University of South Dakota Athletics

South Dakota volleyball coach Leanne Williamson is going home again.
 
The Coyotes are set to open the 2018 season at the UW-Milwaukee tournament on Friday and Saturday, a place all too familiar to Williamson.
 
USD's fifth-year head coach enjoyed a strong collegiate playing career at Milwaukee, and a decade after her graduation the former Leanne Felsing is still the only player in school history to sit on the top-10 charts in career kills, digs and assists.
 
'It's been awhile and I've been here ever since, so I'm excited," Williamson said. "I'm excited to go back.
 
"One, to be able to play against my alma mater is exciting, and at the same time to walk into that gym again and to see the team and the coaches. I know two of the coaches that are there, I've known for a long time. I played for Susie (Johnson) and really loved my time. I'm excited to be able to have that opportunity to actually play there again."
 
South Dakota has matches on Friday against Northwestern University of the Big Ten as well as host Milwaukee. The final match of the two-day event will take place Saturday against New Hampshire.
 
Williamson, who has been at USD ever since her graduation from Milwaukee in 2008, will be going back to her alma mater for just the second time since then, but first as a head coach after returning in the fall of 2009 as an assistant for then Coyotes' coach Matt Houk.
 
Milwaukee coach Susie Johnson was an assistant during Williamson's first three years before taking over as head coach for Williamson's final season.
 
"We had a ton of success during that time," Williamson said. "I think realistically, she had a ton of success as to who I am as a person and as a coach. I still go back to my time at Milwaukee and the things that we did as players and the things that our coaches did and said to us in certain moments that helped shape how I handle situations as well.
 
"It definitely had a huge impact on me."
 
Johnson has won 190 matches heading into her 12^th season as head coach and spent the previous 10 seasons as an assitant in Milwaukee.
 
"I'm proud of her," Johnson said of Williamson. "She is doing a really nice job from having been her coach.
 
'We have invited alums back to be there for that match. When it comes to the competition, I'm sure she will do the same, you're just trying to win."
 
Williamson was part of Milwaukee teams that captured four Horizon League regular season titles, one tournament title and an NCAA tourney berth in 2006.
 
"She was a really strong all-around player," said Johnson. "The biggest thing is not only did she excel, but she had a competitive drive that was hard to match with people. That was her best quality in my opinion."
 
Williamson is expecting many friends and family member to be in attendance at the tournament.
 
"Just to be home again, my family is still there, a lot of my best friends that played at Milwaukee that I am still very close with will be there as well," Williamson said. "It will be fun to have that crowd there to be in that familiar place."
 
USD opponents at a glance
NORTHWESTERN: The Wildcats went 14-18 last year, getting off to a 10-1 start before closing the season with a 4-16 mark in the Big Ten Conference, which ranked second in league RPI behind the Pac-12. Northwestern, picked to finish 11th in the Big Ten this year, return two of its top-four hitters from last season. Nia Robinson, a 6-2 sophomore, had 374 kills and Alana Walker, a 6-3 sophomore, had 271 kills. Northwestern is coached by Shane Davis, who is entering his third season.
 
MILWAUKEE: The Panthers posted a 12-18 mark a year ago and return four starters and nine letterwinners for coach Susie Johnson, now in her 12th season as the head after nine seasons as an assistant. This year's attack will be led by 5-8 junior outside hitter Kylie Wilks, who had 285 kills a year ago, and Jenn Dore, a 5-11 junior setter, who led the Horizon league in assists at 11.67 per set. A couple of transfers who figure to play a prominent role in Milwaukee's offensive attack are Shari Volpis, a 5-11 junior and Allison Grzebien, a 6-2 junior. Milwaukee has won either the regular season or tournament championship in 16 of Johnson's 21 seasons.
 
NEW HAMPSHIRE: The Wildcats bring back their top-four offensive threats from last season's squad that finished with a 13-14 record. Kennedi Smith, a 5-9 junior, had 313 kills to lead UNH while Gabri Olhava, a 6-1 senior, had 269 kills. Directing the 6-2 offense were setters Emma Patlovich, a 5-11 sophomore, with 559 assists and Mali Jereczek, a 5-11 senior, with 453 assists. UNH was picked to finish second in the America East preseason coaches poll.