VERMILLION, S.D. — Entering the 2025 season, the reigning Summit League Tournament Champions South Dakota volleyball was selected second in the 2025 Summit League Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the League Tuesday. Kamryn Farris and Avery Van Hook were named as Players to Watch for the Coyotes.
 
Farris, the 2024 Summit League Defensive Player of the Year, is back for her senior season after leading the conference with 565 digs, a mark that ranked No. 18 in the NCAA. Farris was also the league's leader with 46 aces. She was named a 2024 AVCA Northwest All-Region Honorable Mention, to the All-Summit First Team and Summit League All-Tournament Team after appearing in all 31 matches at libero. Farris set a career-high and four-set program record when she tallied 38 digs at St. Thomas on November 14. 
 
Van Hook was named an All-Summit League Honorable Mention in 2024 and to the Summit League All-Tournament Team after starting all 31 matches for the Yotes. She led the conference in total assists (1,208) and assists per set (10.24). Van Hook was the only Summit League setter to average over 10 assists per set and ranked No. 37 in the NCAA. Van Hook dished out a season-high 54 assists to help the Coyotes win their fifth Summit League Tournament Championship in a five-set win over SDSU.
 
South Dakota State was voted as the favorite to win the conference with 62 points and six first place votes. The Coyotes received three first place votes and 57 points for the No. 2 spot on the list, while St. Thomas is third with 48 points.
 
South Dakota finished third in the regular season in 2024 and became the first team in league history to win three games in three days to capture the conference's postseason title.
 
South Dakota opens the 2025 season on August 29 in Bozeman, Montana against Oregon for its first match of the 2025 EVEN Hotel Bobcat Invite hosted by Montana State.

South Dakota Players to Watch
Avery Van Hook | South Dakota | Setter | Junior

• 2024  All-Summit League Honorable Mention honoree, All-Tournament Team
• Led the Coyotes and Summit League with 10.24 assists per set, while also posting 1,208 assists, 319 digs, and 106 kills 
• Garnered 19 double-doubles on the season 
• Earned Summit League Offensive Peak Performer of the Week honors on Sept. 24

Kamryn Farris | South Dakota | Defensive Specialist | Senior

• 2024 Summit League Defensive Player of the Year, 2024 All-Summit League First Team honoree
• Appeared in all 31 matches for the Coyotes playing in 115 sets and accumulating a league leading 565 digs (4.75/set) and 46 service aces
•  Recorded a career-best 38 digs against St. Thomas (11/11) 

• Tallied 30+ digs in three matches and had 20+ digs in 11 matches

 

Rank	School	Points (1st)	2024 Record (SL)
1.	South Dakota State	62 (6)	27-3 (15-1)
2.	South Dakota	57 (3)	21-10 (10-6)
3.	St. Thomas	48	18-10 (10-6)
4.	Omaha	44	17-13 (14-2)
5.	Denver	36	13-15 (7-9)
6.	North Dakota State	32	12-14 (8-8)
7.	North Dakota	18	9-18 (2-14)
8.	Kansas City	16	6-22 (4-12)
9.	Oral Roberts	11	4-25 (2-14)