SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Volleyball team closed out the USF Classic Saturday afternoon with a 3-1 loss to Chadron State inside the Stewart Center. After dropping the opening two sets, the Cougars responded with their strongest offensive set of the match to force a fourth before ultimately falling 14-25, 23-25, 25-19, 19-25.
Sioux Falls finished the weekend with a 1-3 record and moves to 4-4 overall on the season.
How It Happened
Chadron State took control midway through the opening set. After USF held an early 4-2 advantage, the Eagles used an 8-0 run to move ahead 10-4. The Cougars were unable to close the gap from there as Chadron State hit .385 in the frame and took the opener, 25-14.
The second set was much tighter, featuring seven ties and three lead changes. Chadron State built a 21-13 advantage before the Cougars put together a late push. USF rattled off eight of the next nine points to pull within 22-21 before eventually tying the set at 23 on a block from Ella Walker and Abby Haus. The Eagles, however, scored the final two points to escape with a 25-23 win and a 2-0 match lead.
Sioux Falls responded in a big way in the third. The Cougar offense came alive for 20 kills while hitting .240 in the frame. After the teams battled to a 13-13 tie, USF used a 4-0 run to take control at 17-13. The Cougars maintained the advantage the rest of the way, with Taya Thaden putting down the final kill to secure a 25-19 set victory.
USF continued to battle in the fourth, cutting a 13-9 deficit to one at 13-12 before Chadron State rebuilt its advantage. The Cougars made another push late, getting within 19-17 behind back-to-back blocks from Walker and Haus, but the Eagles answered with a 6-2 closing stretch to take the set, 25-19, and the match.
Cougar Standouts
Ella Walker led Sioux Falls with 12 kills on .290 hitting while adding a match-high seven blocks. Abby Haus contributed eight kills and six blocks, while Haley Wolfe put together an efficient performance with seven kills and no errors on 19 swings for a .368 hitting percentage.
Taya Thaden provided a spark off the bench, recording six kills on just 11 attacks and hitting a team-best .455. Hollie Peterson finished with 22 assists and eight digs, Gretchen Volk added 18 assists and 10 digs, and Maci Lerseth led the Cougar defense with 14 digs.
By the Numbers
- Sioux Falls finished with a 49-45 advantage in kills and a 64-61 edge in digs.
- The Cougars held an 11-10 advantage in total blocks.
- USF's defense held Chadron State to a .150 hitting percentage for the match.
- Walker and Haus combined for 20 kills and 13 blocks.
- Wolfe and Thaden combined for 13 kills with just one attack error on 30 swings.
- The Cougars' best offensive performance came in the third set with 20 kills and a .240 hitting percentage.
Up Next
Sioux Falls will hit the road to open NSIC play at Winona State and #3 Concordia-St. Paul next weekend before returning home to host Minnesota State and #5 St. Cloud State September 18 and 19.
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