INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – South Dakota volleyball showed grit and determination in securing a tough four-set season-opening victory over IUPUI on Friday inside The Jungle to begin the iUPUI Invitational.
 
The Coyotes gutted out a 20-25, 25-20, 25-17, 30-28 win over their former Summit League rivals, including rallying from a 16-8 deficit in the fourth set.
 
Sami Slaughter had 14 kills, including six in the fourth set, in her first match in a South Dakota uniform. Freshman Elizabeth Juhnke opened her collegiate career with a 12-kill, 17-dig performance while senior Elizabeth Loschen added seven kills, five coming in the decisive fourth set.
 
Madison Jurgens contributed 36 assists, five kills, eight digs and three of the Coyotes nine service aces in the match. Anne Rasmussen had 14 digs while Lolo Weideman added 10 digs and three service aces.
 
South Dakota tallied 22 of its 51 kills in the match in the fourth set and held off five set points against in the fourth set before finally closing out the match on a Jurgens service ace.
 
South Dakota faces Valparaiso at 9 a.m. on Saturday before closing the three-matches in 24 hour tourney against Murray State, a 2018 NCAA Tournament team, at 3:30 p.m.