VERMILLION, S.D. — The South Dakota volleyball team will play at home for the first time at the Sanford Coyote Sports Center this weekend when they host the South Dakota Classic. The Coyotes will welcome Montana State, Iowa State and UTEP for six total matches that stretch from Friday to Sunday.
 
ABOUT THE YOTES

• After dropping their first two matches at the NKU Invitational this past weekend, the Coyotes returned home following a 3-1 win over RV Missouri.
• In the first match of the weekend, South Dakota battled #4 Louisville and took its first set off the ACC's Cardinals in program history.
• Since the first edition of the South Dakota Classic in 2018, the Coyotes hold a 14-1 record in in South Dakota Classic matches.
• Due to the 2020-21 season being played in the spring due to COVID, the USD Classic was not held that year.
• All three opponents this year are visiting Vermillion for the South Dakota Classic for the first time.
• Iowa State has visited Vermillion twice before in 2014 and 2016.
• Through the first two weeks of play, Avery Van Hook currently ranks 26th in the NCAA and first among Summit League setters in assists per set (10.6).
• Kylen Sealock's 4.0 kills per set is the second highest among conference hitters.
• The Coyotes have earned either a Summit League Regular Season Title or Tournament Championship in each of the last six seasons.
• Kamryn Farris and Kylen Sealock were tabbed as players to watch by the conference. Farris led the Coyotes and the conference with 409 digs in her sophomore season, while Sealock led the Yotes with 362 kills, a mark that ranked No. 5 in the Summit League.
• Leanne Williamson begins her 11th season as the head coach of the Coyotes and holds the record for most by a USD head coach with a 213-93 record (.696).

 
Where To Watch

• All six matches of the South Dakota Classic this weekend will be streamed on the Summit League Network.

 
What To Wear This Weekend

• Coyote fans are encouraged to wear the following colors for each game of the USD Classic
• Black on Friday vs Montana State
• White on Saturday vs Iowa State
• Red on Sunday vs UTEP

 
South Dakota Classic

• South Dakota has been dominant since the first edition of the South Dakota Classic in 2018, as they hold a 14-1 record.
• The Yotes lone loss in their home tournament was a 3-1 defeat to Drake last season.
• All three opponents visiting this weekend are visiting for the USD Classic for the first time.
• Iowa State has visited Vermillion twice before, and hold a 2-0 record over the Yotes in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.
• USD is 1-0 all-time against both Montana State and UTEP. It will be the Bobcats and Miners first time visiting the SCSC.

 
On Deck

• Freshman Lauren Medeck put away a team best and career high 17 kills in the Coyotes 3-1 win over RV Missouri on Sept. 8
• Medeck also recorded her first double-double against the Tigers with 12 digs.
• Medeck led the Coyotes in kills for the first time in her career the game prior, a 3-0 loss to Northern Kentucky with 11 kills. It also marked first match with double-digit kills.
• In the match against NKU, Medeck caught fire in the second set, putting down 10 kills in the frame.

 
Freshmen Impact

• Through the team's first five games, the Coyote freshmen have made their presence felt. USD started three freshman in its last match in Morgan Bode, Lauren Medeck and Audrey Nelson.
• Bode, Medeck and Nelson rank two, three and four for the Coyotes in kills.
• Bode and Medeck are also tied for the second most aces on the team with four.
• Nelson is the team leader with 13 blocks (3 solo, 10 assisted) and Bode has rejected 10 attacks (2 solo, 8 assisted)

 
Locked In

• After the first weekend of play, Kylen Sealock ranked third in the NCAA in kills per set at 5.67.
• Sealock put away 34 kills in six sets against Fordham and Air Force.
• Sealock paced the Coyotes in both matches in Colorado  with 21 against Fordham and 13 against Air Force.
• She recorded her first double-double of the season by adding 10 digs against Air Force.

 
Dropping Dimes

• Avery Van Hook dished out 79 assists as the primary setter for the Coyotes in the opening weekend.
• Van Hook was the NCAA leader in assists per set heading into the weekend, after handing out 13.17 helpers per set in the first two matches.
• The sophomore setter tallied her 1,000 career assist in the Coyotes match against #4 Louisville.

 
Block Party

• The Coyotes were a force at the net against Air Force during the opening weekend, as they notched 11 blocks against the Falcons.
• The Yotes were led by freshman middle Audrey Nelson who took part in eight blocks (1 solo, 7 assisted).
• Nelson had all phases of her game working against the Falcons, as she put away nine kills on 19 attacks for a .421 attack rate.
• Cheyenne Hlady assisted in four blocks, while Kylen Sealock tallied two solo blocks.

 
Milestone Watch (as of 9/12/24)
Player                      Current            Milestone
Alaina Wolff              835 digs            1,000 digs
Kamryn Farris           761 digs            1,000 digs
Kylen Sealock           486 kills                 500 kills