Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus Boise State on September 19, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
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6:00 p.m.
Women's Volleyball
vs Boise State
South Dakota State University Athletics
Friday, September 13
Flagstaff, Ariz.
2 p.m. CT | noon MST
South Dakota State University
at
Northern Arizona
Photo by: Inertia Sports Media/Dave Eggen
Jacks head to Arizona for Lumberjack Classic
9/11/2019 1:49:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
| MATCHES 7-9: South Dakota State (3-3) at Lumberjack Classic |
| When | Friday, Sept. 13 | at Northern Arizona (noon); vs. Fresno State (5 p.m.) Saturday, Sept. 14 | vs. LSU (10 a.m.) |
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| Where | Joseph C. Rolle Activity Center | Flagstaff, Ariz. | |
| Live Stats | NAUAthletics.com | |
| Game Notes | South Dakota State | |
| Social Media | Twitter | Facebook | #PERFORM | |
The South Dakota State women's volleyball team travels to Flagstaff, Ariz. this weekend to compete in the Lumberjack Classic, Friday-Saturday.
The Jackrabbits will face the host team, Northern Arizona, and Fresno State on Friday, Sept. 13 at noon and 5 p.m., respectively. State will wrap up its final road tournament against LSU with a 10 a.m. match on Saturday.
Last Time Out
The Jacks improved to 3-3 overall after completing their weekend at the Katrinka Crawford Invitational with a 2-1 record. SDSU defeated Louisiana Monroe, 3-2 (25-21, 17-25, 25-16, 18-25, 16-14), in its first five-set match this season. The Jacks fell to Lamar, 3-0 (14-25, 29-31, 19-25) before sweeping Prairie View A&M (25-17, 25-22, 25-15).
Anna Nerad and Ashlynn Smith were named to the all-tournament team, while the Jacks claimed second place at the Katrinka Crawford Invitational. Nerad tallied 18 digs and 18 kills over the three matches including a career-best 7 blocks against Louisiana Monroe. Smith recorded 25 kills, eight digs and three service aces.
Scouting the Opponents
Northern Arizona holds an early season record of 3-3. During the 2018 season, the Lumberjacks went 26-9 overall and 15-3 in the Big Sky Conference. After winning the Big Sky Championship in three sweeps NAU earned a NCAA Tournament appearance, but fell in the first round to Washington State, 3-1. The Lumberjacks return nine players including six letter winners. Heaven Harris leads the offense with 76 kills, averaging 3.04 kills per set. Abby Akin has a total of 54 kills on a .431 hitting percentage. The senior holds a team-best 40 blocks, averaging 1.67 blocks per set. Setters Abbey Stomp and Aubrea Bandfield have tallied 136 and 105 assists, respectively. Jasmine West paces the back-row defense with 107 digs. The Lumberjacks are under the direction of head coach Ken Murphy who is in his seventh season with a record of 134-59. NAU holds a 1-0 advantage over the Jacks in the all-time series.
Fresno State is 4-2 overall this season and went 2-1 last weekend as it hosted the Fresno State Invitational. During the 2018 season the Bulldogs (22-11) made an appearance in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. The team advanced to the second round but fell to UNLV, 3-2. Desiree Sukhov leads the offensive efforts early in the season with 106 kills, averaging 4.82 per set. The junior also adds 60 digs, 11 blocks and seven service aces. Madelyn Halteman has amassed 241 assists and holds a team-best eight service aces. Reagan Leonard paces the Bulldogs with 96 digs. Jonathan Winder is in his second season at the helm of the Fresno State with a record of 25-13. Friday's meeting marks the first time that the Bulldogs and Jackrabbits have faced each other.
LSU enters the tournament this weekend with a 3-2 record. During the 2018 season, the Tigers went 12-17 overall and 7-11 in the SEC. So far this season, Taylor Bannister leads the way with 63 kills, averaging 3.71 kills per set. Karli Rose has dished out 142 assists and adds 53 digs. Whitney Foreman and Sydney Mukes are tied for a team-high 22 blocks. The back-row defense is led by Raigen Cianciulli with 62 digs. LSU is under the direction of Fran Flory who is in her 22nd season and has amassed a record of 371-264. The match on Saturday will be the first time that the Jacks and Tigers have met.
POSITION RUNDOWN
Outside Hitters
- Makenzie Hennen has a total of 83 kills, 78 digs and nine blocks. She has recorded double digit kill totals in five of the six matches the Jacks have played, while registering a double-double in four matches. The senior holds a hitting percentage of .215 including a career best mark of .556 in the Jacks' win over Prairie View A&M. Hennen ranks fifth in the Summit League in total kills (83) and sixth in kills per set (3.61)
- Crystal Burk has tallied 65 kills, six service aces and 51 digs. She registered a career-best 19 kills against Memphis on a season-high hitting percentage of .417. Burk notched her fourth ever double-double against Eastern Illinois with 14 kills and 10 digs. The sophomore was named to the EIU Panther Invitational all-tournament team.
- Ranking third in kills with 51 is Ashlynn Smith, who also has 19 digs, nine blocks and seven service aces. The senior was named to the Katrinka Crawford Invitational all-tournament team.
Middles
- A pair of freshmen, in Anna Nerad and Tori Thompson, cover the middle for the Jacks. Nerad has led SDSU's blocking in all six-matches including a career high of seven blocks against Louisiana Monroe. She has a total of 27 blocks, 35 kills and 17 digs. Thompson has tallied 20 kills and nine blocks.
Back Row
- Tatum Pickar paces the Jacks with 83 digs, averaging 3.61 digs per set. She has also posted five service aces. Drew McDougall has earned some playing time as a freshman and has tallied 22 digs.
Setters
- Madison Fay ranks fifth in the Summit League with 145 assists, while Carly Wedel has a total of 74 assists.
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.
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.
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.
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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