University of South Dakota Athletics

VERMILLION, S.D. – After losing the first set for just the second time this season, the Coyotes stepped on the gas in the final three sets to secure a 3-1 win over Air Force on day two of the South Dakota Classic. 

Avery Van Hook reached 1,000 career digs on the night and became the fifth Coyote in program history to reach 1,000 digs and 3,000 assists in a career. 

After hitting .100% in the first set, the South Dakota attack came alive in sets two and three hitting .371 and .367, respectively, behind the play of Morgan Bode and Audrey Nelson. Bode tallied seven kills across the two sets, including a perfect four kills on four swings in set three, and had three blocks in the second set alone. Over the final three sets Nelson had 10 kills on 17 swings with no errors. 

Nelson and Bode ended their nights with 13 and 12 kills, while Lauren Medeck led the way with a 15-kill, 14-dig double-double. Van Hook dished out 42 assists, had 18 digs and two aces. 

The Falcons built an early lead in the opening set behind 15 kills at a .289 clip, while holding USD to a .100 hitting percentage, to win the first set 25-16. Air Force also had two aces and three blocks.

Ava Ball got things moving for the Yotes to start set two with kills for both of USD's first two points. Bode put together a 3-0 run herself with a kill and then back-to-back aces to give USD a 10-7 lead. Van Hook started a 5-1 run with a kill, and would also have an ace in the run, that ended with Medeck moving the Yotes to set point. Air Force made things interesting with four straight, but a Falcon error knotted the match at 1-1.

In addition to hitting .371 in the second, USD also tallied four aces and three blocks. 

Bode and Nelson paved the way in set three with an errorless four kills apiece, as the Yotes hit .367 to Air Force's .206 to take the frame 25-17. South Dakota ended the set scoring eight of the last nine points with impact plays from the freshmen Chloe Kmiecik, who had a kill and a solo block to move to set point, and an ace from Gabi Zachariasen. 

Nelson fueled the Coyotes to a 6-1 lead in the fourth as she put away two kills and tallied a block alongside Kmiecik for three straight points. Air Force battled and didn't allow the Yotes to build upon their early lead, but South Dakota stayed out in front for the entirety of the set. Bode capped off the night with her 12^th kill to win the set 25-21 and match 3-1.

The Coyotes improved to 2-0 inside the Sanford Coyote Sports Center in 2026 and 21-2 all-time at the South Dakota Classic.  

South Dakota closes out the South Dakota Classic tomorrow against Northern Iowa, who is also 2-0 this week, at 2 p.m. in the SCSC.  
 

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