Weideman thrives at libero as season starts at home

Lolo Weideman seized an opportunity and graced a role change during her time in a South Dakota volleyball uniform.

Weideman, a fifth-year senior, pushed herself to get on the floor as a freshman and then made an adjustment prior to her third year on campus to being the starting libero, all the while helping the Coyotes claim at least one Summit League trophy each season.

As she embarks on her fifth season, something made possible by the unfortunate COVID pandemic in spring 2020, the native of Center Point, Iowa, will take her customary spot in the back row on the court, looking to lead South Dakota to another strong season.

Weideman was seeing limited playing time as a freshman, coming in as a serving specialist which then gradually increased to seeing time as an outside hitter late in sets to playing in the back row for the middle blocker. 

“Just being able to find my way onto the court any way I could was important to me,” said Weideman.

After spending time as an outside hitter and defensive specialist early in her career, she began to make the transition to being a back-row player. A lot of hard work went into helping Weideman adjust to being the libero, especially considering she was following in the footsteps of one of the best libero’s in school history in Anne Rasmussen.

“Stepping into the libero role was different to me, because I was always a hitter,” said Weideman. “It was fun to learn a whole new position and take on a whole different role and I’m glad that I did because I absolutely love it.

“Every year has been a lot of growing and learning, finding out how to become a leader and accepting whatever role I am given.”

Weideman’s 533 digs in 2021 were the fifth-most by a Coyote in the 25-point rally scoring era, trailing three separate seasons from Rasmussen and one from Carol Logato. 

Weideman enters the 2022 campaign sitting seventh on the school’s career digs chart at 1,384 and eighth in career service aces with 125. 

Her third season as the starting libero begins Friday as the Coyotes open the season at home against fourth-ranked Louisville as part of the Coyote Invitational. South Dakota will also face Northern Kentucky Saturday and Missouri Sunday in a rematch of the NCAA Tournament contest from spring 2021.

“Obviously we’re playing very good teams,” said Weideman. “I love it because it allows us to push ourselves to see the level that we can play at. It really shows the mentality that we need to have going forward with the season.”

The Coyote volleyball team loves playing inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in front of crowds that have gotten bigger throughout the four years Weideman has been with the program. South Dakota has led the Summit League and ranked in the top 40 nationally in home attendance each of the last two seasons. 

“It’s been so wonderful seeing how many more people come to our games,” said Weideman. “You come to a game and then you get hooked on it and you want to keep watching us play because we work hard and it’s fun and a great atmosphere. As our program grows so does the student section, so do the fans and I think that's such a positive for the South Dakota volleyball program.”

Weideman, who already has a psychology degree and has added kinesiology and sport management to her academic schedule, said it was not a hard decision when she decided to come back for the extra year the NCAA granted athletes.

“With how successful we have been these last four years, it was a pretty easy decision to stay and have another great season with my teammates.”