First Serve
South Dakota returns to Vermillion to open Summit League play with a Thursday match against Omaha at 7 p.m. and a 4:45 p.m. matchup on Saturday against Denver.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota (11-1) is currently on an 11-game winning streak, the 10^th best win streak in the nation, with their only loss to No. 4 Louisville in the home opener. The Coyotes return junior all-American outside hitter Elizabeth Juhnke, the reigning Summit League Offensive Peak Performer of the Week. Juhnke currently ranks third in the NCAA at 235 kills this season and seventh at 5.00 kills per set. Middle blocker Madison Harms, fifth-year defensive specialist Lolo Weideman, and senior outside hitter Aimee Adams also return to the rotation for the Coyotes. Harms, the South Dakota Classic MVP, is averaging 2.70 kills per set while hitting .412, which sits second in the league. Junior Brooklyn Schram put up a career-high 58 assists in South Dakota's 3-2 victory over Northern Colorado at the Sanford Pentagon. Schram's 492 total assists rank first in the league and ninth in the NCAA overall.
 
Omaha
Omaha (5-5), led by the reigning Summit League Coach of the Year Matt Buttermore, returns to Vermillion for the first time since last season's Summit League Championship match. The Coyotes swept the Mavericks 3-0 to win the title and earn their third NCAA tournament berth in four years. From that runner-up team, Omaha returns nine letterwinners and four starters to its rotation, including the 2021 Summit League Setter of the Year Sami Clarkson. Clarkson's 10.75 assists per set leads the league and ranks 12^th nationally. Middle blocker McKenna Ruch returns to the starting lineup for the Mavericks after helping Omaha to its first regular season title in 2021. Ruch currently leads the league in blocks at 1.58 per set, which ranks fourth in the NCAA.
 
The Series
In the Division I era, the Coyotes and Mavericks have met 24 times with South Dakota holding a 17-7 advantage. Before South Dakota's 3-0 victory over Omaha in last season's championship match, the Mavericks and Coyotes split the regular season, with South Dakota winning at Omaha and Omaha winning at South Dakota.
 
Denver
Denver (6-5) is led by the Summit League Freshman of the Year Hailey Green, whose 3.20 kills per set sits at sixth in the league. The Pioneers, picked first in the league's preseason coaches' poll, took on the No. 1 undefeated Texas Longhorns earlier this season in a three-set match that ultimately fell in favor of the Longhorns. Middle blocker Brianna Green averages 1.51 blocks per set, which sits at second in the league and 10^th nationally. The Pioneers' 3.13 blocks per set ranks second in the NCAA while their 128.5 total blocks rank seventh nationally.
 
The Series
In the Division I era, South Dakota and Denver have met 22 times, with the Pioneers holding a 13-9 advantage. South Dakota has won six of the last seven meetings, including the last outing, a 3-2 victory in Vermillion on Nov. 13, 2021.
 
Up Next 
South Dakota heads to Fargo, North Dakota, Tuesday for a 7 p.m. matchup against North Dakota State.