Coyotes drop three games at CSU Bakersfield tournament

Entering with a 6-3 record, USD volleyball dropped matches to UC Santa Barbara, Montana, and CSU Bakersfield at the CSU Bakersfield tournament in Bakersfield, Calif. Friday and Saturday.

The Coyotes dropped three sets to UC Santa Barbara Friday night, 25-16, 25-20, and 25-17. The match was their first following a 1-2 finish at the Arkansas Invitational last weekend, including a sweep of Arkansas – Pine Bluff.

Senior outside hitter Haley Dotseth led the Coyote attack with 11 kills and six digs, while Senior middle blocker Taylor Wilson added six kills and two blocks. Freshman outside hitter Jenna Wagemester contributed five kills.

Junior libero Anne Rasmussen led the team with 13 digs and added three assists. Redshirt freshman setter Madison Jurgens tallied 21 assists to accompany 11 digs. Collectively the team secured 44 digs and 29 kills but fell behind in hitting percentage .324 to .170.

USD lost their second match to Montana in a dramatic five sets, climbing back after dropping the first two sets 28-26 and 25-20 to even the score with sets of 25-20 and 25-18. The Coyotes ultimately dropped the final set 15-13.

Dothseth again led the charge with 18 kills and 18 digs, becoming the 15th Coyote to surpass 1,000 career digs. Rassmusen tallied 24 digs, three blocks, and two aces. Jurgens supplied 51 assists and seven kills, both career highs.

Wilson and Freshman middle blocker Claire Gerdes held up the defensive end with four blocks each. Wilson also contributed 13 kills and four digs. This was the team’s strongest game of the weekend as they accumulated 64 kills, 59 assists, and 77 digs, beating Montana in each of those categories.

In their final match of the weekend, the Coyotes dropped three straight sets to the hometown CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners 25-22, 25-22, and 25-19. This was the team’s 5th loss in a row, their record stooping to 6-6.

USD’s attack was stifled by 23 errors, which contributed to a .109 hitting percentage. Dotseth led the team with 10 kills, 14 digs, and five blocks. Wilson added three blocks and nine kills. Jurgens had an ace and supplied 30 assists. Freshman outside setter/defensive specialist Lolo Weideman contributed an ace and an assist.

Rasmussen joined her teammate Dotseth by becoming the 16th Coyote to surpass 1,000 career digs late in the third set. She tallied 10 digs, two assists, and an ace on the night.

The Coyotes will open conference play next weekend, with road games at North Dakota State on Sept. 21 and Oral Roberts on Sept. 23.