SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota (14-5, 7-1 SL) currently leads the Summit League standings with a one-match cushion over second-place South Dakota State. The Coyotes remain at home this week, hosting Omaha on Thursday before welcoming St. Thomas to Vermillion on Saturday. The Jackrabbits (10-9, 6-2 SL) sit in second place after winning five of their last six matches.

Meanwhile, Omaha (12-7, 6-3 SL) and St. Thomas (8-10, 6-3 SL) are hot on their heels tied for third place. After a tough five-set loss to South Dakota State, the Tommies bounced back with five consecutive victories over Omaha, Kansas City, Oral Roberts, North Dakota and North Dakota State.

Kansas City (10-10, 4-4 SL) and North Dakota State (12-7, 4-5 SL) occupy fifth and sixth place, respectively, while North Dakota (7-13, 1-8 SL) and Oral Roberts (6-13, 0-8 SL) round out the standings in seventh and eighth.

With less than a month remaining in the regular season, the race for positioning continues to heat up. This week's conference action begins Thursday night, with several key matchups set to impact the standings.

This Week In The Summit League (All Times Local To Site)
 Thursday, Oct. 29 | TV/Stream
Oral Roberts at North Dakota | SLN | 6:30 p.m. CT
Omaha at South Dakota | SLN | 7 p.m. CT
Kansas City at North Dakota State | SLN | 7 p.m. CT
St. Thomas at South Dakota State | SLN | 7 p.m. CT
 
Saturday, Oct. 31 | TV/Stream
Omaha at South Dakota State | SLN | 11 a.m. CT
Oral Roberts at North Dakota State | SLN | 11 a.m. CT
Kansas City at North Dakota | SLN | 11 a.m. CT
St. Thomas at South Dakota | SLN | 1 p.m. CT
 
Key:  SLN (Summit League Network)

Around The League
• The Summit League climbed two spots to No. 11 in the latest NCAA Division I volleyball RPI rankings.
• South Dakota remains the highest-ranked Summit League team at No. 50, climbing 11 spots from the previous week.
•Under head coach Leanne Williamson, South Dakota owns an 80-21 record (.792) in October and is riding a 10-match winning streak during the month dating back to the 2025 season. 
• South Dakota’s Lauren Medeck is 79 kills shy of reaching 1,000 career kills. She recorded a career-high 25 kills in the Coyotes’ five-set victory over South Dakota State.
•South Dakota State drew 3,252 fans for its matchup against South Dakota.
• South Dakota State’s Taylor Byl recorded 11 blocks in a five-set thriller against South Dakota. During conference play, Byl leads the League with 1.50 blocks per set.
• Omaha setter Maddie Stuesser tied her career high with 53 assists against North Dakota. She ranks 27th nationally, averaging 10.44 assists per set this season.
• St. Thomas recorded the first reverse sweep by a Summit League team this season in its five-set victory over North Dakota State. Anya Schmidt set a St. Thomas Division I-era record with 26 kills in the contest.
• Since the start of conference play, Kansas City middle blocker Stella Smith and outside hitter Ryanne Wattree have been highly efficient offensively, ranking second (.341) and third (.324), respectively, in hitting percentage.
• North Dakota State setter Sarah Pfiffner recorded her 1,000th career assist against St. Thomas.
•NDSU’s Lauren Jansen recorded a career-high 26 kills against St. Thomas, the most by a Bison player since 2022. She also leads the League with 171 kills in conference play.
• North Dakota continued to excel at the service line, recording nine aces against both Omaha and St. Thomas to bring its season total to 129.
• Oral Roberts freshman Ashlyn Aseltine recorded a career-high four service aces against Kansas City.
 
Results
Thursday, Oct. 22
North Dakota State 3, Omaha 0
St. Thomas 3, North Dakota 0
 
Friday, Oct. 23
South Dakota 3, South Dakota State 2
 
Saturday, Oct. 24
Kansas City 3, Oral Roberts 0
St. Thomas 3, North Dakota State 2
Omaha 3, North Dakota 1

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