University of South Dakota Athletics

VERMILLION, S.D. – Lauren Medeck took over in the third set of South Dakota volleyball's 3-0 sweep of Utah Valley in its home opener Thursday night in the Sanford Coyote Sports Center. 

Medeck, who entered the third set with six kills, put away seven kills on 11 swings in the final set to help the Yotes complete the 3-0 sweep. 

South Dakota improved to 3-1 on the season and picked up its second sweep of 2026. USD had seven service aces on the night and zero reception errors for the first time this season. 

Gabi Zachariasen had the hot hand early, as she put away seven kills to lead the Yotes in the first set. The second set saw a more balanced Coyote attack with five Yotes registering multiple kills led by Morgan Bode's four. Zachariasen dialed up a pair of aces and had two blocks in the second. 

South Dakota needed an answer early, after three straight points from the Wolverines to start the match, and it was Medeck who got things rolling for the Yotes with her first of three kills in the first. South Dakota rattled off a 6-1 run to go up 6-5 and would not trail for the remainder of the set.  After Utah Valley tied it at 20-20, Avery Van Hook took matters into her own hands with a kill and an ace and the Yotes would score five of the final six points to take set one 25-21.

USD hit .323 in the second set, had four aces and three blocks, but Utah Valley battled as the lead changed hands five times and the score was tied on 10 occasions. Zachariasen put her stamp on the set as she facilitated a 4-0 run starting with a kill and a pair of aces, and the Yotes snatched the lead with a 9-2 streak to pull ahead 20-14. Bode moved the Yotes to set point with a kill, followed by an ace, and USD moved ahead 2-0 in the match off a Utah Valley service error to take set two 25-20. 

Behind Medeck's play in the third set, South Dakota closed out the match with a 25-16 set win and a 3-0 win. In addition to her seven kills, Medeck also had four digs and one block. South Dakota had a pair of 4-0 runs and a 5-0 run that would put USD ahead 23-12 that featured three kills from Medeck, an ace from Cora Hokenstad and a kill from Morgan Bode. A pair of errors from the Wolverines closed out the set win for USD. 

The Coyotes improved to 20-2 all-time at the South Dakota Classic. 

South Dakota is right back in the SCSC tomorrow night to face Air Force at 7 p.m. 
 

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