SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota State aims to extend its perfect season, currently standing at 16-0, with a pair of road matches. The Jackrabbits will face off against the Bison on Thursday night and the Tommies on Saturday afternoon.
North Dakota State leads the conference with an impressive 1.86 service aces per set, while St. Thomas tops the league in digs per set (16.71) and total digs (1,136).
Meanwhile, South Dakota is fresh off a victory against North Dakota and is set to compete against one of the reigning conference champions Kansas City on Thursday, followed by a matchup with North Dakota State on Saturday. Omaha currently holds a 4-1 record in conference play, with its sole loss attributed to the undefeated Jackrabbits. The Mavericks will travel to Denver on Thursday to take on the Pioneers before returning home for an exciting clash with Oral Roberts. The Pioneers will travel to Kansas City to take on the Roos on Saturday.
Kansas City, sitting at 1-4 in conference play, is working hard to turn its season around with key contributors from last year's championship team. Kaia Dunford has emerged as a standout for the Roos, leading the Summit in kills per set (4.32) and total kills (95), while her teammate Leah Green tops the league in service aces with 14. Sydney Henry has also made headlines, becoming one of only 29 Division I players to record a triple-double this season with 37 assists, 12 digs, and 11 kills in a close 3-2 loss to North Dakota State.
North Dakota and Oral Roberts each have just one game this week. The Fighting Hawks will travel to Minnesota on Thursday to battle the Tommies, while the Golden Eagles will face Omaha on Saturday.
This promises to be an exhilarating fourth week of league action, kicking off with four matches on Thursday, all starting at 7 p.m. CT on the Summit League Network.
This Week In The Summit League (All Times Local To Site)
Thursday, Oct. 17 | TV/Stream | Local Time
Kansas City at South Dakota | SLN | 7 p.m.
North Dakota at St. Thomas | SLN | 7 p.m.
South Dakota State at North Dakota State | SLN | 7 p.m.
Omaha at Denver | SLN | 6 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 19
Oral Roberts at Omaha | SLN | 12 p.m.
South Dakota State at St. Thomas | SLN | 12 p.m.
North Dakota State at. South Dakota | SLN | 2 p.m.
Denver at Kansas City| SLN | 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 22
Oral Roberts at Denver | SLN | 6 p.m.
Kansas City at Omaha | SLN | 7 p.m.
South Dakota at. South Dakota State | SLN | 7 p.m.
North Dakota State at North Dakota| SLN | 7 p.m.
Around The League
• South Dakota State won both of its matches last week, while Denver, North Dakota State, Oral Roberts, Omaha, South Dakota, and St. Thomas each won a single match.
• SDSU continued its undefeated streak to start the season, earning wins over Omaha and North Dakota to improve to 16-0 overall and become last unbeaten among the Division I ranks.
• SDSU is blocking a league-best 3.05 blocks per set and averaged 4.0 blocks per set in the win over Omaha and 3.50 blocks per set in a win against UND.
• Omaha’s McKenna Ruch passed 1,000 career kills after a Summit League win over North Dakota State to help the Mavericks go 1-1 on the weekend. Ruch also leads the Summit with 1.81 blocks per set.
• South Dakota ‘s Kylen Sealock matched a career-high with 21 kills in a 3-2 victory over North Dakota. The Coyotes are 3-0 on the road in Summit League matches this season.
• NDSU’s Logan O’Brien logged a season best 29 digs in a 3-2 come-from-behind victory against Kansas City on Thursday.
• St. Thomas outside hitter Lauren Galvin tied a career-high with 22 kills in a 3-2 loss to Denver.
• Denver came back from a 13-7 deficit in the fifth set to defeat St. Thomas. The Pioneers’ Jamia Johnson notched a career-high 16 kills in the victory.
• Oral Roberts outside hitter Trinity Freeman garnered her third match of the season with 20-plus kills. Freeman’s 21-kill performance helped lead the Golden Eagles to a 3-1 victory against Kansas City.
• Kansas City’s Sydney Henry became the first Summit League player and 29th Division I player to record a triple-double this season. She finished the five-set battle with NDSU collecting 37 assists, 12 digs, and 11 kills.
• North Dakota set a season-high in total attacks (188) behind a career high from Lauren Perugini (44), and a season high in block assists (30) in a 3-2 loss to South Dakota.
Results
Thursday, Oct. 10
St. Thomas 3, Oral Roberts 1
North Dakota State 3, Kansas City 2
South Dakota State 3, Omaha 0
South Dakota 3, North Dakota 2
Saturday, Oct. 12
Oral Roberts 3, Kansas City 1
Denver 3, St. Thomas 2
Omaha 3, North Dakota State 1
South Dakota State 3, North Dakota 1
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