SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Denver and St. Thomas each picked up two wins last week, while North Dakota State and South Dakota State also opened Summit League play with victories in their only matches.
The Pioneers (10-3) currently lead the league in several statistical categories, including opponent hitting percentage (.079), opponent assists (7.86), assists per set (13.43), opponent kills per set (8.29), kills per set (14.29), and opponent digs per set (8.71).
St. Thomas tops the league in total points (144), points per set (18.00), digs per set (16.38), service aces (24), and service aces per set (3.00). Meanwhile, North Dakota State boasts the league’s highest hitting percentage at .349.
North Dakota and South Dakota both split their matches, going 1-1 last week. Kansas City, Omaha, and Oral Roberts each went 0-2. Kansas City will look to snap a seven-match skid, including five losses in non-conference play.
This weekend, Kansas City, Omaha, Oral Roberts, and Denver all remain at home. Omaha will host North Dakota and North Dakota State, while Oral Roberts takes on St. Thomas and South Dakota State. Kansas City welcomes North Dakota State and North Dakota, and Denver hosts South Dakota State and South Dakota.
This Week In The Summit League (All Times Local To Site)
Thursday, Oct. 2 | TV/Stream | Local Time
South Dakota State at Denver | SLN | 6 p.m. MT
St. Thomas at Oral Roberts | SLN | 7 p.m. CT
North Dakota at Omaha | SLN | 7 p.m. CT
North Dakota State at Kansas City | SLN | 7 p.m. CT
Saturday, Oct. 4 | TV/Stream
North Dakota at Kansas City | SLN | 12 p.m. CT
South Dakota State at Oral Roberts | SLN | 12 p.m. CT
South Dakota at Denver | SLN | 1 p.m. MT
North Dakota State at Omaha | SLN | 5 p.m. CT
Key: SLN (Summit League Network)
Around The League
• Denver sits atop the league standings after going 2-0 to start conference play. The Pioneers are riding a five-game winning streak. Sophomore Jamia Johnson notched a career-high 17 kills and .433 hitting percentage in a sweep of Kansas City.
• South Dakota State freshman Hannah Klein led the Jackrabbits in kills for the first time this season with 17 against Omaha.
• South Dakota ranks fourth in the NCAA averaging 17.54 digs per set. The Coyotes rank 11th in team digs with 912. Kamryn Farris leads the league with 5.15 digs per set and 268 total digs.
• St. Thomas defeated Omaha for the first time in program history. The Tommies have now defeated every Summit League team at least once since joining the conference.
• North Dakota State opened conference play with a victory over North Dakota. The Bison have won 14 of the last 16 meetings with the Fighting Hawks.
• Omaha’s Faith Venable started conference play with a bang, notching a career-high 25 kills against South Dakota State.
• UND defeated South Dakota for the first time since 2015. The Fighting Hawks were led by Paige Barber’s 23 kills and nine digs.
• ORU’s Julia Carr garnered 16 digs in a loss to South Dakota. This was the graduate’s 11th match of the season with 10 or more digs.
• Kansas City’s Stella Smith led the Roos with 11 kills and a .500 hitting percentage. This was only the second match of the season for the freshman.
Results
Thursday, Sept. 25
South Dakota State 3, Omaha 2
Denver 3, Oral Roberts 0
St. Thomas 3, Kansas City 1
North Dakota 3, South Dakota 1
Saturday, Sept. 27
St. Thomas 3, Omaha 1
South Dakota 3, Oral Roberts 0
Denver 3, Kansas City 1
North Dakota State 3, North Dakota 0
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