Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at North Dakota on October 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
/
7:00 p.m.
Women's Volleyball
at North Dakota
South Dakota State University Athletics
Tuesday, October 17
Fargo, N.D.
7 p.m.
South Dakota State University
at
North Dakota State
Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen
Volleyball Starts Second Half of League Season
10/16/2017 9:58:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
| Â MATCHES 21 & 22: South Dakota St. (2-18, 0-7); North Dakota State (14-5, 5-2); Omaha (16-12, 3-2) |
| Â When | Â Tuesday, Oct. 17 | 7 p.m. | Â Friday, Oct. 20 | 7 p.m. |
|  Where |  Benson Bunker Fieldhouse I Fargo, N.D. |  Sanford Pentagon I Sioux Falls, S.D. |
| Â Live Video | Â GoJacks.com | Â Not available |
| Â Live Stats | Â GoJacks.com | Â GoJacksLive.com |
|  Game Notes |  South Dakota State | North Dakota State | Omaha | |
| Â Social Media | Â Twitter | Facebook | #StriveTogether | |
            The South Dakota State volleyball team begins the second half of its Summit League schedule with matches at long-time rival North Dakota State Tuesday at 7 p.m. and vs. Omaha Friday at 7 p.m. in the Pink Match at the Sanford Pentagon.
           The Jackrabbits (2-18, 0-7) lost at South Dakota (3-0) and home against Fort Wayne (3-0) last week. Senior Ellie Benson led on defense, averaging 4.16 digs per set.
           North Dakota State (14-5, 5-2) is tied for second in The Summit League after defeating Omaha (3-0) and Western Illinois (3-0) last week.
           Omaha (6-14, 3-4) lost both of its matches last week, falling at North Dakota State and at Oral Roberts (3-0). The Mavericks are tied for fifth in the league standings.
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Pink Match
- For the third consecutive year, the Sanford Pentagon is the site for the Jackrabbits' Pink Match. The match aims to raise awareness of breast cancer.
- The Jackrabbits are 2-0 in the Pink Match and at the Sanford Pentagon after defeating Fort Wayne in four sets last year and in three sets in 2015. The 2015 match marked the first time Division I volleyball was played in the Sanford Pentagon.
- An online auction of the Jackrabbits' pink Under Armour jerseys starts Wedenesday at 3 p.m. and ends Oct. 23 with proceeds benefitting the Edith Sanford Breast Cancer Foundation. To bid on the Jackrabbits' jerseys, visit GoJacks.com/auctions.
- The volleyball team will also be taking donations for Team Edith at https://give.classy.org/jackrabbitsvb.
- Last year, the Pink Match, auction and donations raised a combined $2,300 for the Edith Sanford Breast Center.
Setting the Scene
- South Dakota State has rematches with North Dakota State and Omaha after losing the opening matches of the two-match series' in September.
- The Jackrabbits are looking to snap a seven-match losing streak and win their first Summit League match of the season.
- The Jackrabbits are 24-57 in Summit League road matches since 2007. The Jacks have lost their last seven Summit League road matches, dating to a 3-0 loss at IUPUI Oct. 23, 2016.
- SDSU is 42-44 at home in Summit League matches since 2007. Its last home league win was a 3-1 decision over of Fort Wayne Oct. 30, 2016.
- Tuesday's match is the 90th meeting between State and NDSU. The Bison lead the all-time series, 74-15. The Jacks are looking for their first win over NDSU since winning in four sets Sept. 16, 2012, in Frost Arena. The last win in Fargo was Oct. 25, 2005, when State won 3-0.
- SDSU and Omaha meet for the 56th time with the Mavericks leading the all-time series, 34-21. The last time SDSU defeated Omaha in a home match was Sept. 30, 2016, with a 3-0 victory in Frost Arena.
- South Dakota State is in its 52nd season overall and 13th in the Division I era. The Jackrabbits sport an 896-701-8 (.558) all-time record and 175-250 (.411) mark in Division I play.
A Quick Glance at South Dakota State
- South Dakota State, led by third-year head coach Nicole Cirillo, is hitting .125 as a team and is led offensively by sophomore Makenzie Hennen. The outside hitter is averaging 2.43 kills per set. Sophomore outside hitter Ashlynn Smith is averaging 2.42 kills per set.
- Junior Sierra Peterson averages 1.91 kills per set and has a team-high 25 service aces.
- The Jackrabbits have converted to a 6-2 offense with junior setter Mattison Munger averaging 6.18 set assists and 2.23 digs per set. Freshman setter Maddie Fay averages 4.18 set assists.
- On defense, the Jackrabbits' lone senior, libero Ellie Benson, tops the squad with 4.01 digs per set and ranks fourth in Summit League matches and fifth overall.
- The bright spot for South Dakota State has been blocking. The team averages 1.65 blocks per set with freshman Macy Smith leading the squad with 44 (12-32) total blocks.
- The Jackrabbits return five starters from the 2016 season in Peterson, Hennen, Smith, Munger and Benson. Junior middle hitter Richardson (1.33 kps, 0.68 bps) and Macy Smith (1.14 kps) join the probable starting six this week.
- South Dakota State was picked to finish seventh in The Summit League preseason coaches poll.
- The 2017 SDSU volleyball roster features 14 players from nine states. Of the 14 players, two are from South Dakota, four from Iowa, two from Nebraska and one each from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas and Wisconsin. By class, the Jacks have one senior, three juniors, three sophomores and seven freshmen.
This Week's Opponents
North Dakota State (14-5, 5-2)—North Dakota State enters the week with a two-match winning streak and are 8-1 at home.
- The Bison are hitting .172 as a team and are led by Erika Gelzinyte. The senior outside hitter is logging 3.04 kills per set. Junior outside hitter McKenzie Burke is averaging 2.76 kills per set and 2.44 dps.
- Freshman middle hitter Emily Halverson is hitting a team-high .280.
- Senior setter Brianna Rasmusson averages 9.78 assists per set and 3.03 digs per set.
- NDSU has four players averaging two-or-more digs per set, led by senior libero Mikaela Purnell with 5.88 digs per set.
- Freshman middle blocker Bella Lien averages a team-leading 1.06 blocks per set and North Dakota State averages 2.40 bps.
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Omaha (16-12, 3-2)—Omaha enters the week on a four-match losing streak and with a 2-5 road record.
- The Mavericks are hitting .176 as a team with their offensive attack coming from Abby Bergsten. The junior outside hitter averages 2.96 kills per set.
- Freshman middle blocker Bella Sade is hitting .270 and is one of four UNO players to hit higher than .200.
- Senior setter Sydney O'Shaughnessy runs the Omaha offense, averaging 9.92 set assists per match and ranking third in The Summit League.
- Freshman libero Claire Mountjoy (4.62) is one of six Mavericks averaging more than 2.0 digs per set. She ranks third in the league in digs per set.
- Omaha is averaging 2.05 blocks per set with Sade and freshman middle blocker Anna Blaschko tallying 72 total blocks.
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For more information on the South Dakota State volleyball team, follow the Jackrabbits on Twitter (@GoJacksVB) or like South Dakota State volleyball on Facebook.
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Players Mentioned
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