Coyotes beat Jackrabbits for twelfth consecutive time
The USD volleyball team beat in-state rival SDSU in a match that lasted four sets Friday night.
The Coyotes defeated SDSU 19-25, 25-12, 25-22, 25-18.
After falling behind in the first set, the Coyotes were unable to regain momentum and found themselves dropping the first set 25-19. The team reasoned that their inability to take the first set against the Jackrabbits came from a high number of serving errors.
“We missed quite a few serves in the first set. We knew we had to change that, but I think we were really just determined in the next set,” senior setter Madison Jurgens said. “Our attitude towards the game changed. We were kind of passive in the first set, and we got really aggressive in the next coming sets.”
With seven missed serves and two service aces in the first set, the Coyotes went into the second set more aggressively. They won the second set with an end score of 25-12, where 17 of their 25 points came from team kills.
“It was good to see us come back from that first set, because we haven’t seen that all preseason,” Jurgens said. “It was good to know that we could do that, and I think it really fueled a fire underneath us to play better in the next coming sets.”
The Coyotes were able to pull out wins in sets three (25-22) and four (25-18) as well. With this being their first Summit League win of the season and having a season-best .425 hitting percentage, the team was also able to boast many individual records for the players.
Jurgens had 57 assists during gameplay Friday which contributed to her career high.
“I thought Madison Jurgens did a great job of running our offense today,” head coach Leanne Williamson said. “I think as the season has progressed, every week she’s just a little bit more confident, a little bit more like the Jurgs we know and love. In terms of running our offense, she got everybody involved.”
Junior outside hitter Elizabeth Juhnke recorded her sixth double-double of the season, in which she had 20 kills in a match for the first time this season and recorded two season highs. Juhnke had a season high number of kills with 20, and a season high .395 hitting percentage. Juhnke also tallied 20 digs.
Saturday’s win was USD’s 12th straight win over rival SDSU. Williamson said she believed the home crowd atmosphere had a big motivation factor for the Coyotes.
“What a great start to the showdown series,” Williamson said. “To have over 1,500 fans in attendance, and amazing student action in a crowd that absolutely got involved in the match today, I think that’s a great way to start conference season. I think it’s great to see the amount of people that come out and support us.”
The Coyotes are preparing for three matches in a five-day span. On Sept. 28, USD takes on NDSU at home in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. They will then be on the road for a match-up against Oral Roberts in Tulsa, Oklahoma Sept. 30 and Kansas City in Kansas City, Missouri Oct. 2.
