South Dakota State’s Crystal Burk and Ella Thompson were named recipients of All-Summit League honors as announced by the conference office Wednesday. Burk was a Summit League First-Team selection and Thompson earned a spot on the Summit League’s All-Freshman Team.
Crystal Burk - First Team
Burk has been a steady force for the Jackrabbit squad in 2021. The Newnan, Georgia native plays all six rotations and has averaged 3.81 kills and 2.58 digs per set overall. She put down a team-high kill total in 23 of SDSU’s 29 regular-season matches, including a season-best 23 kills against Youngstown State.
The outside hitter has tallied 412 kills this year, which ranks second on the Jackrabbits’ single-season kills chart. She is ranked third in single-season points all-time for SDSU with 469. Burk is also a reliable defender, averaging 2.58 digs per set, which is second on the team. She has recorded 13 double-doubles in 2021 and surpassed the 1,000 career kill milestone against Denver on November 13.
Burk was honorable mention all-league in 2020. She is the first Jackrabbit named to the All-Summit League First Team since 2012.
Ella Thompson - Freshman Team
Thompson was a standout freshman in the Summit League and one of seven first years recognized on the All-Freshman Team. She averages .94 blocks per set for the Jackrabbits, the highest mark for the conference’s freshmen, and has 95 total blocks and 11 solo blocks on the season.
Thompson has also chipped in 1.74 kills per set as a middle blocker and has 20 service aces. Her .245 attack rate ranks second among the honored freshmen. The Lakeville, Minnesota native totaled nine blocks against Southeastern Louisiana and 12 kills against North Texas, both career highs. She registered a .625 attack rate against St. Thomas with five kills on eight attacks.
Thompson is the first All-Freshman Team member for SDSU since 2016.
All-Summit League Volleyball Awards
Player of the Year - Sadie Limback, Omaha
Defensive Player of the Year - Maddie Renn, Kansas City
Setter of the Year - Sami Clarkson, Omaha
Freshman of the Year - Hailey Green, Denver
Coach of the Year - Matt Buttermore, Omaha
First Team
Sadie Limback, Omaha
Maddie Renn, Kansas City
Sami Clarkson, Omaha
Melanie Brecka, Kansas City
Elizabeth Juhnke, South Dakota
Crystal Burk, South Dakota State
Madison Harms, South Dakota
Tina Boe, Denver
Sakira LaCour, Oral Roberts
Lydia Bartalo, Denver
De’Janae Arnold, Kansas City
Alli Schomers, Kansas City
Honorable Mention
Madison Jurgens, South Dakota
Marriah Buss, Omaha
Jaiden Centeno, Omaha
Ali Hinze, North Dakota State
McKenna Ruch, Omaha
Sami Slaughter, South Dakota
Freshman Team
Hailey Green, Denver
Trinity Freeman, Oral Roberts
Shayla McCormick, Omaha
Lauren Galvin, St. Thomas
Ella Thompson, South Dakota State
Karli Wenzel, Western Illinois
Brittany Wulf, Western Illinois
