VERMILLION, S.D. — The South Dakota volleyball team completed the weekend sweep of the South Dakota Classic Sunday with a 3-1 over UTEP. The Coyotes extend their win streak to four matches, while snapping the Miners seven game win streak.
 
The veteran leadership of Kylen Sealock and Cheyenne Hlady were on display for the Coyotes, as they both reached double-digit kills. Hlady attacked at a .500 clip, while Sealock recorded a .391 hitting percentage. After dropping the first set, Sealock got the Yotes offensive attack moving as she put away five kills on six swings for a .833 clip in set two. The duo combined for nine kills on 15 attacks in set three, pushing the Yotes to a 2-1 set score.
 
USD Classic MVP Lauren Medeck continued her impressive streak of play as she led the Yotes in kills for the fifth straight match with 13.
 
Avery Van Hook handed out 38 assists and added three kills today. Kamryn Farris dug up 15 balls and recorded two service aces, both team highs.
 
The Coyotes hit .286 in the opening set, UTEP registered a .517 attack rate to take the first set 25-20. The Yotes stayed within striking distance of UTEP throughout, but it was the Miners who ended the frame on a 6-1 run.
 
Van Hook held serve during a 5-0 run that gave USD a 9-7 lead early in set two. Sealock started the run with a kill and tallied the final point of the swing. With USD holding on to a 21-19 lead late, the two teams traded point for point until the Yotes reached set point, 24-23. Van Hook ended the set with a kill of her own, knotting the match score at 1-1.
 
UTEP opened the third set with a 7-3 edge, but it was Sealock again who got the Yotes offense in motion with back-to-back kills. The Yotes ripped off a 19-4 run, as USD took a 22-11 lead. Sealock put away four kills and had a solo block, Audrey Nelson took part in two blocks and had a kill, while Medeck put down a pair of kills in the run. Sealock put the Yotes up two sets to one with her fifth kill of the set that ended the frame 25-16.
 
The Coyote block picked up in set three, as they tallied five blocks, which would carry over into the fourth set as they rejected another five UTEP attacks. It was a team effort on the block, as six different Coyotes were involved in rejections. South Dakota again took control in the middle of the set with a 6-1 run, capped off by a Van Hook and Bode block, to extend their advantage to 21-13. Hlady's 10th kill of the evening put the Yotes on match point, and following a pair of UTEP points, the Coyotes won the match on a UTEP service error.
 
Medeck was named the USD Classic's MVP, while Hlady and Van Hook joined her on the All-Tournament Team. Medeck put away 49 kills across the three games and had nine blocks (three solo). Van Hook dished out 133 assists, had one ace and assisted in five blocks. Hlady tallied 29 kills with a .371 swing rate and assisted in three blocks.
 
South Dakota Classic All Tournament Team:
Lauren Medeck, South Dakota - MVP
Cheyenne Hlady, South Dakota
Avery Van Hook, South Dakota
Ema Uskokovic, UTEP
Danika Washington, UTEP
Maya Duckworth, Iowa State
Lauren Lindsey, Montana State
 
South Dakota will close out its nonconference schedule next week when they head to Coralville, Iowa for the Kwik Star Klassic hosted by Iowa. The Coyotes will face Iowa first on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. before facing Drake and Saint Louis over the next two days.
 
Notes

• South Dakota moves to 2-0 all-time against UTEP
• The Coyotes are now 17-1 all-time in the South Dakota Classic
• South Dakota extends its win streak to four
• USD is now 3-1 on the season in four set matches
• South Dakota is now 6-0 on the season when they win the second set and 3-2 after dropping the first set
• The Coyotes swung at a .304 rate, the second time this season they've hit over .300 for a match this season (.392 in a 3-0 win over Fordham 8/31/24)
• USD out blocked UTEP 11-5 in the match, while UTEP had more aces 4-3
• Lauren Medeck recorded her fifth straight double-digit kill match
• Medeck was named the USD Classic Tournament's MVP
• Farris led the Yotes in digs for the eighth straight match with 15
• Cheyenne Hlady reached double-digit kills for the second in three games with 10. She tallied 13 in USD's 3-1 win over Montana State Friday