VERMILLION, S.D. – Wichita State (8-4) dropped its final match of the South Dakota Classic in five sets to Villanova (9-2). The Shockers lost by scores of 20-25, 25-21, 25-20, 28-30 and 13-15.
 
Brooklyn Leggett and Emerson Wilford led the Shockers with 13 kills each, while Maddie Wilson added 11 kills and nine blocks. Jordan Heatherly had 41 assists and Katie Galligan and Gabi Maas each had 15 digs.
 
The first set went back and forth until the Wildcats used three-straight points to go in front 20-17. The Shockers pulled within 21-19 on a kill by Wilford, but VU held on for the 25-20 win.
 
Leggett served the Shockers to a 7-5 lead in the second set, but the Wildcats hung around and got as close as 19-18 down the stretch. The Shockers answered with a Leggett kill and Wilson/Dunning block along with a VU error to push the lead to 22-18. WSU closed out the set 25-21 on a VU service error.
 
A Heatherly service ace put WSU up 11-8 in the third set and a Leggett kill pushed the lead to 17-11. A Dunning kill made the score 23-16, but the Wildcats responded with a 4-0 run to cut the lead to 23-20 before the Shockers used a VU service error and Leggett/Wilson block for the 25-20 win.
 
The fourth set was close throughout as neither team led by more than two points until a Leggett service ace put the Shockers up three at 18-15. The Wildcats scored three of the next four points to tie it at 19 and the two teams traded points until VU used a block and kill to take the set 30-28.
 
The Shockers jumped out to a 9-5 lead in the fifth set, but the Wildcats went on an 8-0 run to take a 13-9 lead. VU reached match point at 14-11, but the Shockers answered with an Allie Paulsen kill and Dunning service ace to pull within 14-13. The Wildcats scored the next point to win 15-13.
 
The Shockers are next in action on Fri., Sept. 26 when they open American Conference play at UAB at 7 p.m. CT.