25, Sioux Falls 19
Augustana responded in the second set, jumping out to a 4-0 lead before the Cougars answered with consecutive kills from Wolfe.
Sioux Falls continued to battle back, using kills from Tangen and Walker to close the gap to 9-8. The Cougars eventually evened the score at 13-13 following back-to-back kills from Tangen.
The Vikings regained control with a three-point run to take a 16-13 advantage, but Sioux Falls remained within striking distance as Walker and Gates continued contributing offensively.
A kill from Haus brought the Cougars within three at 21-18, but Augustana closed the frame with four of the final five points to take the set, 25-19, and even the match at one set apiece.
Set Three | Sioux Falls 26, Augustana 24
The third set proved to be one of the most competitive stretches of the night, featuring 15 ties and eight lead changes.
Neither team was able to establish a significant advantage early, with Sioux Falls using kills from Haus, Walker and Gates to remain even with the Vikings.
Augustana eventually built an 18-14 lead, but the Cougars responded with a four-point run behind kills from Gates and Wolfe and consecutive Viking attacking errors to tie the set at 18-18.
The teams continued exchanging points before Augustana took a 22-20 advantage late in the frame.
Sioux Falls answered with a kill from Gates, followed by a kill from Haus and a service ace from
Faith Van Eck to take a 23-22 lead.
Haus delivered another kill to give the Cougars set point at 24-23, but Augustana responded to even the score once again.
The Cougars remained composed, turning to Haus for another kill to reclaim the advantage at 25-24. A block from Peterson and Walker on the following rally sealed the 26-24 victory and gave Sioux Falls a 2-1 lead in the match.
Set Four | Augustana 25, Sioux Falls 22
The Vikings opened the fourth set with an early advantage, but Sioux Falls continued to respond behind kills from Haus, Tangen and Gates.
The Cougars battled back from a 9-6 deficit, eventually tying the score at 16-16 following a Viking attacking error.
Augustana regained control and extended its advantage to 23-18, putting Sioux Falls in a difficult position late in the frame.
The Cougars refused to go away, using consecutive blocks involving Haus, Wolfe and Tangen, followed by a kill from Tangen, to score four straight points and pull within one at 23-22.
Augustana answered with the final two points to claim the set, 25-22, and force a decisive fifth frame.
Set Five | Sioux Falls 15, Augustana 13
With the rivalry matchup on the line, Sioux Falls delivered its strongest offensive set of the night.
The Cougars and Vikings traded points throughout the opening stages, with Haus recording consecutive kills to give Sioux Falls an early 3-2 advantage.
Walker and Gates helped the Cougars establish a 7-5 lead, but Augustana answered with three consecutive points to take an 8-7 advantage at the changeover.
Wolfe delivered a kill to tie the score at 8-8 before the Vikings pushed ahead 10-8.
Sioux Falls responded behind a kill from Haus, followed by a kill from Tangen and a block from Walker and Haus to tie the set at 11-11. Tangen then delivered another kill to put the Cougars ahead 12-11.
After Augustana tied the score at 12-12, Walker came through with a critical kill to give Sioux Falls a 13-12 advantage. A Viking setting error brought the Cougars to match point at 14-12.
Augustana extended the match with a kill, but the Cougar defense delivered the final blow as Walker and Peterson combined for a block to secure the 15-13 victory.
Sioux Falls hit an impressive .450 in the deciding set, recording 10 kills with just one attacking error on 20 attempts to complete the five-set win.
Key Cougars
Kyleigh Tangen delivered one of her strongest performances of the season, recording 15 kills on 34 attempts while committing just two attacking errors for a .382 hitting percentage. Tangen also added 10 digs, two block assists and a service ace, finishing with a team-high 17 points.
Abby Haus matched Tangen with 15 kills while hitting .343 on 35 attempts. Haus contributed five digs and two block assists and played a key role in the Cougars' third-set victory and decisive fifth-set comeback.
Aubrey Gates added 15 kills on 41 attempts while hitting .244. Gates also recorded three digs and two block assists, providing a consistent offensive presence throughout the match.
Ella Walker finished with 11 kills and a team-high five block assists. Walker played a crucial role late in the fifth set, delivering a kill to put Sioux Falls ahead 13-12 before combining with Peterson on the match-winning block.
Hollie Peterson directed the Cougar offense with 50 assists while adding nine digs and three block assists. Peterson helped guide Sioux Falls to a .261 hitting percentage and a .450 mark in the deciding set.
Maci Lerseth anchored the back row with a team-high 23 digs and five assists, helping the Cougars finish with 83 digs as a team.
Faith Van Eck added 15 digs, one service ace and an assist, while
Gretchen Volk contributed 13 digs and two assists.
Haley Wolfe finished with seven kills and four block assists, helping Sioux Falls record nine team blocks.
By the Numbers
- 3 – Cougars with 15 kills apiece: Kyleigh Tangen, Aubrey Gates and Abby Haus.
- 64 – Total kills recorded by Sioux Falls.
- .261 – Team hitting percentage for the Cougars.
- .450 – Sioux Falls' hitting percentage in the deciding fifth set, with 10 kills and just one error.
- 50 – Assists from Hollie Peterson.
- 83 – Team digs, led by Maci Lerseth with 23.
- 9 – Team blocks for Sioux Falls, compared to five for Augustana.
- 30 – Ties throughout the five-set match.
- 13 – Lead changes between the two teams.
- 15 – Ties in the third set alone, which Sioux Falls won 26-24.
Up Next
Sioux Falls will return to the Stewart Center for their final two home matches of the season against Concordia-St. Paul on October 30 and Winona State on October 31.
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