VERMILLION, S.D. - The University of South Dakota volleyball team will open their 2002 season at the St. Mary's Tournament in San Antonio, Texas on August 29-31. The Coyotes will face Chaminade at 10 a.m. , Friday, August 30 in their 2002 season opener. The Coyotes, 7-19 a year ago, will also face the host school St. Mary's at 3 p.m. on August 30 before facing Alaska-Anchorage at 10 a.m. and Metro State at 3:30 p.m. on August 31.

NEXT FOR SOUTH DAKOTA: After the St. Mary's Tournament, the Coyotes will travel to the Fort Hays State Holiday Inn/Hampton Inn Tournament on Sept. 6-7. South Dakota will face Tarleton State at 1 p.m. and Fort Hays State at 7 p.m. on Sept. 6 and Southern Colorado at 10 a.m. and Rockhurst at 3 p.m. on Sept. 7. Then, the Coyotes will host their season opener with Wayne State at the DakotaDome at 7 a.m. on Sept. 10.

COYOTES READY TO GET STARTED: As the rebuilding project of Coyote volleyball continues, head coach Darin Weber and his team are excited about the beginning of the season. His squad has worked hard during preseason fall camp. Head volleyball coach Darin Weber's focus is consistency on the court, in practice, and matches. "This is my third recruiting class and all of the players understand my system and what I expect from them. Three years with the same coach puts consistency in the program. This will help the team play more consistent and should allow us to compete at a higher level," said Weber, 17-44 in his first two years at South Dakota. The Coyotes returns nine letterwinners from the 2001 squad that went 7-19. The team will look for South Dakota's first winning season since the 1979 squad posted a 16-11 mark. Weber lists his 2002 team's strengths as the outside and right side hitters and the setter position. NCAA Division I transfer senior Lyndsey Finney of Kearney, Neb., is expected to start at setter, and senior Amber Abrams of Rapid City, S.D., and junior Becky Olson of Norfolk, Neb., offer valuable experience at the attack positions.

2001 HIGHLIGHTS: Although the team struggled in the first half of 2002, the Coyotes had several highlights during the season, including winning four North Central Conference matches for the first time since 1997. The Coyotes also had an outstanding performance during the last match of the season when South Dakota defeated regionally ranked Northern Colorado, 3-2 (25-30, 30-24, 22-30, 30-26, 18-16). The team set school season records in kills per game (13.06) and assists per game (11.84). South Dakota had two Coyotes named honorable mention all-NCC (Amber Abrams and Becky Olson) and Angie Bjorkman was named to the academic all-NCC squad.

