Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball at Denver on October 2, 2025 at 6 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. CT
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6 p.m. MT / 7 p.m. CT
Women's Volleyball
at Denver
South Dakota State University Athletics
Friday, August 30
Charleston, Ill.
3 p.m.
South Dakota State University
vs
Memphis
Jacks Open 2019 Season at Panther Invitational
8/28/2019 2:14:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
| Â MATCHES 1-3: South Dakota State (0-0) at UNI Panther Invitational |
| Â When | Â Friday, Aug. 30 | vs. Memphis (3 p.m.); at Eastern Illinois (6 p.m.) Â Saturday, Aug. 31 | vs. Drake (2 p.m.) |
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|  Where |  Lantz Arena | Charleston, Ill. | |
| Â Live Video | Â ESPN+Â (Eastern Illinois game only) | |
|  Live Stats |  EIUPanthers.com | |
| Â Game Notes | Â South Dakota State | |
| Â Social Media | Â Twitter | Facebook | #PERFORM | |
South Dakota State women's volleyball kicks off its 2019 campaign at the EIU Panther Invitational presented by Holiday Inn Express in Charleston, Ill.Â
The Jacks will face Memphis and host team Eastern Illinois on Friday, Aug. 30 at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. SDSU will wrap up its first tournament of the season against Drake on Saturday (Aug. 31) at 2 p.m.
Friday's 6 p.m. match versus Eastern Illinois can be viewed live on ESPN+.
SDSU is coming off of a 6-23 (3-13 Summit League) campaign in 2018. The Jacks return seven letterwinners, six of which were starters, off last year's squad. Ashlynn Smith and Makenzie Hennen were named as players to watch by the league and make up the senior class to lead the Jacks this season.Â
The 2019 volleyball roster consists of 15 student-athletes from six different states, including Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, Georgia and California. By class the Jackrabbits have two seniors, two juniors, five sophomores and six freshman.Â
Three of South Dakota State's top four hitters from 2018 return, including Hennen (240 kills), Smith (251 kills), and Sydney Andrews (143 kills). Andrews tied for a team-best hitting percentage of .224 and finished second in blocks with 62.
Leading the back row defense was sophomore Ellie Thine who recorded 330 digs, averaging 3.20 per set.Â
Scouting the Opponents
Memphis was 11-19 last season with a 4-14 record in American Athletic Conference action. Juniors Hannah Flowers and Anna Palmer are among the Tigers' top returners. Flowers led the team in 2018 with 373 kills, a .263 hitting percentage and 45 service aces. The right side hitter was also named to the 2018 All-American Athletic Conference second team. Palmer ranked third on the team with 182 kills. In the back row, sophomore libero Kaitlyn Gehler led the Tigers with 384 digs, averaging 3.62 digs per set. The Tigers are under the direction of second-year head coach Sean Burdette. This meeting marks the first time that South Dakota State and Memphis will face each other.Â
Led by second-year head coach, Julie Allen, Eastern Illinois is coming off a 10-21 campaign with a 5-11 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Panthers return 11 letterwinners, including five starters, and welcomes six newcomers. Junior outside hitter Laurel Bailey led her team offensively with 311 kills and 25 service aces. Also among the returners is senior Katie Summer who was the top defender at the net with 112 total blocks. The all-time series against Eastern Illinois is tied, 2-2. The two teams met last season, with the Jacks edging the Panthers, 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 17-25, 25-22, 15-8).
Drake is coming off of a 21-15 (8-10 Missouri Valley Conference) season that resulted in a postseason invitation to the National Invitational Volleyball Championships. The top two offensive players for the Bulldogs graduated a season ago. Junior Emily Plock was third on the team with 225 kills which leads all returners. Natalie Fry paced the Bulldogs with 104 blocks while adding 23 service aces. Junior Kylee Macke held a team-best 577 digs, averaging 4.77 digs per set. Drake is under the direction of sixth-year head coach Darrin McBroom who has accumulated a record of 89-106.
The all-time series record when playing Drake is tied up at 9-9. The first meeting between the two teams dates early into the Jacks' program history with Drake earning a 2-0 victory in 1972. Since South Dakota State went Division I, it holds an 8-5 edge over the Bulldogs. Last season when the two teams met, Drake came out on top, 3-0 (20-25, 25-27, 23-25).
Post Season Accolades
Makenzie Hennen became the first Jackrabbit since Ashley Beaner in 2016 and the eighth overall to earn all-league honors as she was named honorable mention All-Summit League.Â
After posting a 3.425 GPA as a team, the Jacks were recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, earning the Team Academic Award for the 2018-2019 season.
#PERFORM
With #PERFORM as the official hashtag for the 2019 campaign, SDSU looks to take the next step in Cirillo's fifth season. SDSU closed last year with a pair of wins in its final five matches, and seven Jackrabbit returners blend with eight promising newcomers on this year's team.
Jacks Tabbed Eighth in Preseason Poll
The South Dakota State volleyball team was tabbed eighth in the league's preseason coaches poll, earning 13 points. Denver was picked to win the league, South Dakota was second and the top five finished with Omaha third, and Purdue Fort Wayne and Oral Roberts tied for fourth. North Dakota and North Dakota State sat just ahead of the Jackrabbits in the rankings, with SDSU finishing ahead of Western Illinois in the poll.
| 2019 Summit League Volleyball Preseason Poll | |||
| Rank | School | Points (1st) | 2018 Record (SL) |
| 1 | Denver | 61 (5) | 27-3 (15-0) |
| 2 | South Dakota | 59 (4) | 21-10 (13-3) |
| 3 | Omaha | 51 | 17-12 (12-4) |
| 4 | Purdue Fort Wayne | 35 | 18-14 (8-8) |
| Oral Roberts | 35 | 9-19 (6-10) | |
| 6 | North Dakota | 31 | 14-18 (6-9) |
| 7 | North Dakota State | 29 | 9-10 (6-10) |
| 8 | South Dakota State | 13 | 6-23 (3-13) |
| 9 | Western Illinois | 10 | 3-26 (2-14) |
Smith, Hennen Named Players to Watch
SDSU's Ashlynn Smith and Mackenzie Hennen were recognized by the Summit League as 2019 Volleyball Players to Watch.Â
Smith started 25 of 29 matches for South Dakota State last season, finishing second on the team in kills (251) and kills per set (2.46). The Laporte, Indiana native recorded a pair of double-doubles and had double-digit in 10 matches.
Hennen, an All-Summit League honorable mention pick in 2018, started all 29 matches and was the team's top all-around threat. She led the Jackrabbits in kills (340), kills per set (3.27) and attempts (1,098) while sitting second in digs (281), service aces (13), digs per set (2.70) and solo blocks (seven). The Jordan, Minnesota native had two 20-kill matches, 18 10-kill matches and 13 double-doubles. Hennen has 725 career kills and is on pace to reach 1,000 kills before her collegiate career comes to a close.
-GoJacks.com-
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Players Mentioned
MB
/ Women's Volleyball
RS
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
/ Women's Volleyball
OH
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