The University of Sioux Falls volleyball team saw its momentum hit a wall Friday evening at Halenbeck Hall, falling in straight sets to St. Cloud State. The Huskies secured the victory 25-18, 25-18, 25-23, forcing the Cougars to play through a difficult night on the road. With the loss, Sioux Falls slides to 10-17 overall and 6-13 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play, while St. Cloud State improved to 20-8 overall and 13-6 in conference action.
According to the official match recap, the opening set saw the Cougars trade points early, holding a 10-10 tie behind contributions from Abby Haus, Ella Walker, and Aubrey Gates. That parity was short-lived, however, as St. Cloud State broke the game open with an 11-3 run. Despite a late rally featuring kills from Haus and Kyleigh Tangen, the Cougars could not overcome the deficit, dropping the first frame 25-18.
The second set mirrored the first in score but differed in its trajectory. The Huskies jumped out to a 5-0 lead, forcing the Cougars to play from behind for the duration of the set. While Sioux Falls managed to pull within a single point at 16-15, St. Cloud State’s offense proved too consistent, closing the set on a 9-3 run to take a commanding 2-0 match lead. Aubrey Gates emerged as the primary offensive spark for the Cougars during this stretch, contributing four of the team’s 11 kills in the frame.
The Third Set Battle
The final set provided the most competitive volleyball of the evening, featuring 12 ties and six lead changes. After an early 3-0 deficit, the Cougars surged ahead 8-6, bolstered by kills from Haus and Tangen and service aces from Lucy Larson and Gretchen Volk. The teams remained locked in a back-and-forth exchange, with Sioux Falls holding a narrow 17-16 lead late in the match. Ultimately, the Huskies regained control to win the set 25-23, completing the sweep.
| Statistic | Sioux Falls | St. Cloud State |
|---|---|---|
| Kills | 40 | 41 |
| Assists | 38 | 42 |
| Digs | 40 | 42 |
| Hitting Percentage | .191 | .267 |
Abby Haus led the offensive effort for the Cougars, recording a match-high 12 kills on 23 attempts, finishing with a .304 hitting percentage. Hollie Peterson anchored the team’s distribution with 31 assists, while Maci Lerseth provided a defensive anchor with 12 digs. Despite these individual performances, the Cougars struggled to contain the Huskies’ efficiency, as St. Cloud State out-hit the visitors .267 to .191.
The Cougars look to reset quickly, as they are scheduled to face the Mavericks in Mankato at 3 p.m. tomorrow.
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