MARSHALL, Minn. – The No. 17 ranked Southwest Minnesota State volleyball team was defeated Tuesday night by the Sioux Falls Cougars in four sets, 25-13, 15-25, 20-25, 24-26.

Mya Krystosek led the Mustangs in kills with 14, hitting .268 on the match, and adding eight digs. Natalie Pilney had 10 kills and two solo blocks. McKenzie Tolk led the team in digs with 16, while Sydney Thein had a double double worthy performance of 43 assists and 11 digs.

As a team, the Mustangs hit .199 (52-20-161) while the Cougars, who were led in kills by Courtney Holsteen with 14, hit .233 (57-20-150).

The Mustangs got off to a hot start in the match, hitting .385 in the first set behind four kills from Karli Arkell. A 10-3 run in the middle of the set separated the Mustangs and the Cougars, and Sioux Falls, who hit -.080 in the set, were never able to recover. SMSU won the first set 25-13.

With momentum seemingly on the side of the Mustangs, Sioux Falls flipped the script in the second set, hitting .361 in the set. While the Mustangs, who were led in kills by Natalie Pilney with four, hit .108. An 11-0 run for the Cougars in the second set proved the difference, and won the set 25-15.

The Cougars got out to an early lead in the third; however, the Mustangs kept themselves in the set, never being down more than two points for a majority of the third. But with the set tied 19-19, Sioux Falls went on a 6-1 run to end the set in favor of the Cougars 25-20.

In the pivotal fourth set, Sioux Falls once again got off to a flying start, and were up 18-11. The Mustangs found an answer in the fourth, going on an 8-1 run to keep themselves in the match with two kills from Mya Krystosek and Leah Jones. But after a back and forth battle, two kills from Courtney Holsteen proved too much for SMSU, and the Cougars took the fourth set 26-24.

The Mustangs are back on the road this weekend, facing Minnesota Crookston on Friday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. SMSU will play again the following day at 2 p.m. against Minnesota State Moorhead. Both matches are available to watch on the NSIC Network. More information can be found at smsumustangs.com/sports/womens-volleyball.