Coyote volleyball extends winning streak before tournament

After losing one set to three against Alabama in the first match of the year, South Dakota hasn’t looked back. The Coyotes have won six straight and haven’t given up more than one set to an opponent in that time.

The two most recent wins came in Omaha, Nebraska Saturday where the Coyotes took on Ball State and Abilene Christian.

USD rolled to a 25-13 victory in the first set, but Ball State came fighting back. The Cardinals took the second set 25-21. The Coyotes had to fight to a 26-24 victory in the third set, before finishing them off 25-19 in the fourth and final set.  USD’s 3-1 win put the Coyotes at 5-1 and dropped the Cardinals to 0-7.

Junior Brittany Jessen led the Coyotes in assists with 53 which outdid the entire Ball State team who only managed 50. Jessen also had 14 digs. Senior Audrey Reeg led both teams in kills with 19.

The Coyotes next match came on the same day a mere four hours later against Abilene Christian. USD snatched the first and second sets comfortably, 25-18 and 25-15 respectively, before the Wildcats came back to take the third set 25-18. In a close fourth set the Coyotes edged out Abilene Christian 25-22. This gave the Coyotes their sixth straight victory and dropped the Wildcats to 0-7.

Jessen once again led both teams in assists with 44, she fell just short of out assisting the Wildcats who totaled 48. Reeg also led both teams in kills again with 19, she also had 15 digs. It was sophomore Lauren Mattison who came up big for the Coyotes with digs, she led both teams with 23.

The Coyotes next matches are part of the Pacific Community Classic this weekend in Stockton, CA, where they will take on Northern Colorado, Oregon State and Pacific. The team will participate in the Iowa Tournament the next weekend in Iowa City, IA. They will return home on Sept. 25 to take on Oral Roberts.