South Dakota State women’s volleyball pushed in-state rival South Dakota to four sets on Sunday evening but ultimately fell, 3-1 (25-21, 23-25, 22-25, 20-25).
The Jackrabbits fell to 2-8 overall and 2-7 in Summit League play. South Dakota improved to 7-4, 6-1 Summit League.
Crystal Burk registered a double-double with a team-best 15 kills and added 13 digs. Tori Thompson recorded 10 kills and a led the team with 4 blocks. Akeela Jefferson tallied nine kills and three service aces. Carly Wedel dished 45 assists, while Sydney Andrews and Hailee Blau each recorded three blocks at the net. Tatum Pickar led the back row defense with 23 digs and added three service aces.
The Coyotes were led by Sami Slaughter who tallied 20 kills.
USD held a 10-9 edge in the first when Akeela Jefferson recorded a kill and two service aces and Blau and Andrews teamed up for a block to push the Jackrabbits ahead 13-10. The teams alternated points, but State maintained 20-16 lead. The Coyotes scored three straight to come within one, but the Jackrabbits went on a 5-2 run to take the first set 25-21.
The Jackrabbits remained hot to begin the second, opening on an 12-4 run. The Coyotes slowly chipped away at the deficit throughout as the set was tied 21-21. USD outscored State 4-2 to close out the set and tie the match at 1-1.
SDSU led 7-3 in the third thanks to kills by Jefferson, Blau, Thompson, Wedel and Burk. The Coyotes went on a 6-1 run to take their first lead in the frame to tie it at 7-all. The teams traded leads as the Jacks held a 16-15 edge, but USD scored four unanswered to pull head. While the squads traded points the rest of the way, State wouldn’t see another lead for the remainder as the Coyotes took set three, 25-22.
The Coyotes opened the fourth set on a 6-0 run, but the Jackrabbits answered with a 7-1 run of their own to tie it a 7-7. USD fought back a lead which they held for a majority of the set, but back-to-back Burk points and a Coyote attack error tied it late at 20-all. USD scored five straight to take the final set, 25-20.
