SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Volleyball (3-2, 0-0 NSIC) team battled (RV) Emporia State (4-1, 0-0 MIAA) in a five-set thriller Thursday night inside the Stewart Center, ultimately falling 3-2 in its 2026 home opener.
After dropping the opening set, the Cougars responded by taking the next two to grab a 2-1 advantage. Emporia State forced a deciding fifth set before edging USF, 15-13, to take the match. Set scores were 21-25, 25-21, 25-20, 13-25 and 13-15. Sioux Falls moves to 3-2 on the season, while Emporia State improves to 4-1.
How It Happened
Emporia State grabbed the opening set despite an early push from the Cougars. USF led 16-13 midway through the frame before the Hornets put together a 6-0 run to move in front, 19-16. Sioux Falls battled back to even the set at 21, but Emporia State scored the final four points for a 25-21 win.
The second set featured eight ties and four lead changes before the Cougars began to create separation. With USF holding a narrow 18-17 advantage, the Cougars used a 4-0 run to stretch their lead to 22-17. Emporia State pulled within three late, but Sioux Falls closed out the 25-21 victory to even the match at one set apiece.
USF carried that momentum into the third, opening the frame with a 3-0 run and eventually building a 10-4 advantage. The Hornets worked their way back within one at 14-13, but the Cougars never surrendered the lead. Sioux Falls closed the set with a 25-20 win to take a 2-1 advantage in the match while holding Emporia State to a .098 hitting percentage.
The Hornets responded in the fourth, using a fast start to build an 8-2 advantage before eventually forcing a fifth set with a 25-13 win.
The deciding frame was tight from start to finish with 10 ties and four lead changes. USF held leads of 10-9 and 11-10 late in the set before Emporia State moved ahead, 12-11. The Cougars continued to battle, pulling within 14-13 on an Emporia State service error, but the Hornets answered with the final kill to escape the Stewart Center with the five-set victory.
Key Cougars
- Abby Haus turned in a career night offensively, leading USF with 17 kills while hitting .364 and adding four blocks.
- Ella Walker finished with nine kills on .333 hitting while committing just one attack error. She also added three blocks.
- Haley Wolfe impacted the match on both sides of the net with nine kills and a match-high eight blocks, including three solo blocks.
- Aubrey Gates recorded eight kills on .227 hitting while adding four digs and three blocks.
- Tatum Godinez added eight kills and two digs.
- Hollie Peterson led the offense with 26 assists while adding 12 digs, two kills and a service ace.
- Maci Lerseth paced the Cougar defense with 17 digs and added eight assists.
- Faith Van Eck collected 14 digs, while Gretchen Volk finished with 13 assists, seven digs and an ace.
By the Numbers
- Sioux Falls finished with 60 kills while hitting .205 for the match.
- The Cougars held a significant advantage at the net, totaling 13 blocks compared to eight for Emporia State.
- USF recorded 67 digs and 56 assists.
- Sioux Falls hit .313 in its second-set victory, its best attacking percentage of the night.
- The Cougars limited Emporia State to just .098 hitting in the third set.
- The match featured 24 ties and nine lead changes, including 10 ties in the deciding fifth set.
- USF held a 2-1 match lead after winning the second and third sets.
- The loss moves Sioux Falls to 3-2 overall on the young season.
Up Next
Sioux Falls will return to action in the Sioux Falls Volleyball Classic when they take on Black Hills State and #6 Washburn tomorrow afternoon. The Cougars will take on the Yellow Jackets at 1pm followed by the Ichabods at 7pm before closing out the tournament against Chadron State on Saturday at 4pm.
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