Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus Sacramento State on August 28, 2026 at 3 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. CT
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3 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. CT
Women's Volleyball
vs Sacramento State
South Dakota State University Athletics
Photo by: Evan Patzwald
JACKS PICKED TO TOP SUMMIT IN PRESEASON POLL
8/26/2026 11:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota State garnered six first-place votes in the Summit League's preseason volleyball coaches' poll released Wednesday. The Jackrabbits, who will host the 2026 Volleyball Championship, have won the regular season title in back-to-back seasons.
The Jackrabbits claimed the top spot ahead of South Dakota and St. Thomas, each of which received one first-place vote. NDSU and Omaha round out the top-five teams.
SDSU's Joslyn Richardson and Sylvie Zgonc were named Players to Watch. Zgonc was the Summit League Player of the Year and an honorable-mention All-American last season, while Richardson led the team in digs and broke a program single-season record with 41 service aces.
2026 PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. South Dakota State 47 (6)
T2. South Dakota 41 (1)
T2. St. Thomas 41 (1)
4. North Dakota State 29
5. Omaha 27
6. North Dakota 16
7. Kansas City 14
8. Oral Roberts 9
Players to Watch
Joslyn Richardson | South Dakota State | DS/Libero | Senior
The Jackrabbits claimed the top spot ahead of South Dakota and St. Thomas, each of which received one first-place vote. NDSU and Omaha round out the top-five teams.
SDSU's Joslyn Richardson and Sylvie Zgonc were named Players to Watch. Zgonc was the Summit League Player of the Year and an honorable-mention All-American last season, while Richardson led the team in digs and broke a program single-season record with 41 service aces.
2026 PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
1. South Dakota State 47 (6)
T2. South Dakota 41 (1)
T2. St. Thomas 41 (1)
4. North Dakota State 29
5. Omaha 27
6. North Dakota 16
7. Kansas City 14
8. Oral Roberts 9
Players to Watch
Joslyn Richardson | South Dakota State | DS/Libero | Senior
- Paced the Jackrabbits with 344 digs and 3.31 digs per set on the year
- Set a new program record with 41 service aces on the season
- Had 20 digs at St. Thomas (11/8) and a season-high 21 against the Tommies in the Summit League Championship match (11/25)
- Reached double-digit digs in 19 of 28 matches
- 2025 Summit League Player of the Year, 2025 All-Summit League First Team, AVCA All-Region
- Played in 104 sets across 28 matches and led the team in kills with 451 (fourth most in program history
- Recorded 271 digs, second most on team behind Richardson
- Recorded season-high 24 kills and 28 points against South Dakota (11/1), while also adding 11 digs.
-GoJacks.com-
Players Mentioned
DS
/ Women's Volleyball
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