DENVER, Colo – South Dakota volleyball is going dancing.
The Coyotes earned an NCAA Tournament berth after a thrilling five-set victory over Denver in the Summit League tournament championship match on Sunday at Hamilton Gymnasium.
South Dakota snapped Denver's Summit League tourney title win streak at four in a match that lasted two hours and 30 minutes, 27-25, 24-26, 19-25, 25-21, 15-6.
"I am so incredibly happy for this team right now," Coach
Leanne Williamson said. "The players fought so hard as a group and completely trusted each other.
"The team has been working for this moment since day one and we continued to learn throughout the year. Every experience led us to be prepared for today."
Taylor Wilson, named tournament MVP, posted a career-high 24 kills with only one error for a .511 hitting percentage in the match, a back-and-forth contest that had a total of 20 ties and 12 lead changes.
"Taylor was incredible this weekend and absolutely a huge part of our success," Williamson said. "She was as disciplined offensively as I have seen her all year."
In a match with several momentum swings, South Dakota had the final one, taking the fourth set and then pushing ahead and controlling the fifth set.
Wilson, who had 13 kills and a .310 hitting percentage in the semifinal win over North Dakota State, finished the tournament with 37 kills and only five errors in 74 attack attempts.
"It's a surreal feeling, I don't think it's hit me yet," said Wilson. "When point 15 hit the scoreboard all I wanted to do was cry."
Hayley Dotseth, named to the all-tournament team along with Wilson and setter
Madison Jurgens, contributed 19 kills and 15 digs.
"They're a great team, we knew it wasn't going to be easy," said Dotseth. "We had a really solid game plan coming in and we knew that if we controlled our side we would probably come out on top."
Elizabeth Loschen also reached double figures in kills with 12 while senior
Kristina Susak chipped in seven in a match that saw the Coyotes total 68 kills and a .230 hitting percentage in 191 attack attempts.
Jurgens had 50 assists and a career-high 20 digs in the win while also producing three of the Coyotes five service aces.
Anne Rasmussen had 19 digs,
Mehana Fonseca 14 and
Lolo Weideman 11 for a group that defensively had 94 total digs in the match.
"Hayley and Madison made big plays throughout the weekend to lead our team," added Williamson. "All three of them deserve those honors (all-tourney) and I am excited that our season will continue."
Up Next: Selections for the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball Championship will be announced at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 25, on ESPNU. First- and Second-Round NCAA games will be played either Thursday/Friday (Nov. 29-30) or Friday/Saturday (Nov. 30-Dec. 1). The top-16 seeds of the 64-team field will host four-team pods during the opening weekend of the tournament.
