First Serve
South Dakota heads to Fargo, North Dakota, to take on North Dakota State Tuesday at 7 p.m. before heading to Brookings, South Dakota, to face South Dakota State at 6 p.m. Saturday.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota (13-1, 2-0 Summit) is currently on a 13-game winning streak, the second-best win streak in the nation, with its only loss to No. 4 Louisville in the home opener. The Coyotes return junior all-American outside hitter Elizabeth Juhnke, who currently leads the NCAA with 288 total kills. The three-time Summit League Offensive Peak Performer of the Week also ranks sixth nationally with 5.14 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, whose .365 hitting percentage sits at second in the league, just recorded a career-high 12 blocks in USD's 3-1 win over Denver, which tied the four-set program record. Weideman also hit a career-mark in the Denver match, totaling 34 digs and matching the four-set program record. Her 4.50 digs per set leads the league, while Brooklyn Schram's 10.34 assists per set sits at second in the league. Schram's 579 total assists lead the league and ranks 10^th in the NCAA.
 
North Dakota State
North Dakota State (9-5, 2-0) returns 10 letter winners and eight starters to their 2022 squad, including 2020 Summit League Freshman of the Year Ali Hinze. Hinze, now a junior, led the Bison last season with 3.43 kills per set, which ranked fifth in the league. Middle blocker Michelle Glover returns for the Bison with a .410 hitting percentage that leads the league and ranks 17^th nationally. Senior setter Kelley Johnson averages 10.25 assists per set, which sits at third in the league, while her 533 total assists rank fourth. Outside hitter Syra Tanchin leads the Bison with 3.46 kills per set which ranks fourth in the league. NDSU started league play 2-0 with wins over St. Thomas and Western Illinois.
 
The Series
In the Division I era, the Coyotes and Bison have met 25 times, with USD holding an 18-7 advantage. South Dakota has won the last 10 matchups, including the most recent matchup on November 20, 2021, where the Coyotes defeated the Bison in five sets. The last three matches that have been played in Fargo all went five sets. 
 
South Dakota State
South Dakota State (7-7, 1-1) is led by outside hitter Crystal Burk, a 2021 All-Summit First Team selection whose 247 total kills sits at second in the league behind Juhnke and sixth in the NCAA. Her 4.19 kills per set also trail Juhnke at second in the league. Sophomore setter Raegen Reilly transferred from North Dakota State to join the Jacks and her 9.42 assists per set sits at fourth in the league. Middle blocker Ella Thompson, a Summit League All-Freshman Team member, returns to the Jacks' rotation after helping SDSU to its first post-season appearance since 2010. Last season, the Jacks stunned No. 3 Denver by defeating them in five sets in the first round of the conference tournament to advance to the semifinals before falling to No. 2 South Dakota in five sets. SDSU split the opening weekend of league play, falling to Denver in four sets but defeating Omaha in five sets.
 
The Series
In the Division I era, the Coyotes and the Jacks have met 25 times, with South Dakota holding a 23-2 advantage. USD has won the last 14 matchups, including the most recent matchup in the second round of the Summit League tournament last season, where the Coyotes defeated SDSU in five sets to advance to the championship match.
 
Up Next 
South Dakota stays on the road, heading to St. Paul, Minnesota, for a 7 p.m. matchup against St. Thomas on October 6 before heading to Macomb, Illinois, to take on Western Illinois at noon on October 8.