MITCHELL, S.D. – College of Saint Mary jumped out to an early lead by winning the first two sets. But the Flames couldn't hold on and were upset by Dakota Wesleyan University.

The Flames won the first set 26-24 and then took the second set 25-20. But the Tigers rallied to win the third set 25-14 and the fourth set 25-23. The fifth – and final – set was a back-and-forth battle with the Tigers clinching the win at 17-15.

CSM entered the match as the No. 13-ranked team in NAIA, while Dakota Wesleyan was sitting at the No. 18 spot. This was the Flames' third-straight loss after falling to No. 8-ranked Concordia University and No. 1-ranked Midland University recently.

"This is a tough loss on the road in a match we were up 2-0," CSM Coach Rick Pruett said. "On the positive side, we battled much better than we have the last two matches. And we blocked and played defense better."

Pruett said hitting and serving errors cost the Flames.

"Offensively we had 36 hitting errors and seven missed serves," he said. "You just can't do that at this level."

Makenna Freeman (SR/Omaha, Neb.) and Lexie Langley (JR/Fremont, Neb.) led CSM with 17 kills each. Rachel Rosenquist (SO/Dakota Dunes, SD) tallied 10 kills, while teammates Grace Werner (SO/Omaha, Neb.) and Kamryn Willman (SR/Grand Island, Neb.) both added seven. Setter Lauren Anderson (JR/Gretna, Neb.) compiled 52 assists. Defensively, Rachel Cushing (JR/Council Bluffs, Iowa) had a match-high 35 digs, Langley added 16 and Anderson finished with 12. Willman chalked up five block assists.

"Rachel Cushing was really good defensively and Kamryn was good on the block," Pruett said.

CSM falls to 3-3 in the GPAC and 13-3 overall. DWU is now 4-2, 11-3.

The Flames return to competition Friday with a home match vs. Northwester College. Junior varsity starts at 6 p.m. and varsity plays at 7:30 p.m.

*In JV play Saturday, CSM defeated the Tigers 2-0 by scores of 25-20, 25-20.