Volleyball hosts first home match Sept. 21

After a month’s worth of road games, the University of South Dakota volleyball team returns to the friendly confines of the DakotaDome to square off with conference opponent the University of Indiana Purdue-Fort Wayne on Sept. 21.

The Coyotes currently hold a record of 7-6, and are fresh off of a two game road trip where they went 1-1, defeating Western Illinois and falling to IUPUI. Both matches were decided in four sets.

With a 1-1 record in Summit League play, the Coyotes hold an advantage in conference record over Fort Wayne, who dropped their first conference match to Oakland in five sets.

However, Fort Wayne boasts a season record of 10-3 with wins over the University of Georgia and Central Michigan University.

USD sophomore Kendell Kritenbrink was named the Summit League’s Offensive Player of the Week for the second time in her career for the week of Sept. 17-23, after averaging 5.62 kills per set to open league play.

The team will be relying on Krittenbrink’s noteworthy offensive play; she is ranked second in the Summit League in kills per set with an average of 4.25.

However, Fort Wayne’s high-powered offense shown by their conference leading stats in kills, 670, and average points per set, 17.8, will keep the Coyotes on their toes.

USD will play the second game of their two-game home stand on Sept. 23 when they take on the University of Oakland.