Cougars Battle Wolves to Five Behind Walker’s 19 Kills

The University of Sioux Falls volleyball team faced a challenging five-set contest against Northern State, ultimately falling short with a final score of 2-3. The Cougars began strongly, taking an early 25-16 lead in the first set thanks to solid performance at the net from Haley Wolfe and Abby Haus. However, the Wolves quickly responded, winning the next two sets 25-22 and 25-18.

Sioux Falls pushed for a deciding fifth set, ultimately earning it with a 25-21 win, but Northern State held onto the victory in the final frame with a score of 15-10. Throughout the match, USF managed to record 67 kills and hit a team average of .315, with standout performances from Ella Walker and Aubrey Gates. Walker led the team with 19 kills and a .600 hitting percentage, while Gates added 18 kills on .471 attack.

Abby Haus and Haley Wolfe also contributed significantly to the Cougars' offense, tallying 10 and 9 kills respectively, and recording 20 points and 8 blocks. The victory marks Northern State's 8-2 record in NSIC competition, while USF's overall record stands at 6-12, with 2-8 in NSIC play.