WINONA, Minn. – A day after narrowly capturing its biggest upset of the season, No. 15 Winona State University suffered a disappointing loss to (RV) Sioux Falls on Saturday night in McCown Gymnasium.
The Cougars, who had been swept at Upper Iowa on Friday night, rebounded with a four-set victory on the Warriors' home court.
It marked the first time WSU has dropped back-to-back home matches since 2013.
USF won the match by set scores of 25-17, 25-22, 11-25, 25-21.
The Cougars raced out to a 10-1 lead in the opening set and led by as many as 11 points midway through the game. A kill by McKenna Larsen sparked a five-point run which Jordan Runge capped with a service ace, but USF never allowed WSU to close the gap within five points in set one.
A kill by Danielle Rampart in the second set staked Winona to a 7-3 advantage, but the Cougars answered with five straight to take an 8-7 edge. Winona pushed its lead back to 15-13 on a block by Rampart and Maria Wrage before USF rattled off five straight points to take the lead for good and clinch a 2-0 match advantage heading into the break.
WSU committed 12 attacking errors in set two which made the difference in the three-point game.
With their backs against the wall, and facing their first sweep of the season, the Warriors dominant set three. Rampart drilled six kills in the game while Winona tallied two service aces and three blocks to extend the match.
Rampart, the senior, did her best to push the match to a decisive fifth set, flooring seven kills in the fourth set, but it wasn't enough as USF completed its road triumph. The Cougars were aided by five service aces in the game.
Rampart led all players with 17 kills, followed by Wrage with 13 who posted a .423 attacking percentage.
WSU totaled a season-high 11 team blocks in the setback.
Winona falls to 14-7 (8-5 NSIC) while Sioux Falls moves to 13-5 (8-5 NSIC) with the road upset.
Winona State now faces a pivotal road match at No. 16 Augustana next Friday at 6 p.m. The Warriors conclude the weekend at No. 20 Wayne State Saturday.
