The University of Mary volleyball team returned home tonight to kick off homecoming weekend festivities with a match against the Sioux Falls Cougars. The McDowell Activity Center was decorated pink as the Marauders hosted a pink out in support of cancer awareness. The Marauders and the Cougars battled hard against one another but in the end USF took all three sets to clinch the victory (25-14, 25-15, 25-14).
 
With the loss the Marauders fall to 3-18 on the season and 0-13 in NSIC play. Sioux Falls improves to 14-7 overall and 9-4 in conference play.
 
The Cougars took a lead early on in the first set but the Marauders were able to keep the set within striking distance until the Cougars went on a 9-2 run to take a 24-13 lead. The Cougars would eventually clinch the first set by a score of 25-14.
 
A 4-0 run was how the Cougars kicked off the second set, shortly after that USF ran off another seven straight points to take a big lead. The Marauders were able to run off five straight points late in the match but it was too little too late as Sioux Falls clinched the set 25-15.
 
The third set was an exciting back and forth battle with the score being 10-9 early on in favor of the Cougars. Sioux Falls then went on a 6-0 run followed immediately by a 5-0 run to put the set out of reach for UMary by a score of 24-13. The Cougars would clinch the set 25-14 to seal the deal on the match win.
 
Morgan Schnabel led all Marauders with seven kills. Madison Bergthold recorded three kills and a team high of a .333 hitting percentage. Bailey Harms added four more kills to go with her .250 hitting percentage.
 
Sioux Falls lead UMary in every statistical category for tonight's match. The Cougars recorded 41 kills in comparison to the Marauders 19. USF out blocked UMary 6-0.
 
The Marauders look to bounce back against #11 Southwest Minnesota State tomorrow at 11 am in the MAC.