SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The No. 5 Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team started its three-game week with a loss against Sioux Falls, 12-25, 25-22, 21-25, 25-23, 15-12 on Tuesday night inside the Stewart Center.

SMSU falls to 20-4 overall with a 12-4 record in the NSIC while USF moves to 13-10 overall and 9-7 in the NSIC.

Emma VanHeel collected a career-high 21 kills on a .333 hitting percentage, adding eight blocks and six digs. Meg Schmidt had 11 kills, six digs, and four blocks, and Karli Arkell tallied 11 kills and three blocks. Alisa Bengen picked up 46 assists and tied a career-high 17 digs, and Natalee Rolbiecki had 24 digs to lead defensively. The Mustangs also excelled at the service line, with Rachel Fink (4), Abby Meister (3), and Rolbiecki (2) combining for nine SMSU aces.

The Mustangs started fast, scoring the first five points of the match, eventually leading 14-11. After an SMSU timeout, the Mustangs flourished, scoring 11 of the final 12 points, capped by a VanHeel kill to take set one. SMSU limited the Cougar attack to a -.125 hitting percentage and forced 11 errors while hitting .320 and picking up five blocks.  

A back-and-forth second set saw the first 44 points split between the teams before USF pulled away with the final three points to even the match at 1-1.

SMSU came out of the break on a mission, opening a decisive set three on a 5-0 run and scoring 13 of the first 18 points to take a commanding 13-5 lead. The Cougars crept within a point at 19-18 late, but three straight Mustang points would create enough separation to ride to a set win and a 2-1 lead.

With SMSU leading 21-18 in set four, USF marched back, scoring five points in a row and seven of the final nine points to send the match to a fifth set.

The Cougars kept rolling into the fifth set, scoring the first four points. The Mustangs would score the next three, but it would not be enough, as USF led the entire set to earn the win.

Sadie Voss accumulated 17 kills and 14 digs to lead USF to victory.

SMSU returns home to face Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State over the weekend. The Mustangs face the Golden Bears at 6 p.m. on Friday for their annual "Red Out" and senior day, and the Mavericks on Saturday at 4 p.m., celebrating parents day.