Volleyball on the Road in Indiana

Friday, September 9

Valparaiso, Ind.

10 a.m.

South Dakota State University

Central Michigan University

Photo by: Dave Eggen/Inertia Sports Media

9/7/2016 8:51:00 AM | Women's Volleyball

SDSU Match Notes

            The South Dakota State volleyball team travels east this weekend when it plays
in the Valparaiso Popcorn Classic in Valparaiso, Ind., Friday and Saturday.
            SDSU plays Central Michigan at 10 a.m. and Duquesne at 4:30 p.m. Friday and the host Crusaders at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.
            The Jackrabbits are 1-7 and look to snap a five-match losing streak after going winless in the NDSU Classic and falling 3-0 to Bradley in their home opener last week.
            Central Michigan continues its 14-match road swing at the Valparaiso Popcorn Classic. It is 2-4 overall after going 1-2 in the Spartan Invitational this past weekend. The Chippewas defeated Morgan State (3-1), but lost to then-No. 7 Florida (3-0) and to host Michigan State (3-0).
            Duquesne hosted the Duquesne/Robert Morris Invitational last weekend and came away with a 4-0 record to improve to 6-2 on the season. The Dukes defeated Coppin State (3-0), Saint Francis (Pa.) (3-0), Bucknell (3-0) and Buffalo (3-0).
            Valparaiso is 4-2 on the season after finishing 2-1 at the Trojan Invitational last weekend. The Crusaders lost to New Mexico State (3-0), but defeated Troy (3-1) and Austin Peay (3-1).

Following Along
• Live stats for the Valparaiso Popcorn Classic are available on GoJacks.com this weekend. The Valparaiso match Saturday at 12:30 p.m. will be on WatchESPN/ESPN3.
• Jackrabbit Extra members on GoJacks.com can watch all South Dakota State home matches and select road matches streaming live on the internet.

Setting the Scene
• South Dakota State plays in its final regular-season tournament in hopes of improving its 1-5 record in tournament play.
• The Jackrabbits have history with two of the three teams. They lost to Central Michigan in 2009 at the Green Bay Classic and the all-time series with Valparaiso is tied at 2-2. The Jackrabbits lost the last meeting 3-0 in 2014 in Frost Arena. It will be the first meeting with Duquesne.

A Quick Glance at South Dakota State (1-7)
• Second-year head coach Nicole Cirillo's probable starters are seniors Nazya Thies (2.23 kps, 2.12 dps) and Ashley Beaner (3.59 kps) and freshman Makenzie Hennen (1.67 kps) on the outside; sophomore Sierra Peterson (0.92 bpg) and freshman Ashlynn Smith in the middle (.292, 0.59 bps); sophomore Mattison Munger (8.37 aps) setting and junior Ellie Benson (3.41 dps) as libero.
• The Jackrabbits are hitting .145 and average 10.78 kills, 12.74 digs and 1.70 blocks per set.
• In the eight matches, Beaner led the Jackrabbits by recording 10-or-more kills in seven matches.
• SDSU's blocking has been a positive this season. It ranks third in total blocks in The Summit League while Peterson is sixth in blocks per set.
• The 2016 SDSU volleyball roster features 14 players from seven states. Of the 14 players, four are from South Dakota, three from Minnesota and Nebraska and one each from Colorado, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin. By class, the Jacks have six seniors, a junior, two sophomores and five freshmen.

For more information on the South Dakota State volleyball team, follow the Jackrabbits on Twitter (@GoJacksVB) or like South Dakota State Volleyball on Facebook.

-GoJacks.com-