MITCHELL, SD -- The middle blocking tandem of senior Sarah Kohler and sophomore Samantha Lovell posted a combined 36 kills and 11 blocks to lead Sioux Falls to a sweep of Mount Marty (25-23, 25-19, 25-12) and tournament host Dakota Wesleyan (25-13, 25-18, 25-18) on Saturday night at the Labor Day Classic in Mitchell, S.D.

Sioux Falls finished the two-day tournament with an overall record of 3-1.

“I’m not necessarily happy with the way we won, but I’m very pleased with the way we finished,” said second-year head coach Joel McCartney. “The team really responded well after last night’s loss to Jamestown and our final match against Dakota Wesleyan was really fun to watch.”

After edging Mount Marty 25-23 in the first set, USF broke the match open with a swift 25-19 victory in the second frame and breezed through the third set, 25-13. The Cougars hit .330 as a team with only 11 attacking errors.

USF improved to 9-0 against Mount Marty since 2006.

The Cougars dominated their final match at the Corn Palace as they raced past tournament host Dakota Wesleyan (2-6) in three sets, 25-13, 25-18, 25-18 in front of a large crowd.

USF hit at a .564 clip, the best single-match attack percentage of the McCartney era. The Cougars also recorded just six attack miscues, the lowest USF has tallied in a match since the 2010 season (9/3/10, Indiana Wesleyan). Every statistical category went the Cougars’ way.

The win improves USF’s record to 6-1 against Dakota Wesleyan since 2008. The Cougars have only dropped one set in their last five matches against the Tigers.

Chanda Goedken hit a combined .488 on the day with 18 kills and 23 digs. Emily Johnson added 21 kills and 13 digs.

Setter Alexa Reed racked up 80 assists in the two matches.

Kohler and Lovell were both named to the Labor Day Classic All-Tournament team.

“Sam and Sarah are so comfortable with Lex,” McCartney said. “When we’re in our system it’s almost like our middles are scoring at will.”

USF returns to action when they will play host to Dakota Wesleyan in the Cougars’ home opener on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 7 p.m.

Courtesy:  University of Sioux Falls

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