Box Score Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State volleyball team suffered a 3-1 (22-25, 19-25, 25-20, 24-26) loss Friday evening at Taylor Center. 

Neither team was able to pull away in the opening frame which featured a match-high 15 ties. Late in the set following a Krista Hassing kill to tie the set at 20, Minnesota State stole a one point, 21-20, advantage after a Sioux Falls attack error. The Cougars then answered with a 5-1 run to take the opening frame, 25-22.

Minnesota State struggled to establish themselves offensively in the second frame as the Cougars built a 17-11 edge by the midway point. The Mavericks battled back to cut the deficit down to three, 18-15, after a Jackie Jones kill. However, Sioux Falls went on to close out the set, 25-19. 

Both teams traded points in the third frame to deadlock the match at 17. Minnesota State then recorded back-to-back points highlighted by a Jones kill to take a two point lead, 19-17, and force Sioux Falls to burn a time out. The Mavericks did not look back and went on steal the frame, 25-20. 

The fourth and final set featured five lead changes and seven ties. Sioux Falls held a 14-12 advantage before Minnesota State rattled off four unanswered points to take a 16-14 lead after a Hasssing service ace. Later in the frame, both teams found themselves deadlocked at 24 before the Cougars notched back-to-back points to win the set, 26-24, and the match, 3-1. 

Sioux Falls held the edge in kills (54-44), assists (51-43), and digs (51-50). 

Sophomore Maddie Keute led the Mavericks with a match-high 14 digs. Both Hassing (15) and Jones (13) reached double figures in kills while sophomore Autumn Risch contributed a team-best 38 assists. 

With the loss, Minnesota State moves to 9-9 (3-7 NSIC) on the season. The Mavericks will return to Taylor Center tomorrow to take on Southwest Minnesota State at 4:00 p.m.