SIOUX FALLS, S.D. –South Dakota State and North Dakota State are both looking to remain undefeated in Summit League play, each entering the week with a perfect 5-0 record. The two will square off in a highly anticipated matchup Thursday night.
North Dakota State leads the league in opponent blocks per set (1.45). Meanwhile, South Dakota State tops the Summit in points per set (17.84), hitting percentage (.270), and blocks per set (2.79).
South Dakota, coming off wins against St. Thomas and Omaha, faces a busy week with a road test against Kansas City on Thursday before returning home to take on the reigning conference champion Jackrabbits on Saturday.
Denver enters the week at 4-2 in league play, with both losses coming against undefeated SDSU and NDSU. The Pioneers will look to bounce back at home as they host Omaha on Saturday in what promises to be an exciting showdown.
St. Thomas also stays at home this week, set to host both North Dakota and North Dakota State. The Tommies currently lead the Summit in assists per set (12.95), service aces (56), service aces per set (2.80), and digs per set (15.15).
North Dakota, sitting at 2-4 in conference action, has already matched its conference win total from last season. Paige Barber has emerged as a standout performer for the Fighting Hawks, leading the league in kills per set (5.00), total kills (110), total points (120.5), and points per set (5.48).
Omaha hits the road this week for matchups at Oral Roberts on Thursday and Denver on Saturday. Despite a 1-4 conference record, junior middle blocker Emily Huss is putting together a strong campaign. The Fairbury, Neb., native has recorded 40 blocks in league play, averaging an impressive 1.90 blocks per set. She tallied 10 total blocks in Omaha’s match against South Dakota last week. The Mavericks also lead the league in total blocks (56) and total digs (305).
Kansas City will host South Dakota on Wednesday night, while Oral Roberts stays home to face Omaha on Thursday before welcoming Kansas City for a Saturday matchup in Tulsa.
Week four of Summit League play is shaping up to be an exciting one, kicking off Wednesday with one matchup, followed by three key contests Thursday, all beginning at 7 p.m. CT on the Summit League Network.
This Week In The Summit League (All Times Local To Site)
Wednesday, Oct. 15 | TV/Stream | Local Time
South Dakota at Kansas City | SLN | 7 p.m. CT
Thursday, Oct. 16 | TV/Stream
North Dakota at St. Thomas | SLN | 7 p.m. CT
North Dakota State at South Dakota State | SLN | 7 p.m. CT
Omaha at Oral Roberts | SLN | 7 p.m. CT
Saturday, Oct. 18 | TV/Stream
North Dakota State at St. Thomas | SLN | 12 p.m. CT
Omaha at Denver | SLN | 12 p.m. MT
Kansas City at Oral Roberts | SLN | 2 p.m. CT
South Dakota State at South Dakota | SLN | 6 p.m. CT
Around The League
• South Dakota State is part of a two-way tie at the top of the league standings after a 2-0 week that saw the Jacks post victories against Kansas City and St. Thomas.
• The Jacks’ win over the Roos was the 1,000th win in program history.
• North Dakota State rounds out the duo of 5-0 league-leaders. The Bison won their first five Summit matches for the second time in the last four seasons.
• NDSU is 8-0 at home in the Bentson Bunker Fieldhouse. This matches the best start to a home schedule since the spring of 2020.
• The Bison will travel to play SDSU Thursday in a tilt between the league’s two unbeatens.
• Denver outside hitter Emma Mirabelli recorded a career-high 10 kills in the Pioneers’ three-set loss to NDSU.
• South Dakota sophomore Lauren Medeck surpassed a pair of milestones in the Coyotes’ victory against St. Thomas, recording both the 500th kill and 500th dig of her USD career against the Tommies.
• St. Thomas setter Morgan Kealy recorded her ninth double-double of the season after recording 45 assists and 10 digs against SDSU. She also notched four service aces to help improve the Tommies national ranking to 20th in total service aces this season.
• With 24 kills and a .611 hitting percentage in North Dakota’s four-set win over Oral Roberts, Paige Barber became the first UND player to have 20-plus kills on a .600 or better hitting percentage in a match since 2007.
• Omaha sophomore Alizabeth Jacobson set three career highs against South Dakota with 16 kills, 19.5 points, and seven total blocks in the five-set loss.
• Kansas City’s Ledisi Kpea has shined for the Roos this season. The redshirt sophomore ranks second in the league since conference play started with 29 total blocks and ranks third in the league with 1.38 blocks per set this season.
• ORU’s Hayden Hart recorded a career-high 16 kills and held a .462 hitting clip in a four-set loss to North Dakota.
Results
Thursday, Oct. 2
Omaha 3, North Dakota 2
North Dakota State 3, Kansas City 2
South Dakota State 3, Denver 1
St. Thomas 3, Oral Roberts 1
Saturday, Oct. 4
South Dakota State 3, Oral Roberts 0
Kansas City 3, North Dakota 2
Denver 3, South Dakota 1
North Dakota State 3, Omaha 1
Thursday, Oct. 9
Denver 3, North Dakota 0
South Dakota State 3, Kansas City 0
North Dakota State 3, Oral Roberts 2
South Dakota 3, St. Thomas 1
Saturday, Oct. 11
North Dakota State 3, Denver 0
South Dakota 3, Omaha 2
North Dakota 3, Oral Roberts 1
South Dakota State 3, St. Thomas 1
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