VERMILLION, S.D.— South Dakota volleyball has finalized its 2024 schedule, head coach Leanne Williamson announced Monday. The Coyotes will host the annual South Dakota Classic which features a rematch against Iowa State in addition to three road tournaments on the nonconference slate.
 
"I am very excited for this upcoming season," said head coach Leanne Williamson. "We have put together a well-balanced schedule that will certainly challenge us starting with our exhibition match and ending with the Summit League Tournament!" 
 
The Coyotes will play an exhibition match at Northern Iowa on Aug. 24 before opening the regular season in Colorado against Fordham on August 31 at a tournament hosted by Air Force. South Dakota will face the hosts on September 1 at 3 p.m.
 
South Dakota heads to Kentucky for three games over three days and will face Louisville (Sept. 6), Northern Kentucky (Sept. 7), and Missouri (Sept. 8) for the third-straight year.
 
The Coyotes return home to host the South Dakota Classic Sept. 13-15 and will face Montana State in the home opener on Sept. 13. The Coyotes will also host Iowa State and UTEP as a part of the South Dakota Classic.
 
South Dakota wraps up nonconference play in Iowa City at the Hawkeye Invite II hosted by Iowa. The Coyotes will face the hosts on Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. before taking on Drake (Sept. 20) and St. Louis (Sept. 21).
 
"With this roster, the preseason schedule is exactly what we need to take the next step as a program while also preparing us for conference play," said Williamson. "I know that the Summit League is going to be a great challenge this year as our conference keeps getting more competitive across the board."
 
Summit League play begins on Sept. 26 and the Yotes will open on the road at Denver (Sept. 26) and Oral Roberts (Sept. 28). The Coyotes will host St. Thomas on Oct. 3 in their Summit home opener and will face reigning Summit League Tournament champions Omaha on Oct. 5 in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
 
The Interstate Series presented by First Interstate Bank is back for another year of rivalry between South Dakota and South Dakota State. The Coyotes will travel to Brookings for the first meeting of the season on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. South Dakota will host the Jackrabbits to close out the regular season on Nov. 19 in Vermillion at 7 p.m.
 
The top six Summit League finishers will compete in the Summit League Tournament Nov. 24-26 in Kansas City. The Coyotes have won three of the last four tournament crowns. The winner of the tournament earns an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
 
"Coyote fans, get your season tickets," said Williamson. "We are looking forward to playing in the SCSC in front of all of you!"
 
 
2024 South Dakota Volleyball Schedule
Date             Team                                  Location                                   Time
Aug. 24        Northern Iowa (Exhibition)    Cedar Falls, Iowa                   2 p.m.
Aug. 31        Fordham                             Colorado Springs, Colo.           6 p.m.
Sept. 1         Air Force                             Colorado Springs, Colo.           3 p.m.
 
Sept. 6         Louisville                             Highland Heights, Ken.             2 p.m.
Sept. 7         Northern Kentucky               Highland Heights, Ken.            5 p.m.
Sept. 8         Missouri                              Highland Heights, Ken.             10 a.m.
                   
Sept. 13      Montana State                  Vermillion                                   7 p.m.
Sept. 14      Iowa State                        Vermillion                                    5 p.m.
Sept. 15      UTEP                                 Vermillion                                  12:30 p.m.
 
Sept. 19       Iowa                                   Iowa City, Iowa                           6 p.m.
Sept. 20       Drake                                 Iowa City, Iowa                           3 p.m.
Sept. 21       St. Louis                              Iowa City, Iowa                         11 a.m.
 
Sept. 26       Denver*                              Denver, Colo.                             7 p.m.  
Sept. 28       Oral Roberts*                      Tulsa, Okla.                              1 p.m.
Oct. 3          St. Thomas*                      Vermillion, S.D.                         7 p.m.
Oct. 5          Omaha*                             Vermillion, S.D.                         6 p.m.
Oct. 10         North Dakota*                     Grand Forks, N.D.                    7 p.m.
Oct. 17        Kansas City*                     Vermillion, S.D.                        7 p.m.
Oct. 19        North Dakota State*        Vermillion, S.D.                         2 p.m.
Oct. 22         South Dakota State*            Brookings, S.D.                        7 p.m.
Oct. 24        Denver*                            Vermillion, S.D.                         7 p.m.
Oct. 26         Kansas City*                        Kansas City, Mo.                      7 p.m.
Oct. 31        North Dakota*                  Vermillion, S.D.                         7 p.m.
Nov. 2         Oral Roberts                     Vermillion, S.D.                         2 p.m.
Nov. 7          North Dakota State*            Fargo, N.D.                              7 p.m.
Nov. 14        St. Thomas*                        St. Paul, Minn.                          7 p.m.
Nov. 16        Omaha*                              Omaha, Neb.                            7 p.m.
Nov. 19       South Dakota State*        Vermillion, S.D.                         7 p.m.
 
Nov. 24-26    Summit League Tournament                                   Kansas City, Mo.
 
*Summit League contest
Games in bold played at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center