Volleyball Opens Summit League Play in Top-Heavy Field

The Coyote volleyball team has wrapped their preseason schedule, and have their sights set forward to repeat as Summit League tournament champions.

The Coyotes finished preseason with an 8-4 record, with notable wins over Villanova (3-1), Florida Gulf Coast (3-2), and Ball State (3-0). The Coyotes also took losses to ranked opponents like receiving votes Oregon (3-1) and No. 17 Kansas (3-0). 

“We put this preseason schedule together knowing it was going to be difficult,” said head coach Leanne Williamson. “We would have loved to have a couple of those games back, but we learned a lot about ourselves.”

As the Coyotes turn towards their Summit League schedule, there are a few teams gunning for USD’s previous spot as tournament champions. 

South Dakota State (7-3 overall, 1-0 conference), Denver (10-3, 2-0), and St. Thomas (9-4, 2-0) are among top contenders that South Dakota (9-5, 1-1) will face in their Summit League schedule. Each of these teams are bringing back multiple star players and key senior leadership.

“We need to focus as a team and be as prepared for conference play as we can,” Williamson said. “Everyone starts back at 0-0 and we are all fighting for the same goal, to win the Summit League.”

SDSU is ranked 22 in the RPI (Rating Percentage Index), which is one of the top statistical ranking systems in the country, taking winning percentages and strength of schedule into the metric. St. Thomas is ranked 58, and Denver is 88. South Dakota currently sits at 103 in the same index.

However, it is a steep drop to the bottom trio of teams. Omaha (3-8, 0-2), Oral Roberts (2-12, 0-2), and Kansas City (1-14, 0-2) all sit in the bottom quarter of teams in the country, with Kansas City only 30 spots from the bottom, according to the national RPI.

South Dakota travels to Denver to take on the Pioneers on Saturday, Oct. 4 in what is shaping up to be a top Summit League matchup this season.