ABOUT HEAD COACH DARIN WEBER: In just two years, head volleyball coach Darin Weber has made an impact on the South Dakota women's volleyball program. Weber, who now is in the middle of re-building a once struggling program, directed the Coyotes to a 7-19 mark in fall of 2001. During 2000, the Weber-led Coyotes made substantial progress. Among the accomplishments included breaking a 47-match North Central Conference losing streak on the road against St. Cloud State (15-12, 12-15, 17-15, 7-15, 15-7); winning a home NCC match and doing so in three-straight games (St. Cloud State - 15-9, 16-14, 15-11); winning 10 matches in a season for the first time since 1988; naming of a Coyote as honorable mention all-NCC (redshirt freshman Sarah Vollertsen) and selection of a player as an academic honorable mention all-NCC (Angie Bjorkman). During the 2000, season South Dakota set several team records including kills in a season (1,640); kills per game, season (12.91); hitting percentage, season (.199); and assists per game, season (11.27). In addition several individuals set records or moved into the top 10 either in a season or for a career. Weber came to South Dakota from Western State College, where he was the head volleyball coach for five years. In addition to his duties as volleyball coach, Darin is helping raise funds for women's athletic programs at USD. At Western State, Weber had an 82-73 record, and his 1999 team had a 25-7 record, including a 17-2 first-place finish in the Western Division of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). That team finished the season ranked 18th in NCAA Division II. He was named RMAC Coach of the Year and the NCAA Division II Southwestern Region Coach of the Year. His team placed second in the RMAC and finished second in the Southwest Regional Tournament. He has coached five all-region players and an all-American performer. The team went undefeated in the west half of the RMAC and broke his 1996 team record of 21 wins with 25 in 1999. In each of his five years as head coach, his teams qualified for the RMAC Tournament. He has served as a member of the Southwest Region Rating Committee, which selects the top four teams from the region to participate in the NCAA Playoffs. He also served on the All-Region Player Selection Committee. His first collegiate coaching position was as a student assistant for the women's athletic program at Mid Plains Community College in North Platte, Neb., from 1989-91. He was an assistant coach for the volleyball and women's basketball team at Dakota Wesleyan from 1991-93. Weber graduated from Dakota Wesleyan in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He also worked as an admissions counselor at his alma mater in 1993-94. While in Mitchell, he and the current coach (Deb Thill) started the volleyball program at Mitchell High School. Weber served as an assistant to the varsity while serving as the head coach for the freshman, sophomore and junior varsity teams in successive years (1991-93). He joined Western State in 1994 as an assistant coach for volleyball and women's basketball. Jody Paperno is the Coyotes' assistant coach. Most recently she was the head coach at Adams State. Kam Heger will serve as graduate assistant. ABRAMS PROVING TO BE ONE OF USD'S BEST EVER: Amber Abrams has moved up to the top in several career hitting charts at South Dakota. Abrams, an honorable mention all-NCC pick last season, is fourth all-time in kills (900), second in kills per game (2.89), fourth in attack attempts (2,492) and ninth in hitting percentage (.203). Abrams is only 251 kills behind former Coyote Nikki Daggitt's top mark of 1,151 career kills. Last season, Abrams led the Coyotes with 340 kills, averaging 3.62 kpg, which was the sixth-best season performance in school history. She also tallied 143 digs (1.52 dpg) and recorded eight solo blocks and 31 block assists. In 2000, Abrams recorded the most attempts all-time with 1,089. She was second on the team in kills with 370 (2.91 kpg).

OLSON IMPACTING PROGRAM: Rightside hitter Becky Olson, who was named honorable mention all-NCC in 2001, led the team in service aces with 36 (.39 apg) and digs with 296 for the year (3.18 dpg). A left-handed hitter, Olson played in 93 games and was second in kills with 249 (2.68 kpg). She also finished second on the team in total kills with 716. Olson recorded seven solo blocks and 35 block assists. On the career charts, Olson is sixth in kills (572) and kills per game (2.60), and ninth in career digs (645).

FINNEY PROVIDING LEADERSHIP FOR YOUNG COYOTE SQUAD: NCAA Division I transfer Lyndsey Finney played in 13 games at Fresno State during 2001, averaging 6.08 assists per game. Finney totaled 79 assists, three kills and two service aces playing for the Bulldogs. Finney also had a standout career at Western Nebraska Community College where she was a two-time first team junior college all-American. She led WNCC to an 86-13 mark and a trip to the national tournament and owns the WNCC career record in assists (2,832) and the third-best all-time mark in kill percentage (.374). Finney was a two-time All-Region IX player and twice selected to the Region IX all-tournament team and recorded 128 service aces, 221 kills and 624 digs in her two years at WNCC.

LIBERO RULE TO CHANGE THE GAME: In 2002, a new position, the libero, has been added for volleyball. Unlike the defensive specialist, the libero can remain in the game for all six rotations, but will not be allowed to serve or attack from behind the 10-foot line. The libero is a designated back-row player, intended to be used as a ball-control specialist. The libero is allowed to replace any player in the back row without counting as a substitution.

TEAM INFORMATION: Head Coach: Darin Weber (Dakota Wesleyan, '92), 3rd year Weber at South Dakota: 17-44 Weber Overall: 99-117 2001 Overall Record: 7-19 NCC Record: 4-14 (9th) First Year of Volleyball: 1974 All-Time Record: 238-658-3 Letterwinners Returning/Lost: 9/3 Starters Returning/Lost: 5/1