Sioux Falls , S.D. — The Minnesota State University volleyball team battled tough in all three sets but fell to Sioux Falls, 25-23, 25-21, 25-21 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Saturday in Sioux Falls, S.D.

MSUM fell to 5-16 overall and 2-11 in the NSIC while Sioux Falls improved to 12-8 overall and 8-5 in the league.

Junior outside hitter Bridget Witzmann had 10 kills, three service aces and eight digs for MSUM. Sophomore hitter Abby Thompson had seven kills while senior middle blocker Elise Bakke had six kills and three block assists.

Freshman setter Emily Skalicky had 28 assists and seven digs. Freshman defensive specialist Emily McPhee had a career-high eight digs.

MSUM hit .250 for the match compared to .341 for the Cougars.

Back-to-back service aces from junior middle blocker Tori Thompson put MSUM up 5-2 in the opening set and the Dragons led for a good portion of the set before USF edged in front. A Witzmann service ace tied the score at 23-23, but back-to-back kills sealed a 25-23 USF win.

MSUM fell behind 14-9 in the second set but scored three in a row, which included three Cougar hitter errors, to cut the gap to 14-12. But the Dragons could get no closer and fell 25-21.

In the third set, MSUM was down 18-15 but scored four points in a row to take a 19-18 lead. That concluded a kill and service ace from Tori Thompson, a kill from Bakke and a block from sophomore outside hitter Jadyn Feist put the Dragons in front. MSUM was within 22-21 but the Cougars clinched the match with three straight kills.

The Dragons are at Minot State on Thursday.