GAME 16: SOUTH DAKOTA (13-2, 2-0 Summit) vs. NORTH DAKOTA STATE (4-11, 2-0 Summit)
When	Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 | 7 p.m. CT
Where	Sanford Coyote Sports Center | Vermillion, S.D.
Live Stream	GoYotes.com
Live Stats	GoYotes.com
USD Links	Roster | Schedule | Stats
NDSU Links	Roster | Schedule | Stats
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VERMILLION, S.D.--Junior middle blocker Kelly Law and redshirt-sophomore outside hitter Rachel Schmidt have been key contributors to South Dakota's 13-2 start in volleyball. Before they could boost the Coyotes to the program's best start in Division I, each player went through an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear just six months apart.
 
Both players came to USD as freshmen in 2014, but played sparingly. Law started to see more playing time during the Coyotes' Summit League Tournament run, which saw them exiting in the semifinal match against IUPUI. It was in the first set of that game that Law tore her ACL – on her first swing of the match.
 
"I didn't think anything serious happened," Law said. "I was surprised later when my trainer said, 'I think you tore your ACL.' I thought I was fine at the time and wanted to get off the court and put some ice on it."
 
Law was told she would need surgery and would be off the volleyball court for eight or nine months. She had surgery two months after the November injury and began rehab as her teammates started work on their spring season training.
 
"It is tough to be on the sideline and know you could be doing something for the team," USD head coach Leanne Williamson said. "She missed the spring season, which is sometimes even tougher because that is when you get better. That's when you get a lot of drill work and skill instruction."
 
Following that spring semester, Schmidt returned home to Mayer, Minn., where she suffered her own ACL tear while practicing with some of her former coaches. She was in surgery six weeks later and would have the same eight-to-nine-month timetable to return as Law.
 
"It really stunk because it happened during the summer before the season actually started," Schmidt said. "I thought there was nothing I could do now and worked on the recovery to get back where I used to be and focused on that."
 
When Law got the call about Schmidt, she immediately felt for her teammate, knowing what she would have to go through.
 
"That was one of the worst phone calls I have ever gotten with Rachel calling me and telling me she had also torn her ACL," Law said. "I was heartbroken for her because she is such a great athlete and she worked her butt off in the spring to get into a starting role for the next fall."
 
With the two injuries happening so close together, Law and Schmidt helped and supported each other through the process. The rest of the team was also there for the girls and made them feel like a part of the team while they were sitting on the sidelines.
 
"Kelly and Rachel together were very good for each other," Williamson said. "Rachel had been a supportive person for Kelly, but then Kelly was able to return the favor when Rachel tore her ACL."
 
After the summer, Law was cleared to play just four days before the start of fall camp in 2015. Law went on to play in 27 sets in her sophomore year and tallied 12 kills and 17 block assists.

"I had just gotten cleared to play," Law said. "I was extremely nervous. There was definitely some fear and I kind of used the season to find my game."
 
Coach Williamson stayed patient with Law and knew that she would get through the mental aspect of the injury and be comfortable in whom she was as a player again.
 
Schmidt continued to rehab and took a redshirt to gain back the season she lost. She was not cleared to play until after spring break the following semester.
 
"We were really excited to get after it and I was eager to be able to play again," Schmidt said. "There was a little bit of nerves at some points.  A couple of different jumps that make you nervous, but once you get back into the flow of it, it is awesome."
 
Now, about halfway into the 2016 season, Law has started all 15 matches, leading the team in blocks and ranking third with 89 kills. Schmidt is third in kills per set with 2.19 and has a team-high 27 kills through two Summit League matches.
 
"I don't think I could talk enough about what they contribute to the team," Williamson said. "They are both the epitome of a team player and that helps a ton. They bring us together and keep us on the same path through practices and in the season."
 
Despite the hot start, the Coyotes are taking the one-game-at-a-time approach as they begin conference play in search of a conference championship and berth in the NCAA tournament.
 
"There is a big amount of trust on our team," Schmidt said. "I know that if I am not doing my job, there is someone else who can step onto the court and play well."
 
The team is using an 'All In' attitude, a team motto that the players came up with before the season, to take them this far.
 
"Obviously we have things to work on, every team does, but I would say that we feel good about every aspect of our game," Law said. "If we keep working towards our goals for the end of the season it could be very exciting."
 
The Coyotes host North Dakota State at 7 p.m. Friday inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.