Box Score

ABERDEEN, S.D. - Spurred on by a dominating first-set win, the Northern State volleyball squad closed out a 3-1 win over Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference newcomer University of Sioux Falls Saturday afternoon.  NSU claimed a 25-6 win in the opening set, faltered 25-18 in the second, but bounced back for 25-17 and 25-19 wins after the break to take the overall win and snap a 3-match skid.

The Wolves improved to 7-8 overall (5-2 at home) and 2-5 in NSIC play.  USF slipped to 9-7 on the season and 1-6 in the loop.

NSU came out of the gates firing on all cylinders, hammering eight kills on 13 attempts with just one error, while holding the Cougars to just two kills and a -.500 attack percentage on 20 attempts.  Kaleinani Kabalis had four kills in the set, while senior Chelsea Chavez had two service aces and was in on three of the four NSU blocks in the opening effort.  USF called two early timeouts and used a variety of substitutions in an effort to stem the tide, but could not find an answer to NSU's opening statement.

 “When we started the match, clearly we played quite well,” said NSU coach Brent Aldridge. “We won the serve-receive battle and I thought our blocking was a little better. But we are still solidifying some positions and we have a ways to go.”

The Cougars did, however, have an answer in the second set, jumping out to an early lead and not relinquishing it en-route to a 25-18 win to even the tally at one set apiece heading into the intermission.

Sets three and four belonged to the Wolves, who came out of intermission to control the early play in both sets.  The Wolves distanced themselves from a 4-4 tie in the third to go up 10-5 and never looked back.  NSU also jumped out to an early 8-2 advantage in the fourth set using a string of five straight kills from Chavez, Kabalis and freshman Jussy Tuscherer.

Tuscherer also ended the set and match with her ninth kill of the night, one of three starters with nine or more in the match.  Kabalis finished with 10 kills and 10 digs, while freshman Kelsey Chanbers added nine kills to the Wolves' tally.  Chavez ended her night with seven kills, eight blocks and four service aces.

“I think our girls are feeling pretty good about the effort they put out," said Aldridge.

USF was led by Sarah Kohler's 13 kills.  Emily Johnson added ten kills and eight digs for the Cougars.

NSU goes back on the road for a five-match stint, starting next weekend at Minnesota, Crookston and Bemidji State.  NSU is 0-5 on the road this season with all but one of those losses coming against Top 25 teams.  First serve is set for 7 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday.