SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Volleyball team went toe-to-toe with No. 11 Southwest Minnesota State Thursday night inside the Stewart Center, taking a 2-1 match lead before ultimately falling to the nationally ranked Mustangs in five sets.
After dropping the opening set, Sioux Falls responded by winning back-to-back frames to take control of the match. SMSU answered in the fourth before taking the deciding fifth set for the 25-22, 21-25, 20-25, 25-21, 15-7 victory. The Cougars move to 4-9 overall and 0-5 in NSIC play, while Southwest Minnesota State improves to 10-2 overall and 4-1 in conference action.
The Basics
Final: No. 11 Southwest Minnesota State 3, Sioux Falls 2
Set Scores: 22-25, 25-21, 25-20, 21-25, 7-15
Records: Sioux Falls 4-9 (0-5 NSIC) | Southwest Minnesota State 10-2 (4-1 NSIC)
Location: Stewart Center | Sioux Falls, S.D.
How It Happened
The two sides battled throughout the opening set, with neither team able to create much separation early. Sioux Falls erased a three-point deficit to tie the frame at 14-14 and later pulled even again at 16-16. SMSU responded with three straight points to take a 19-16 advantage, but USF continued to battle and pulled within one at 23-22 following a block from Kyleigh Tangen and Ella Walker. The Mustangs closed out the next two points to take the opener, 25-22.
Sioux Falls answered with one of its strongest offensive sets of the night in the second. The Cougars used a 5-0 run to turn a 6-5 deficit into a 10-6 lead, with Walker contributing a pair of kills during the stretch. USF extended its advantage to 17-10 before the Mustangs made a late push, but the Cougars never surrendered the lead. Abby Haus delivered a kill to give USF set point before Haley Wolfe finished off the 25-21 win. Sioux Falls recorded 17 kills and hit .316 in the frame.
The momentum carried into the third. After trailing 9-6, the Cougars scored four straight points, capped by a Hollie Peterson service ace, to take their first lead at 10-9. USF continued to build on the advantage and eventually stretched the lead to 19-14. SMSU cut the deficit to 21-20 late, but Sioux Falls slammed the door with four consecutive points. Tangen provided the final two, teaming with Walker for a block before putting away the set-clinching kill for a 25-20 victory and 2-1 match lead. The Cougars hit a match-best .355 in the set.
The fourth proved to be the tightest set of the night, featuring 14 ties and seven lead changes. USF held a 19-19 tie late before SMSU used a 3-0 run to create separation. Haus pulled the Cougars within two at 23-21, but the Mustangs took the final two points for a 25-21 win to force a deciding fifth set.
Sioux Falls took an early 3-2 lead in the fifth following a block from Walker and Haus, but SMSU responded with an 8-1 run to move ahead 10-4. The Cougars cut the deficit to 10-6, but the Mustangs closed the match on a 5-1 run to secure the 15-7 decision.
Key Cougars
Abby Haus paced the Sioux Falls offense with a match-high 17 kills while hitting .256 and adding three blocks. Ella Walker delivered a strong all-around performance with 13 kills on a .296 hitting percentage while dominating at the net with a career high 10 total blocks, including two solo stops.
Aubrey Gates and Kyleigh Tangen each added 10 kills, while Haley Wolfe finished with seven kills and four blocks.
Hollie Peterson directed the offense with a career high 48 assists while adding 14 digs and two service aces. Maci Lerseth anchored the back row with a match-high 18 digs, while Tangen and Gretchen Volk each added eight.
By the Numbers
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Sioux Falls finished with 59 kills while hitting .190 across five sets.
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The Cougars hit above .300 in both sets they won, posting a .316 mark in the second and .355 in the third.
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USF held a 14-12 advantage in total blocks.
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Walker recorded a career high 10 total blocks to go along with 13 kills and a .296 hitting percentage.
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Haus led the Cougars with 17 kills, while Walker added 13 and Gates and Tangen each finished with 10.
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Peterson recorded a career high 48 of USF's 55 assists and added 14 digs.
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Lerseth led all Cougars with 18 digs.
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USF recorded six service aces against just four service errors, while SMSU finished with nine aces and 13 errors.
Up Next
USF will hit the road on Saturday to take on No. 2 Wayne State at Rice Auditorium in Wayne, Nebraska at 2pm before returning home to host Augustana on September 29 at 6pm in the Stewart Center.
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