MANKATO, Minn. — The No. 22 Minnesota State volleyball team (23-6, 15-5 NSIC) came up short in a tightly contested five-set battle against Sioux Falls (20-9, 14-6 NSIC) in the NSIC Quarterfinals on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at Taylor Center.

Senior Emily Kern led the team with 18 kills, finishing with a hitting percentage of .389, and contributed four block assists. Holmen, Wis. native Ellie Kline anchored the defense, collecting 30 digs and adding three service aces. Avery Rosenberg supported the front line with 16 kills and a team-high six total blocks. Sophomore Jadyn Lester facilitated the offense with 51 assists and recorded 14 digs.

MSU opened the first set by trading points with USF in a tightly contested start, with Mary Satori and Rosenberg delivering key plays at the net, including a momentum-building block. Kline's pair of service aces pushed the Mavericks to a 15-11 lead as they capitalized on Cougar errors, but Sioux Falls stayed within reach and continued to apply pressure. Despite steady contributions from Kern and Lester, MSU couldn't create separation as the set tightened to 20-20. The Mavericks edged ahead 23-21 following a Sioux Falls error, but the Cougars closed on a late surge to take the opener 25-23.

Set two saw Minnesota State immediately establish its rhythm, responding to Sioux Falls' opening point and settling into a steady offensive flow. Avery Klein and Kern sparked the early push with timely kills, while Cougar attack errors helped MSU maintain control of the pace. As the set progressed, consistent distribution from Lester fueled a balanced attack, setting up multiple successful swings from Kern and Rosenberg. The teams traded points throughout, but the Mavericks created separation late with a key stretch highlighted by a block from Kern and Addison Foor. MSU closed the frame on a strong run, capped by back-to-back kills from Kern and a finishing point by Satori, securing the set 25-20 and extending their match lead.

In the third set, the Mavericks opened with a block by Rosenberg and Satori, gaining an early point. Rosenberg continued to be effective on offense, contributing multiple kills throughout the set, supported by consistent assists from Lester. Despite these efforts, the Cougars managed to accumulate points through service aces and kills, eventually gaining a lead. As the set progressed, the Mavericks attempted to close the gap with pivotal plays, including a service ace by Kline and several key kills by Klein and Kern. However, the Cougars maintained momentum, capitalizing on errors and securing points from their offensive plays. The set concluded with the Cougars taking the set 25-21, despite a late push from the Mavericks to narrow the margin.

The Mavericks seized control early in the fourth set, quickly building an advantage through a series of sharp, well-executed plays. Klein opened the surge with a kill, followed by a block from Rosenberg and Klein that set the tone. Lester added a service ace to cap a 4-0 run, giving MSU immediate momentum. The lead continued to grow as Satori and Kern delivered key points, stretching the margin to 11-2. Sioux Falls managed to respond with a few points, but the Mavericks maintained command behind a balanced attack, highlighted by an ace from Morgan Bjella that pushed the score to 16-8. Despite a brief late push from the Cougars, MSU closed out the set with another Bjella ace and a block from Rosenberg and Lester, securing a 25-17 victory.

Minnesota State entered the fifth set seeking to regain momentum after a close contest. Rosenberg and Kern provided early points, countering the Cougars' initial push. Despite these efforts, Sioux Falls managed to maintain a narrow lead. Midway through the set, Satori added consecutive kills to keep MSU in contention. However, Sioux Falls capitalized on a series of Mavericks' errors and service aces to extend their advantage. The set concluded with a kill from USF, securing a 15-9 victory.

The Mavericks now wait to see if their resume earns them a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The NCAA Volleyball Selection Show is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m. (CST) and will stream on NCAA.com.