First Serve
South Dakota is headed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, for the Capital Credit Union Classic hosted by Green Bay. The Coyotes kick off the three-day stand against tournament host Green Bay on Thursday at 7 p.m. inside Kress Center. On Friday, South Dakota faces Illinois State at 3 p.m. before wrapping up the weekend against Central Michigan at noon on Saturday. South Dakota's match against Green Bay will be streamed on ESPN+.  
 
The Coyotes
South Dakota (3-5) is coming off a 2-1 weekend after hosting the South Dakota Classic. The Coyotes fell in five sets to NIVC runner-up Drake before sweeping former Summit foe IUPUI and defeating South Florida in a dramatic fifth-set comeback.
 
Reigning Summit League Defensive Peak Performer of the Week Madison Harms was named to the South Dakota Classic all-tournament team after recording her first career double-double in the five-set battle against Drake. Harms tallied 14 kills while adding a season-high and match-high 12 blocks, just one shy of her career-high. Freshman setter Avery Van Hook has stepped into the setter role for the Coyotes and has recorded five double-doubles in eight games, including a career-high 42 assists against NKU on Sept. 3.
 
The Phoenix  
Green Bay (2-7) is looking to snap a six-game losing streak after going 0-3 at the UND Classic hosted by the Summit's North Dakota. The Phoenix took Montana to four sets before falling in straight sets to host North Dakota and New Mexico. In their opening match of the season, Green Bay defeated South Dakota's Summit rivals South Dakota State in straight sets.
 
The Phoenix are led by head coach Abbey Sutherland who enters her seventh year at the helm. In her first season leading the Phoenix in 2018, Sutherland was named the Horizon League Coach of the Year after leading her squad to its second Horizon League Championship in program history and first since 2003. Since then, the Phoenix have posted two 20-win seasons and made it back to the Horizon championship match last season before falling to Northern Kentucky in three sets. 
 
The Redbirds
Illinois State (0-9) is looking for its first win of the season at the Capital Credit Union Classic. Head coach Allie Matters is entering her second year at the helm for the Redbirds after four seasons at Wright State. The Redbird roster brings in 10 new faces including four freshman and six transfers.
 
Sophomores Aida Shadewald and Regan Haith return for the Redbirds after earning All-MVC Freshman Team honors in 2022. Outside hitter Shadewald leads the Redbirds with 87 kills on the season (2.72 kills/set). In the Redbirds' first five-set match of the season last week, Shadewald tallied a career-high 21 kills on a .370 hitting clip.
 
The Chippewa
Central Michigan (5-4) is coming off a 2-1 weekend at the Hawkeye Invitational, defeating Grand Canyon and Missouri State in five sets and falling to Big 10 host Iowa in four sets. Junior outside hitter Krystina Kasson posted 20 kills on a .633 hitting clip in the Chippewa's five-set victory over Grand Canyon. Junior outside hitter Lauren Schrock tallied a career-high 18 kills in the win over Missouri State, while sophomore setter Claire Ammeraal recorded her first triple-double of the season (11 kills, 52 assists, 13 digs).
 
The Chippewa are led by Mike Gawlik, who enters his eighth season at the helm for Central Michigan. On Sept. 1, Central Michigan defeated Saint Louis 3-2 to record Gawlik's 100^th career win as a head coach. All 100 of Gawlik's victories as a head coach have come at Central Michigan.
 
Up Next
The Coyotes begin Summit League play on Sept. 23 as they travel to Omaha for a rematch of last season's championship match. The match is set for 7 p.m. inside Baxter Arena and will be streamed on the Summit League Network.