Both the University of South Dakota and South Dakota State University will play in the NCAA volleyball tournament this week.
The Coyotes earned the automatic bid by winning the Summit League tournament championship last week in Kansas City, while the Jackrabbits received an at-large bid. Sunday’s selection show revealed the fate for both USD and SDSU.
USD entered the Summit League tournament a week ago as the No. 3 seed. After sweeping both No. 6 Kansas City and No. 2 Omaha, it set up a championship match with top ranked SDSU. The Coyotes defeated the Jackrabbits 3-2 in the championship match to earn the automatic qualifying bid. SDSU, who only lost one match during the season prior to last Tuesday’s championship match against USD, had to wait until this Sunday to see if the committee would select them as one of the at-large teams.
For USD, this is their fifth Summit League tournament championship in volleyball in the past seven years.
“We’ve been talking about it all year, and we always felt this was a championship level team,” said Coyotes head volleyball coach Leanne Williamson. “Even though it didn’t play out that way during the regular season. I think even going into the [Summit League] tournament, I know coaches, players, staff were extremely confident in what we would be able to accomplish.”
On the Jackrabbits side, this is just the second trip to the NCAA tournament for SDSU’s program, and their first since 2007.
“Everyone’s really excited and happy today. The development of our program over the past five years is something that I’m extremely proud to be a part of,” explained Jackrabbits head volleyball coach Dan Georgalas. “For us to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time in 17 seasons. Our development and growth since last season has just been absolutely tremendous and I’m extremely proud to tell our story.”
There are currently six local athletes, who play volleyball for USD and SDSU. First for the Coyotes, Audrey Nelson (Madison) is a freshman middle blocker and Cora Hokenstad (Sioux Falls Jefferson) is a freshman defensive specialist. On the Jackrabbits squad, Sydni Schetnan (Sioux Falls Washington) is a redshirted junior rightside/middle blocker, Katie Van Egdom (Sioux Falls Christian) is a junior outside hitter, Joslyn Richards (Sioux Falls Washington) is a sophomore defensive specialist and outside hitter, and Taylor Byl (Sioux Falls Christian) a freshman middle blocker.
Nebraska is one of the No. 1 seeds. Sophomore setter for the Huskers is Bergen Reilly, a native of O’Gorman. If SDSU were to advance to the second round, it’s likely they’d play Nebraska, who faces off against Florida A&M in the first round. Bergen Reilly’s sister Raegen Reilly is also playing in the NCAA tournament this week for Illinois.
The Coyotes will play this Thursday at 7 pm CT against No. 2 seeded Creighton, while the Jackrabbits will play Friday at 4:30 pm CT against No. 8 seeded Miami. Both matches will stream live online on ESPN+.
