Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus Arizona on December 5, 2025 , Loss , 1, to, 3
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FINAL
Women's Volleyball
1
vs Arizona
3
South Dakota State University Athletics
Thursday, September 17
Kansas City, Kan.
7:00 PM
South Dakota State University
at
UMKC
SDSU Volleyball at the Jayhawk Invitational
9/15/2015 3:52:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
BROOKINGS, S.D.—The South Dakota State volleyball team plays in its final regular-season tournament when it return to Kansas for the Jayhawk Invitational Thursday through Saturday.
The Jackrabbits are in Kansas City, Mo., to open the invitational against UMKC Thursday at 7 p.m. The Jacks play in Lawrence, Kan., vs. the 17th-ranked Jayhawks at noon Friday. Saturday, SDSU meets Missouri State at noon and Gonzaga at 5 p.m.
South Dakota State dropped three matches this past weekend at the Shockers Volleyball Classic at Wichita State. It lost 3-0 to the Shockers, Texas State and No. 7 Illinois.
UMKC comes into the Jayhawk Invitational after winning its own Kangaroo Klassic this past weekend. The Kangaroos defeated Bradley (3-0), SIU Edwardsville (3-1) and Omaha (3-1).
Kansas brings an undefeated 9-0 record into the weekend after winning the Pistol Pete's Showdown in Laramie, Wyo. It beat Northern Colorado (3-1), Wyoming (3-0) and Marquette (3-0).
Missouri State comes into the weekend on a loss after going 2-1 in the Holiday Inn University Plaza Invitational. It beat Western Kentucky in five sets, lost to Northwestern in five sets and beat Middle Tennessee State in three sets.
Gonzaga went 3-1 in the GCU Invite in Phoenix, this past weekend. It defeated host Grand Canyon (3-0), Niagara (3-0) and Southern Utah (3-0) and No. 10 Arizona State (3-1).
Following Along
- There will be live video for the Kansas match on ESPN3 and live stats for the Jayhawk Invitational on GoJacks.com.
- Fans of Jackrabbit Extra on GoJacks.com can watch all South Dakota State home matches and select road matches streaming live on the Internet.
Link Up with the Jackrabbits
- For an inside look at the South Dakota State volleyball program and to access exclusive coverage, "like" SDSU Jackrabbit Volleyball on Facebook and follow @GoJacksSDSU on Twitter. Follow the team's live Twitter feed @GoJacksVB for frequent in-match tweets, statistics and more.
Setting the Scene
- South Dakota State will be looking to end its seven-match losing streak in its final regular-season tournament.
- The Jackrabbits lead the all-time series with UMKC, 10-5, but lost in three sets last season in the Jackrabbit Invitational. Kansas, Missouri State and Gonzaga lead their series with SDSU, 3-0.
- When it comes to ranked opponents, South Dakota State will be looking for its first win. The Jacks are 0-8 and the last time they faced a ranked foe was last weekend when they lost to then-No. 7 Illinois.
A Quick Glance at South Dakota State (1-11)
- SDSU has had a number of lineup changes due to injuries in its first 12 matches. The latest lineup had seniors Wagner Larson and Kacey Herrmann in the middle, junior Nazya Thies and sophomore Mikala Hora on the outside, sophomore Ashley Beaner on the right side, freshman Matttison Munger setting and senior Lizzie Palmer as the libero.
- Senior rightside hitter Carley Gerving returned action vs. Illinois, Sept. 12.
- The Jackrabbits are hitting .095 and averaging 8.27 kills per set. Beaner and Hora lead the Jackrabbits in kills (80) while Larson has a team-leading .267 hitting percentage.
- SDSU had Leetham starting at setter for the first four matches, but Munger was South Dakota State's primary setter the last eight matches. She is averaging 6.27 set assists while the team averages 7.80.
- Freshman defensive specialist Ellie Benson has been an effective server for the Jacks. She is ranked 13th in The Summit League, averaging 0.26 service aces per set.
- Palmer leads the defensive corps with a 3.58 digs per set average. Hora is second with a 2.59 average.
- The Jackrabbits are holding their own in blocking (53, 1.29 bps). Herrmann leads the team with 25 total blocks while Gerving and Larson have four solo blocks each.
