Volleyball on a hot streak

The USD women’s volleyball team is closing their regular season as they wind down conference play over the next few weeks. The Coyotes are currently sitting atop of the Summit League standings at 7-1, with SDSU and Omaha at second and third, respectively.

Lenae Williamson has been the head coach of the Coyotes for over 13 seasons. With six games left to play in conference, she is confident the team will finish the regular season strong. 

“I feel very confident in this group,” Williamson said. “I know that we will continue to be challenged, but that this group will continue to show up and learn each step of the way,” Williamson said.

Coach Williamson says the team has had the same expectations and goals from the start of the season to now.

“We are constantly working to be our best selves which ultimately would put us in the running for a conference championship and a tournament championship,” Williamson said.

The Coyotes opened up the season with the Drake Tournament, going 2-1. The team then hosted the South Dakota Classic with wins over Utah Valley, Air Force, and Northern Iowa. 

At the CSU/Wyoming Tournament, the team fell to Colorado State 0-3 but won 3-1 against Wyoming and 3-0 against UC Santa Barbara. 

The Coyotes finished the non-conference stretch with two Big Ten matchups at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls with losses to Minnesota and Washington.

In conference play, the Coyotes lost their conference opener against SDSU 0-3, but have since won their last seven, including a rematch against the Jackrabbits on Oct. 25, where the team won 3-2 against the Jackrabbits.

A lot of the success has been driven from the returning veterans on the team. USD returned all but one of their varsity players, while adding two freshmen. One of those freshmen, Gabi Zackariasen, has played a key role in the Coyotes’ success. 

The freshman setter from Harrisburg, SD is a three time Gatorade South Dakota Player of the Year and has delivered on serving for the Coyotes.

“She is a fierce competitor, and she shows up every day ready to learn something new,” Coach Williamson said.

South Dakota has six games left on the regular season, with away games Kansas City on Nov. 5 and Oral Roberts on Nov. 7. The Coyotes will host four matches: Omaha on Oct. 29, St. Thomas on Oct. 31, North Dakota State on Nov.12, and North Dakota on Nov. 14. 

First serve for the Omaha and North Dakota games are set for 7 p.m., while the St. Thomas’ game will start at 1 p.m. and North Dakota at 5 p.m. Williamson encourages the student body and community to come and rally behind this special team.

“My message would be to come on out and watch this team. They are fun to watch, and they are fun to support,” she said.

For the Summit League Tournament, it will be hosted at the First Bank and Trust Arena in Brookings, SD. The dates for play will be Nov. 7 through Nov. 9. Information on standings, schedules, and tickets can be found on the Summit League website or the USD athletics webpage.

Photo Credit: Colton Tolly