Volleyball Team on the Road Friday

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Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at North Dakota on October 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
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7:00 p.m.
Women's Volleyball
at North Dakota
Grand Forks, N.D.
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Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus Oral Roberts on October 23, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
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7:00 p.m.
Women's Volleyball
vs Oral Roberts
Brookings, S.D.
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Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus Denver on October 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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1:00 PM
Women's Volleyball
vs Denver
Brookings, S.D.
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Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at Omaha on October 30, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
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7:00 p.m.
Women's Volleyball
at Omaha
Omaha, Neb.
Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus South Dakota on November 1, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
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7:00 p.m.
Women's Volleyball
vs South Dakota
Brookings, S.D.
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Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at North Dakota State on November 6, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
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7:00 p.m.
Women's Volleyball
at North Dakota State
Fargo, N.D.
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MATCH 18: South Dakota State (2-15, 0-4) at Western Illinois (5-12, 0-3)

When	Friday, Oct. 6, 2017 l 7 p.m.
Where	Western Hall l Macomb, Ill.
Live Video	GoJacks.com
Live Stats	GoJacks.com
Match Notes	South Dakota State l Western Illinois
Social Media	Twitter l Facebook l #StriveTogether

Western Illinois (5-12, 0-3) is sixth in The Summit League after dropping a pair of home matches last week. The Fighting Leathernecks were beaten by Oral Roberts (3-1) and Omaha (3-1).

Setting the Scene

South Dakota State takes to the road for back-to-back matches, starting at Western Illinois. The Jackrabbits are looking to snap a four-match losing streak and win their first Summit League match of the season.

The Jackrabbits are 24-55 in Summit League road matches since 2007. The Jacks have lost their last five Summit League road matches, dating to a 3-0 loss at IUPUI Oct. 23.

Friday's match is the 22nd match between State and WIU. The Jackrabbits lead the all-time series, 16-5. State has won the last four matches, including a 3-2 match in Macomb last year.

South Dakota State is in its 52nd season overall and 13th in the Division I era. The Jackrabbits sport an 896-698-8 (.559) all-time record and 175-247 (.414) 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 .134 as a team and is led offensively by sophomore Makenzie Hennen. The outside hitter is averaging 2.56 kills per set. Sophomore outside hitter Ashlynn Smith is averaging 2.43 kills per set.

Junior Sierra Peterson averages 2.09 kills per set and has a team-high 20 service aces.

The Jackrabbits have converted to a 6-2 offense with junior setter Mattison Munger averaging 6.63 set assists and 2.25 digs per set. Freshman setter Maddie Fay averages 4.13 set assists.

On defense, the Jackrabbits' lone senior, libero Ellie Benson, tops the squad with 3.80 digs per set with junior transfer Payton Richardson leading the squad with 33 total blocks.

The Jackrabbits return five starters from the 2016 season in Peterson, Hennen, Smith, Munger and Benson. Richardson (1.35 kps, 0.63 bps) and freshman Macy Smith (1.15 kps, 0.67 bps) join the probable starting six Friday.

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 Weekend's Opponent

Western Illinois (5-12, 0-3)—Western Illinois enters the weekend looking for its first league win of the season and end a seven-match losing streak.

The Fighting Leathernecks are hitting .180 as a team with their offensive attack coming from freshman Emma Norris. The outside attacker leads the squad in kills per set (2.67) and averages 2.78 digs per set.

Freshman middle hitter Mackenzie Steckler leads Western Illinois with a .345 hitting percentage and 0.99 blocks per set, ranking sixth overall in The Summit League.

Junior setter Jaime Johnson runs the Fighting Leathernecks' offense, averaging 8.79 set assists.

Sophomore libero Claire Grove is recording a team-best 4.49 digs per set. Western Illinois averages 16.49 digs per set with five players with 2.0-or-more digs per set.

Series vs. Western Illinois—SDSU leads 16-5.

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-

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Players Mentioned

Ellie Benson

Madison Fay

Makenzie Hennen

Mattison Munger

Sierra Peterson

Payton Richardson

Ashlynn Smith

Macy Smith

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at North Dakota on October 21, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus Oral Roberts on October 23, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus Denver on October 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at Omaha on October 30, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus South Dakota on November 1, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at North Dakota State on November 6, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball at South Dakota on October 18, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 1

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus North Dakota State on October 16, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 0

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus St. Thomas on October 11, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 1

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball versus Kansas City on October 9, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 0

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball at Oral Roberts on October 4, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 0

Completed Event: Women's Volleyball at Denver on October 2, 2025 , Win , 3, to, 1

South Dakota State University Athletics