UMKC (6-3)
- UMKC won its own Kangaroo Klassic this past weekend, defeating Bradley (3-0), SIU Edwardsville (3-1) and Omaha (3-1).
- The Kangaroo's are hitting .213 as a team with their offensive attack coming from senior Cydney Crimmins. The rightside hitter leads the squad in kills per set (3.19).
- Three 'Roos are hitting more than .200 with senior middle hitter Skyler Muff leading the way with a .288 hitting percentage.
- UMKC runs a 6-2 offense with junior Kaylyn Brandt and senior Nicole Wemhoff. Brandt is averaging 5.23 set assists and 2.39 digs while Wemhoff averages 4.74 set assists.
- The Kangaroos are dominating their competition when it comes to blocks. The have 88.0 total blocks this season, including 27 solo blocks. Madison Mosier leads the team with seven solo stops and Muff has 42 total blocks. UMKC also has four other players with 20-or-more total blocks.
- UMKC finished the 2014 season 24-6 overall and 12-2 in the Western Athletic Conference. The Kangaroos were picked to repeat as WAC champions in the 2015 preseason coaches poll.
- SDSU leads 10-5.
Kansas (9-0)
- Kansas is undefeated this season after winning the Pistol Pete's Showdown in Laramie, Wyo., this past weekend. They beat Northern Colorado (3-1), Wyoming (3-0) and Marquette (3-0).
- The Jayhawks are hitting and impressive .310 with four players hitting .400-or-higher. Sophomore rightside hitter Kelsie Payne leads the squad, averaging 3.86 kills per set and is hitting .408.
- Setter Ainise Havili runs the Kansas offense and averages 12.31 set assists and 2.93 digs per match.
- The Jayhawks average 62.5 total blocks this season—35 of which belong to Tayler Soucie.
- Kansas finished the 2014 season 22-9 overall and 10-6 in the Big 12 Conference and reached the NCAA Tournament. The Jayhawks were picked fourth in the 2015 preseason Big 12 coaches poll.
- Kansas leads 3-0.
Missouri State (7-3)
- Missouri State comes into the weekend on a loss after going 2-1 in the Holiday Inn University Plaza Invitational. It beat Western Kentucky in five sets, lost to Northwestern in five sets and beat Middle Tennessee State in three sets.
- The Bears are hitting .233 as a team with their offensive attack coming from Lily Johnson. The sophomore outside hitter leads the squad in kills per set (4.26).
- Three Missouri State players are hitting more than .300 with sophomore middle hitter Lynsey Wright leading the way with a .319 hitting percentage.
- The floor general for the Bears is senior setter Kinsey Batten. She is averaging 10.98 set assists, 2.26 digs and 0.50 blocks.
- Missouri State is tough up front as well with 80 total blocks this season—39 of which belong to junior middle blocker Simone House. The Bears also have two other players with 20-or-more total blocks.
- MSU finished the 2014 season 20-12 overall and 12-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bears were picked second in the 2015 preseason coaches poll.
- Missouri State leads, 3-0.
Gonzaga (7-3)
- Gonzaga went 3-1 in the GCU Invite in Phoenix Ariz., this past weekend. It defeated host Grand Canyon (3-0), Niagara (3-0) and Southern Utah (3-0) but lost to No. 10 Arizona State (3-1).
- The Zags are hitting .267 as a team with their offensive attack coming from senior Savannah Blinn. The outside hitter leads the squad in kills per set (4.47).
- Eight Bulldogs are hitting more than .200 with Blinn leading the way with a .271 hitting percentage.
- Gonzaga runs a 6-2 offense with freshman setter Faith Smith and senior setter Lauren Joseph. Smith is averaging 6.48 set assists and 2.58 digs while Joseph averages 4.48 set assists.
- The Bulldogs have 87 total blocks this season, including 25 solo blocks. Junior middle blocker Imani Wimbush leads the team with 28 total blocks. Gonzaga also has three other players with 20-or-more total blocks.
- Gonzaga finished the 2014 season 17-12 overall and 8-10 in the Western Coast Conference. The Zags were picked fourth in the 2015 preseason coaches poll.
- Gonzaga leads 3-0.
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