Sept. 30, 2000

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The University of South Dakota volleyball team went 2-2 at the Missouri Western State College tournament held during the weekend of Sept. 29-30. The Coyotes (9-14) defeated Hastings College and Southwest Baptist while losing to 22nd-ranked Rockhurst and Missouri Western State. Freshman hitter Becky Olson was named to the all-tournament team after recording 48 kills on 126 attacks for a .302 hitting percentage, 43 digs and 23 total blocks.

Match 1: USD versus Rockhurst University
South Dakota fell to 22nd-ranked Rockhurst in four games during a first-round match Friday evening. After USD won the first game 20-18, Rockhurst took control of the match winning three games in a row, 15-10, 15-9 and 15-13.

Freshman Sarah Vollertsen led the Coyotes with 23 kills on 51 attacks for a .333 hitting percentage. Sophomore Amber Abrams had 22 kills on 61 attacks while Olson recorded 19 kills on 43 attacks for a .419 hitting percentage. Olson also had 10 defensive digs. Also for the Coyotes, sophomore Leslie Fusinato had 10 kills on 41 attacks and team-high 27 defensive digs. Junior Nicole Johnson had 11 kills on 20 attacks.

Match 2: USD versus Hastings College
In a five-game match, South Dakota recorded a 3-2 (15-11, 21-19, 8-15, 12-15, 15-13) win over Hastings Friday night.

Abrams led the Coyotes with 21 kills on 46 attacks for a .304 hitting percentage. Vollertsen and Olson both had a strong match for the Coyotes. Vollertsen had 14 kills on 34 attacks and tied a career-high with seven solo blocks and seven block assists. Olson had 14 kills on 33 attacks and recorded 10 defensive digs, one solo block and six block assists. Fusinato led South Dakota with 15 defensive digs while junior Stacy Gonnerman had 13 defensive digs. Freshman Angela Golesh recorded 53 set assists. As a team, the Coyotes had 62 kills on 154 attacks, 67 defensive digs and 22 team blocks.

Match 3: USD versus Southwest Baptist University
South Dakota defeated Southwest Baptist, 3-1 (15-6, 15-7, 11-15, 15-8) in a match Saturday afternoon.

Abrams led South Dakota with 19 kills on 41 attacks for a .366 hitting percentage. Vollertsen hit double figures in kills with 11 on 26 attacks and had two solo blocks and three block assists. Golesh had 45 set assists and Fusinato had 16 defensive digs. As a team, the Coyotes had 55 kills on 137 attacks for a .277 hitting percentage as well as 57 defensive digs and 18 team blocks.

Match 4: USD versus Missouri Western State College
In a hard-fought match, Missouri Western State needed three games to knock off the Coyotes (15-13, 15-8, 15-13).

Vollertsen had 13 kills on 33 attacks, three solo blocks and one block assist to lead the Coyotes. Golesh had 36 set assists. Fusinato had 19 defensive digs while Olson had seven kills, 14 defensive digs, one solo block and three block assists. Overall, the Coyotes had 41 kills on 152 attacks and 79 defensive digs as well as 11 team blocks.