FORT WAYNE, Ind. – On Friday afternoon the University of Saint Francis Cougars (6-4) traveled to Sioux City, South Dakota to compete in the United Sports Academy Labor Day Classic with a couple games against the College of Saint Mary Flames (7-0) and then the Hastings College Broncos (6-2) but couldn't overcome either opponent falling in three sets both times.

In the opener against the Saint Mary Flames, the Cougars knew that it was going to be a tough battle against an undefeated opponent. The opener set the tone for the rest of the match as the Flames dominated the action winning 25-7 over Saint Francis.

In the second set the Cougars started out stronger. Each team got out to a 4-4 tie to start the frame but after that the Flames went on an eight-point service run to take a 10-4 lead and never relinquished it after that.

The Cougars hung tough and clawed their way to the end but came up with too little too late as they fell by six to fall behind by two games in the match.

The third set saw the Cougars battle the Flames neck-and-neck through the first several rallies finding themselves tied at 11.

But suddenly, the tide turned in favor of the Flames and this time they took advantage of a 10-point service run and ran away with the final frame by 12 points as the Cougars suffered the tough loss.

Heading into the second game against the Hastings Broncos, the Cougars started out strong as they jumped out to a 7-3 lead in the opening set. They eventually set themselves up with a 17-12 lead later in the frame, but the Broncos didn't go quietly chipping away and tying it at 19.

From there the two teams went back and forth before the Broncos completed the comeback and edged the Cougars in the opener by three.

Another intense battle ensued in the second set with another neck-and-neck showdown.

Both teams exchanged blows before the Cougars fought their way to a 24-21 lead late in the frame just one point from tying the match. But then the tide turned, and the Broncos went on to score five unanswered points for a second consecutive comeback and a two-game lead over Saint Francis.

Down but not out, the Cougars fought back in the third set. But after staying with the Broncos through the first several rallies, Hastings dominated the rest of the way paving their way to a nine-point victory as the Cougars started the tournament 0-2.

The Cougars resume play Saturday with two more games in the Labor Day Tournament with the first match against the Dordt University Defenders at 10:00 am followed by the Morningside Mustangs at 2:00 pm.