WINONA, Minn. – The #8 Winona State University volleyball team had their eyes set on a weekend sweep before they were upended by the University of Sioux Falls Cougars, 3-0.
The opening set was a back-and-forth battle, with the Cougars coming out on top. Throughout the set there were nine ties and 17 lead changes, with the biggest lead change coming late in the set. The Warriors saw set point at 24-23, but Sioux Falls strung together three straight points to win the set 26-24.
USF started out strong in the second set and never looked back. The Warriors tried to make a late push, but it wasn't enough; Sioux Falls took the set 25-20.
The third set was another close one, seeing 10 ties and three lead changes. Both defenses created troubles for opposing hitters in which USF had a hitting percentage of .178 while WSU hit just .060. The Warriors were able to serve for two different set points, but Sioux Falls held them off and took the third set in extra points, 27-25.
The Warriors were led by
Caleigh Jensen's 15 kills and
Sidney Paulson's 14 kills.
Bre Maloney dished out 37 assists and collected 14 digs, good for her second double-double of the weekend.
Becca Pagel led WSU with 15 digs, while
Rylee Vaughn (11) and
Casey Volkmann (10) recorded double-digit digs as well.
Even with this evening's loss, Winona State still boasts a record of 17-3 and currently sits in fourth within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference at 8-3.
The Warriors will be on the road for their next three matches. WSU travels to Augustana University and Wayne State College on Oct. 22-23, and will play at Upper Iowa on Thursday, Oct. 28. Winona State will be back in McCown Gymnasium, home of WNB Financial Court, on Saturday, Oct. 30 against Concordia-St. Paul.
For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit:
www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and
@WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words:
Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
