Upcoming Event: Women's Volleyball versus RV Dayton on September 12, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
/
3:00 p.m.
Women's Volleyball
vs RV Dayton
South Dakota State University Athletics
2017 Volleyball Roster
Benson, Ellie
Jersey Number 8
Ellie Benson
- Position:
- Defensive Specialist
- Height:
- 5-7
- Class:
- Senior
- High School:
- Washington H.S.
- Hometown:
- Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Major:
- Nursing
Bio
Honors:
2016: Starting libero in all 26 matches and 101 sets ... led team in digs (459) and digs per set (4.54) ... ranked fourth overall and in league-only matches in digs (288)  and fifth overall fourth in league-only matches in digs per set (4.72) ... collected 10-or-more digs in 25 matches and 20-or-more in 8 matches, including 6 league outings ... logged double digits in digs in 15 of 16 league matches ... collected second 30-plus dig match of the season with a match-high 30 digs at Omaha (11/4) ... registered a season-high two service aces at Western Illinois (10/16) ... recorded a career-high six set assists at Fort Wayne (10/14) ... tied the school record and set a personal high with 32 digs in a four-set match vs. North Dakota (9/14) ... named The Summit League Defensive Player of the Week (9/14) ... recorded season highs in kills (1) vs. UTEP (9/3).
2015: Started one of 31 matches and played in 102 of 110 sets … made first collegiate start vs. Oral Roberts (9/26) … led the team in service aces (22) and ranked 18th in The Summit League … third on the team in digs (223) and digs per set (2.19) … collected 10-or-more digs in nine matches … registered a career-high 18 digs vs. North Dakota State (11/13) … had a career best with three service aces twice vs. Columbia (9/4) and vs. Western Illinois (11/14) … recorded three set assists in three matches … first career kill came vs. then-No. 17 Kansas (9/18) ... first collegiate action came in the season opener vs. Pacific (8/28).
BEFORE SDSU: Four-year letterwinner ... named first team all-state, all-conference, all-city and all-tournament as a senior ... averaged 8.2 digs per set and collected 23 service aces in 2013 ... earned second team all-state and all-conference while averaging 5.5 digs per set as a junior ... named to the all-city team and honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore ... four-year member of the girl’s basketball team, picking up all-state honors as a junior and senior, all-conference, all-sity and all-tournament in 2013-14 ...helped team win the Class AA state title ... named academic all-state, the Argus Leader Top Five and a finalist for South Dakota Miss Basketball ... earned an academic letter all four years ... named a 2014 Top Ten Senior and Fellowship of Christian Athletes Honor Athlete ... 2009 Washington HS Student of the Month, the Freshman Student of the Year and to the 4.0 honor roll (2009-12) ... awarded the Washington Award of Excellence Achievement (2009-11) ... member of the National Honor Society (2011-12) and participated in Girls State (2011) ... father, Chuck, lettered in football for the Jackrabbits from 1975-78, while her mother, JoElle (Byre), lettered in basketball from 1983-85.
- 2016 The Summit League All-Academic Team
- 2016Â Summit League Academic Honor Roll
- 2015 Distinguished Scholar on The Summit League Academic Honor Roll
- Three-time The Summit League Commissioner’s List of Academic Excellence
2016: Starting libero in all 26 matches and 101 sets ... led team in digs (459) and digs per set (4.54) ... ranked fourth overall and in league-only matches in digs (288)  and fifth overall fourth in league-only matches in digs per set (4.72) ... collected 10-or-more digs in 25 matches and 20-or-more in 8 matches, including 6 league outings ... logged double digits in digs in 15 of 16 league matches ... collected second 30-plus dig match of the season with a match-high 30 digs at Omaha (11/4) ... registered a season-high two service aces at Western Illinois (10/16) ... recorded a career-high six set assists at Fort Wayne (10/14) ... tied the school record and set a personal high with 32 digs in a four-set match vs. North Dakota (9/14) ... named The Summit League Defensive Player of the Week (9/14) ... recorded season highs in kills (1) vs. UTEP (9/3).
2015: Started one of 31 matches and played in 102 of 110 sets … made first collegiate start vs. Oral Roberts (9/26) … led the team in service aces (22) and ranked 18th in The Summit League … third on the team in digs (223) and digs per set (2.19) … collected 10-or-more digs in nine matches … registered a career-high 18 digs vs. North Dakota State (11/13) … had a career best with three service aces twice vs. Columbia (9/4) and vs. Western Illinois (11/14) … recorded three set assists in three matches … first career kill came vs. then-No. 17 Kansas (9/18) ... first collegiate action came in the season opener vs. Pacific (8/28).
BEFORE SDSU: Four-year letterwinner ... named first team all-state, all-conference, all-city and all-tournament as a senior ... averaged 8.2 digs per set and collected 23 service aces in 2013 ... earned second team all-state and all-conference while averaging 5.5 digs per set as a junior ... named to the all-city team and honorable mention all-conference as a sophomore ... four-year member of the girl’s basketball team, picking up all-state honors as a junior and senior, all-conference, all-sity and all-tournament in 2013-14 ...helped team win the Class AA state title ... named academic all-state, the Argus Leader Top Five and a finalist for South Dakota Miss Basketball ... earned an academic letter all four years ... named a 2014 Top Ten Senior and Fellowship of Christian Athletes Honor Athlete ... 2009 Washington HS Student of the Month, the Freshman Student of the Year and to the 4.0 honor roll (2009-12) ... awarded the Washington Award of Excellence Achievement (2009-11) ... member of the National Honor Society (2011-12) and participated in Girls State (2011) ... father, Chuck, lettered in football for the Jackrabbits from 1975-78, while her mother, JoElle (Byre), lettered in basketball from 1983-85.
Volleyball Weekly Update (09.09.2025)
Tuesday, September 09
Volleyball Highlights vs Wyoming (09.07.2025)
Sunday, September 07
Volleyball Highlights vs Ole Miss (09.05.2025)
Saturday, September 06
Volleyball Weekly Update (09.01.2025)
Tuesday, September 02
