Coyote volleyball bounces back from last season

Coyote volleyball is trying to bounce back with high expectations and a new head coach after last year’s 19-13 record.

The team is predicted to do well this season, despite falling short in the semi-finals of the Summit League Tournament against Denver last year.

“We’ve started pretty good but we’ve had a couple let downs,” Head Coach Leanne Williamson said.

One of those letdowns was their loss to the University of North Dakota two weeks ago. But after the coaching staff and the players talked about the letdown and how it is good to have an adversity trial, Williamson said the team is really motivated to learn from two losses.

Most recently the Coyotes put those adversity skills to test in Arkansas at the Razorback Invitational. On Friday the team won in five sets to Arkansas. On Saturday, they lost in three sets to SMU but came back to win against Stony Brook in four sets.

Unfortunately, their season will be a difficult schedule by playing tough teams — like 12th ranked nationally Illinois and 2013 Summit League Champions IUPUI.

Williamson, however, said these are the games that will prepare her squad for conference season.

“There is an expectation to play with anyone whether it is someone who hits harder or plays scrappier,” Williamson said. “But if we come out and play our game, I think we are going to surprise people.”

Even though the team has a new head coach, Williamson is not new to the program. She has been at USD as the assistant coach for the past five years. The girls said they feel good about having her as the new head coach, considering she knows the players and their talents.

“She has made a big impact so far and I hope she continues to grow as a coach,” senior Melissa Firtko said.
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The team also isn’t lacking leadership. The Coyotes are led by three seniors, including Kendall Kritenbrink.

Kritenbrink was named Coyote Athlete of the Week after she became all-time kill leader, ending the weekend with 1,464 career kills. Kritenbrink said she hopes their experience from the past three years carries over and leads her incoming teammates.

“Our goal is to get a Summit League championship and make it to the NCCA tournament,” she said.

Meanwhile, Firtko was named Summit League’s Volleyball Defensive player of the week for her performance Sept. 5. Firtko had 31 kills and 25 blocks on the weekend.

“The girls are striving to get better by coming into the gym and working hard in their matches,” Firtko said.

The players said have now bought into a “culture of success,” and Williamson said she hopes to continue pushing her players each day and wants them to constantly improve. She said her players will work hard toward their goals and expect themselves to bounce back from early season rust.

“If they come back into the gym and work on what they are struggling with, they will play with confidence,” Williamson said.

The Coyotes travel this weekend to the Creighton University Tournament to play Colorado, Creighton and Illinois.

(University of South Dakota junior Sydney Dimke prepares to serve the ball during the Coyote’s red vs. white scimmage August 23 in the DakotaDome. Malachi Petersen|The Volante)