VERMILLION, S.D. —A thrilling five-set showdown in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center set the stage for South Dakota's Summit League opener with a victory over Western Illinois on Friday. The scores went 26-24, 25-20, 19-25, 20-25 and 15-10.
Three Coyotes recorded double-doubles against the Leathernecks.
Rachel Schmidt ended the match with 18 kills and 12 digs while
Hayley Dotseth slated 14 kills and 11 digs.
Brittany Jessen recorded 56 assists and 18 digs. Alongside Schmidt and Dotseth, three other Coyotes recorded double-digits in the kill category.
Meagan Kerns threw down 13 with
Kelly Law adding 11 more.
South Dakota also had three Coyotes record double-digits in digs.
Anne Rasmussen led the Coyotes with 27 while
Kristina Susak had 18.
Western Illinois had two Leathernecks record double-doubles. Shalyn Greenhaw ended with 13 kills and 32 digs while Melanie Patenaude recorded 10 kills and 18 digs. Jaime Johnson ended the night with 50 assists. Mackenzie Steckler and Shiah Sanders teamed up for six blocks a piece at the net.
Turning Point
After the Coyotes took the first two sets, the Leathernecks fought back to capture the next two to send the game to a fifth set.
A highly contested fifth set had five ties and a pair of lead changes. The Coyotes took the lead for good at 9-8 with Jessen serving for-four straight points among them was her lone service ace of the game. Kerns swatted down the final kill to give the Coyotes the fifth set at 15-10 and the game.
Notables
- Jessen's 56 assists and 18 digs are season-highs. This is Jessen's fifth double-double this year.
- Susak's 18 digs against the Leathernecks is a season-best.
- This match is Schmidt's second double-double and Dotseth's sixth.
- Kerns posted a career-high six block assists.
Up Next
South Dakota continues Summit League action at 7 p.m. Saturday against North Dakota State.
