USD volleyball defends the dome in five-set match against IUPUI

The University of South Dakota Coyote women’s volleyball team successfully defended the DakotaDome Sunday as they faced last season’s Summit League Champions, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

After winning their first conference game against Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne Friday, the Coyotes brought the momentum back and won an exciting match in five sets against IUPUI.

The Coyotes started off slow, losing the first set, but with the help of the defense, the team won the match. Coach Matt Houk said his team did not play to their full potential, but the back-to-back wins are an exciting start to conference play.

“IUPUI played some really good ball today, and we had to battle. We didn’t play to our full potential, but I think the sign of a good team is a team that can find a way to have success even when not everything is clicking,” Houk said.

The Coyotes tied it up 2-2 after winning the fourth set, starting the set by a lead of 10-3, with big kills by junior Kendall Kritenbrink and blocks from junior Melissa Firtko.  They won set four 25-19.  The team finished the game up by winning the fifth set 15-11 and winning the game 3-2.

Senior Tori Kroll had another phenomenal game accumulating 52 set assists.  Kroll said the team passing was strong, which helped her out tremendously.

“My passers just got me the ball and then I was able to set anyone I wanted to, and our serving got the other team out of their system a lot,” Kroll said.

The Coyotes were led by Kritenbrink with 22 kills, sophomore Sydney Dimke added 12 kills and first-year Audrey Reeg added 11 kills, all three recorded double-double performances for the game.  Houk said he is happy to see how Reeg has stepped up for the Coyotes.

“Audrey went out and found ways to score the ball tonight.  Her ball control and defense is huge to us as well,” Houk said.

Houk said there is going to be some really good volleyball this season in the Summit League. Kritenbrink also said beating these two teams felt great.

“It’s good, it’s a big confidence boost, especially since the two teams were at the top of conference the past few years,” Kritenbrink said.

The Coyotes are now tied with Denver at the top of the league. The team will continue conference play Friday as they travel to North Dakota State and then will face South Dakota State University Saturday.