University of South Dakota Athletics

DES MOINES, Iowa –  Audrey Nelson and Lauren Medeck had 12 kills apiece as South Dakota earned its first sweep of the 2026 season 3-0 over Milwaukee Saturday afternoon at the Knapp Center. 

Nelson was efficient on the day as she hit .450 and had four blocks. Gabi Zachariasen and Morgan Bode each had seven kills and swung at .400 and .385 clips, respectively. In addition to her 12 kills, Medeck tallied seven digs, one ace and one block.

The Coyotes were firing on all cylinders in the first set as they cruised to a 25-8 set win. USD hit an even .500 with 13 kills, while holding the Panthers to six kills with a -.069 swing rate. Nelson played a part in all three of the Coyote blocks in the first, while Medeck put away five kills on an errorless nine swings. South Dakota built a steady lead early, but blew the set open with a 10-0 run, featuring a pair of aces from Zachariasen, to move to set point 24-7. Loschen finished off the frame with her second kill. 

South Dakota's attack slowed a bit in the second set, but behind four blocks and three aces the Yotes won the frame 25-22. Zachariasen served up two more aces, while Loschen was in all four USD blocks with one solo rejection in the set. While the score tied three times in the second, it was the second straight set of the match, and third in a row dating back to last night's match, where the Yotes did not trail. 

Nelson paced the Yotes in set two with four kills, while Van Hook called her number on three occasions with all three instances resulting in a kill for the Coyote setter. 

Nelson continued her strong play into the third set, as she put away six kills on eight swings and the Yotes hit .366 as a team. Medeck added five kills and Bode had three kills and two blocks. Milwaukee was in front early on two occasions but three straight points via blocks and kills from the Coyote juniors, Medeck, Bode and Nelson, gave USD a lead they'd hold the rest of the way. The trio again each had a kill in a four-point swing for the Yotes to go up 17-12. Milwaukee wouldn't go away, trading points with the Yotes who held a narrow two-point lead until Medeck's 12^thkill put the Yotes on match point and an ensuing Panther error completed the Coyote sweep. 

Van Hook notched a double-double with 34 assists and 10 digs, while Sierra Pokharel had nine and Cora Hokenstad had six. USD had the edge in kills (46-35), aces (6-1), blocks (9-4) and digs (42-28).

The Coyotes close out the weekend Sunday against BIG EAST foe DePaul at 11 a.m. at the Knapp Center. 

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