First Serve
South Dakota is set to travel to St. Paul, Minn., on Thursday to take on the St. Thomas Tommies at 7 p.m. On Saturday, the Yotes return home to host North Dakota inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center at 2 p.m. Following the match on Saturday, kids in sixth grade and below are invited to a volleyball clinic. The clinic is free with the purchase of a game ticket. Fans can RSVP for the clinic here.
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota (13-9, 7-4 Summit) is looking to bounce back from a tough five-set loss to Denver on Oct. 28. Prior to the loss, the Yotes were on a three-match win streak, including five-set wins over South Dakota State and Omaha.
 
As a squad, the Coyotes rank second in the league in overall team blocks behind Madison Harms' league-leading 1.27 blocks per set average. Harms ranks second individually in hitting percentage at .346 on the season so far. The Yotes also lead the league in total service aces with 150 so far this season. In their five-set reverse sweep of Omaha on Oct. 19, the Yotes tallied 15 service aces as a team, the most in a game since 2012 (19 vs Arkansas Pine Bluff).
 
Harms recorded her 600^th career blocks in USD's sweep of St. Thomas, becoming just the second Summit League player to record 600 career blocks. The senior middle blocker recorded her 1000^th career kill in South Dakota's match against Omaha on Sept. 23, becoming the 12^th Coyote in program history to join the 1,000-kill club.
 
Freshman outside hitter Samantha Laird has rotated into the main lineup for the Yotes and continues to contribute to the offensive attack. She recorded a career-high 13 kills in USD's five-set win over North Dakota on Oct. 5. and tied her career-high with 13 kills in the Coyotes' five-set reverse sweep of Omaha on Oct. 19.
 
Junior outside hitter Kylen Sealock plays all six rotations for the Yotes and has recorded eight double-doubles on the season so far. The Lincoln, Neb., native has tallied double-digit kills in all but four matches this season and recorded a career-high 18 kills in South Dakota's sweep of Central Michigan on Sept. 16. Sealock tallied a career-high five service aces in USD's reverse sweep of Omaha on Oct. 19, which ties for 11^th in USD history in a single game.
 
The Tommies
St. Thomas (6-17, 2-10 Summit) picked up its second league win of the season with a 3-1 victory over North Dakota on Oct. 28.
 
Freshman outside hitter Ellie Gustafson tallied her third double-double of the season to help the Tommies to victory with 17 kills and 13 digs, just one kill shy of her career-high. Earlier this season, Gustafson had five kills and 12 digs in the Tommies' 3-0 loss to South Dakota in Vermillion.
 
Sophomore libero Ella Voegele sits at second in the league with a 4.08 digs per set average. On Sept. 21, she set the St. Thomas DI record with 7.67 digs per set after totaling 23 digs in three sets against South Dakota State.
 
The first time the Yotes and Tommies met earlier this season, sophomore outside hitter Tezra Rudzitis led the offensive attack with nine kills while adding two blocks. Rudzitis leads the Tommies overall with 2.64 kills per set, which ranks 11^th in the league.
 
The Fighting Hawks
North Dakota (6-18, 3-9 Summit) is looking to break a two-match skid after falling in four sets to both St. Thomas and South Dakota State last week.
 
Earlier this season, North Dakota fell to South Dakota in five sets in Grand Forks. The Fighting Hawks were led by middle blocker Marissa Stockman, who recorded a double-double with 13 kills and 10 blocks. Outside hitter Paige Barber followed with 12 kills and McCallister Gayle added 11 kills and six blocks. Libero Izzie McCormick added 20 digs and two service aces.
 
Stockman puts up a strong presence at the net for the Fighting Hawks both on offense and defense. Her .327 hitting percentage leads UND and sits at third in the league right behind Harms. The sixth year puts up a team-leading 0.99 blocks per set.
 
Up Next
South Dakota returns to Vermillion to host its last home weekend of the regular season. The Yotes face Oral Roberts at 6 p.m. on Nov. 9. On Nov. 11, South Dakota hosts North Dakota State at 4 p.m. Prior to the match, the Yotes will be honoring their seniors.