Volleyball turns focus to conference after loss
Knowing they had a shot at a shared Summit League title, nerves and emotions hit the University of South Dakota women’s volleyball team Sunday.
Instead, the team’s home conference winning streak was snapped in five games 25-18, 25-23, 23-25, 20-25, 15-11, and the seniors ended their careers at the DakotaDome with a loss.
Now, their attentions must shift to the conference tournament.
“Our season’s not over,” said head coach Leanne Williamson. “Obviously we all really wanted (a regular season title). It’s something we worked hard for all year, and we put ourselves in a good position. It just didn’t go our way.”
Williamson said in games one and two her team did not really play as a team to begin down 0-2 to Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
That’s what the players felt on court as well.
“We weren’t playing like a team,” said junior Sydney Dimke. “We were more playing like six individuals out there. We’ve got to come together and play as one.”
Whether it was nerves or emotions affecting the Coyotes depended on each player. Senior day at DakotaDome meant the Coyotes’ three seniors — Melissa Firtko, Riley Haug and Kendall Kritenbrink — no longer have games to play in Vermillion.
Williamson said the loss hurt, but winning next weekend is bigger.
“The nerves hit us a little bit today,” she said. “They came out and hit with a high percentage to start with. It threw us off a bit. The big positive for us today is each set their attack percentage went down.”
The players are staying optimistic, especially leading into the Summit League tournament, which is hosted in Indianapolis.
“We’re glad we didn’t just roll over and let them take us in three,” Dimke said. “We have to move on. Starting now, we are going to put this behind us, learn from it. We’ll see them again.”
The Coyotes will begin their conference tournament experience with Fort Wayne Friday at 6 p.m. USD has won a combined 6-1 against the Mastodons this season.
“We’re not going to change too much at this point,” Williamson said. “IPFW is going to challenge. I think we’re pretty motivated to play again.”
When considering the keys to the matchup, USD brings a plethora of hitters to attack Fort Wayne. Four Coyotes had double digit kills against IUPUI. Putting defenses on their heels will be the Coyotes’ goal.
“When we spread the ball around we’re unpredictable,” Firtko said. “That’s what make us unique. Other teams rely on their outside, and we can get angles everywhere.”
Fort Wayne led both contests against USD with hitter Emily Spencer, who the Coyotes will target. But maybe a bigger factor in the match for both teams is the mental game.
Last year USD led 2-0 in the semifinals before losing to Denver. Those memories still exist.
“It’s going to be a battle. No one’s going to roll over now. It’s the conference tournament,” Dimke said. “We are all fighting for the same thing, so we have to fight at all costs.”
The Coyotes feel they are in a better position this year. Williamson credited her team’s position heading into the conference tournament to her seniors.
She said those women have nothing to feel bad about losing the regular season title. Now, it’s all about one tournament.
“We put the message across that we’re not done,” Williamson said. “This might actually get us a little pissed for the tournament and motivate us to come out and really make a statement when we get there.”
(Photo: Junior Kelsey Biltoft bumps the ball over the net during the last home volleyball game of the season in the DakotaDome. The Coyotes lost to IUPUI 3-2. Malachi Petersen / The Volante)
