SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Volleyball team showed improvement throughout Saturday afternoon's match but ultimately fell to St. Cloud State in straight sets inside the Stewart Center.
After a difficult opening frame, the Cougars pushed the Huskies in each of the final two sets before falling 11-25, 22-25, 22-25. Sioux Falls moves to 4-8 overall and 0-4 in NSIC play, while St. Cloud State improves to 8-4 overall and 2-2 in conference action.
The Basics
Final: St. Cloud State 3, Sioux Falls 0
Set Scores: 11-25, 22-25, 22-25
Records: Sioux Falls 4-8 (0-4 NSIC) | St. Cloud State 8-4 (2-2 NSIC)
Location: Stewart Center | Sioux Falls, S.D.
How It Happened
St. Cloud State controlled the opening set from the start, scoring the first 12 points of the match. Sioux Falls struggled to find an offensive rhythm in the frame, finishing with seven kills while hitting -.034 as the Huskies took the opener, 25-11.
The Cougars responded with a much stronger showing in the second. After trailing 8-6, Sioux Falls used a Hollie Peterson service ace and a Haley Wolfe-Abby Haus block to take a 9-8 lead. USF continued to build momentum, with Ella Walker delivering three kills during a stretch that helped the Cougars take a 16-11 advantage.
Sioux Falls maintained a 19-16 lead before St. Cloud State put together five straight points to move ahead 21-19. The Cougars refused to go away, pulling within one at 23-22 behind kills from Haus and Tatum Godinez, but the Huskies scored the final two points to escape with a 25-22 victory.
St. Cloud State jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the third, but Sioux Falls continued to battle. Back-to-back kills from Wolfe and a block by Wolfe and Haus brought USF within two at 12-10. The Huskies pushed their advantage back to six at 19-13 before the Cougars made another late charge.
USF pulled within two at 19-17 following consecutive kills from Aubrey Gates and again closed the gap to two at 23-21 on a Walker kill. The Cougars fought off one match point to make it 24-22 before St. Cloud State secured the final point for the 25-22 victory. Sioux Falls saved its best offensive set for last, hitting .265 in the third with 11 kills and just two attack errors.
Key Cougars
Ella Walker led the Sioux Falls attack with nine kills and just one error on 23 swings, finishing with a team-best .348 hitting percentage while adding three total blocks. Abby Haus followed with seven kills and two blocks.
Aubrey Gates turned in an efficient performance with five kills and no errors on 12 attacks for a .417 hitting percentage, while Haley Wolfe added five kills and a team-high five total blocks.
Hollie Peterson finished with 12 assists, six digs and two service aces, while Gretchen Volk added 10 assists, six digs and an ace.
By the Numbers
- Sioux Falls improved offensively in each set, going from -.034 in the opener to .118 in the second and .265 in the third.
- Walker led the Cougars with nine kills while hitting .348.
- Gates recorded five kills without an attack error to hit .417.
- USF finished with eight total blocks, led by Wolfe's five.
- Peterson and Volk combined for all three of the Cougars' service aces.
- St. Cloud State finished with 44 kills and hit .282, while Sioux Falls recorded 31 kills and hit .124.
Up Next
USF will host #14 Southwest Minnesota State for a midweek matchup on Thursday, September 24th before heading to #2 Wayne State on Saturday for a 2pm first serve.
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