HONOLULU – Utah recorded a match-high 12 kills from Adora Anae and got seven more from Dani Barton in sweeping South Dakota 3-0 Thursday in the opening match of the Hawaiian Airlines Rainbow Wahine Classic. Scores went 25-22, 25-10, and 25-15. It was the first of three days for South Dakota. The Coyotes face Hawai'i at 11:55 p.m. (CT) Friday and Western Carolina at 5 p.m. (CT) Saturday.
 
Coyote junior Rachel Schmidt recorded a team-high eight kills with junior Hayley Dotseth adding six kills and eight digs. Senior Meagan Kern had four kills on 10 attempts with one error giving her a .300 hitting percentage.
 
After edging South Dakota in the first set, the Utes had leads of 14-5 in set two and 12-6 in set three. Utah hit .571 in the second set (13-1-21) and hit .371 for the match. The Coyotes finished at a .148 clip (30-17-88).
 
South Dakota senior setter Brittany Jessen finished with 24 assists, seven digs, three kills and one of two USD aces. In addition to her 12 kills, Anae led the Utes with seven digs and two block assists.