MANKATO, Minn. – The South Dakota women's Swim and Dive program began its 2026-27 with a 177-129 victory over Minnesota State on Friday night at the Highland Pool in Mankato.
 
On the back of victories in nine events, the Yotes open their second-straight season with a victory over the Mavericks.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
South Dakota dominated the 1000-yard free with juniors Emily DiProspero (10:34.14) and Ashley Koeing (10:51.14) finishing in first and second while senior Shyann Kissinger finished in third to earn the Yotes 16 points in the second event of the evening.
 
The Yotes earned another 16 points by finishing in the top 3 in two more events in the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard free.
 
Freshman Sophie Blixt made a splash in her collegiate debut, finishing in first in the 100 fly and second in the 200 breast to earn the Yotes more points.
 
Senior Gabbie Ahrendt won the penultimate event of the evening in the 200 IM with her time of 2:09.37, earning the Yotes nine points.
 
The 200-yard freestyle relay team of freshman Lily Furrow, sophomore Lauren Eschmeyer, junior Madilyn Gehrke and senior Anna Balfanz won the final event of the evening, earning the Coyotes 11 points to end their night with a 48-point advantage.
 
DiProspero Picks Up Where She Left Out
Tabbed as a preseason player to watch, expectations met Emily DiProspero ahead of her junior season, and if the first meet of the 2026-27 was any indication of how the Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin's season will go, there is reason to be excited.
 
In addition to her dominant victory in the 1000 free, DiProspero won the 500 free by nearly 14 seconds with her time of 5:07.15.
 
With her 200-freestyle relay team finishing in fourth, DiProspero alone. accounted for 20 of the Coyotes 177 points of the evening.
 
NEXT UP
The men's team will make their season debut, joining the undefeated women in Lawrence, Kansas for a road dual with the Kansas Jayhawks on Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17.
 
The meet will begin at 5 p.m. CT on Friday.