AMES, Iowa—Preseason all-Big 12 pick Grace Lazard had a match-high 14 kills in leading No. 21-ranked Iowa State to a 3-1 win against South Dakota in an exhibition held at Hilton Coliseum Friday. Scores went 25-17, 22-25, 25-17 and 25-13.
 
Both teams will hold an intersquad match on their respective home courts Saturday in final preparations for their season openers. South Dakota opens against Northwestern next Friday in a tournament hosted by Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Iowa State hosts Ole Miss on the same day as part of the Iowa State Challenge.
 
Lazard was part of a Cyclone trio that combined for 29 kills against four errors Friday. All-Big 12 outside hitter Jess Schaben finished with eight kills and eight digs while fellow senior Hannah Bailey totaled seven kills in 10 attacks over the final two sets.
 
South Dakota was led offensively by senior Taylor Wilson, who had seven kills on 17 attacks and hit .294 for the match. All-Summit outside hitter Hayley Dotseth had 13 digs and finished one kill shy of a double-double. Redshirt freshman setter Madison Jurgens had 30 assists to go with five kills, four digs and an ace.

"This match is going to be really good for us in the long run," said USD head coach Leanne Williamson. "We were able to see our strengths and weaknesses against a really good Iowa State team."
 
Dotseth had seven of her nine kills in the set two victory, including the winner. True freshman Jenna Wagemester added three kills in the set and finished with five for the match. A 9-4 run that gave the Coyotes a 19-13 lead fueled the victory.
 
Kristina Susak netted a pair of kills helping stake USD to a 12-8 advantage in set three, but that's when the tide turned. Bailey used three kills to help Iowa State tie the set at 14-14, and the Cyclones outscored the Coyotes 11-3 from there. Bailey totaled five kills and Lazard added three in the set.
 
Iowa State finished it off by hitting .517 – 15 kills against no errors – in set four. Lazard had five spikes in the frame. The Cyclones got all three of their aces in the finale including two from Izzy Enna, who also finished with 12 digs.
 
Jurgens and Wagemester were two of six freshmen who competed for the Coyotes. Redshirt freshman Emily Grathoff had four kills in two sets of work. True freshman Claire Gerdes added a kill and a block in three sets of action.

"It was great to see some of our freshmen get some good minutes and get those first-game nerves out of the way," said Williamson. "I absolutely believe that we will be prepared to play our first match next weekend, in part, because of this experience."