USD wins five set thriller over North Dakota

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (USD) — Behind the strong offensive play of Kylen Sealock and an all-around defensive effort, the South Dakota volleyball team won a five-set thriller over North Dakota Thursday in the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.

Sealock matched a career-high with 21 kills on an efficient .367 hitting percentage.

On the defensive side, it was all hands on deck for the Yotes with five players recording 10 or more digs, led by Kamryn Farris’ 21. Alaina Wolff (17), Lauren Medeck (14), Avery Van Hook (12) and Cora Hokenstad (12) also tallied double-digit digs.

The South Dakota block was active throughout, posting a season-high 16 total blocks (two solo, 28 assisted) led by Morgan Bode’s nine assisted blocks, a new career high. Five other Coyotes took part in multiple blocks, and Amanda Loschen rejected both of the Coyotes solo blocks.

Farris and Wolff recorded a pair of aces each and Van Hook had a double-double with 34 assists and 12 digs.

The Fighting Hawks took the first set behind a .243 attack rate and five total blocks, while holding USD to a .057 clip. After UND scored four straight to take a 19-14 lead, the Coyotes tried to claw back with a few small runs, but it was the Hawks who closed out the frame with a 4-1 run.

South Dakota held a 10-8 lead following a four-point UND swing, and after a kill from Sealock, the Yotes would outscore the Hawks 15-7 to close out a 25-15 set two win. The frame saw the Yotes put together three 3-0 runs, a 4-0 run and five-point swing in the set. USD totaled five blocks in the set, led by Bode’s three assisted blocks, and the Hawks committed 12 attacking errors.

Sealock began to pick up the pace in the third set, as she put away five kills on 10 swings and assisted in a block. Bode continued to be a wall at the net for the Yotes, taking part in three more blocks. USD jumped out to a 7-2 lead, but the Hawks would be the first to double digits points with a 10-9 edge. The set would eventually go to UND, 25-21.

With their backs against the wall facing two sets to one deficit, the Coyotes dug in during the back half of set four. Trailing 16-14, an Amanda Loschen kill and solo block would start an 8-1 Coyote run, as they jumped ahead 23-17. Samantha Laird was also key in the Yotes run, as she put away a kill and took part in a block alongside Loschen. Sealock hammered home the set point, her seventh kill of the fourth frame, and the Yotes forced a fifth set with a 25-20 win.

Sealock powered the Yotes to an 8-1 lead at the side change of set five, as she was responsible for four of USD’s eight points. The Yotes reached match point following four unanswered points, but the Fighting Hawks wouldn’t go down without a fight, scoring five straight. Van Hook closed out the win with a dump kill, her fourth of the night, as the Yotes won the five-set thriller 3-2.

South Dakota returns to the Sanford Coyote Sports Center next week for a pair of Summit League matches. The Coyotes host Kansas City on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and North Dakota State on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

Notes

• South Dakota won its 14th straight match against North Dakota
• USD is now 2-1 in five-set matches this season
• South Dakota is 3-0 in road Summit League matches this season
• The Coyotes 16.0 total blocks is a season-high and the sixth time they’ve had 10+ blocks
• It was the second match this season where five Coyotes recorded double-digit kills (The 3-1 win over Drake was the other match)
• Kylen Sealock matched a career-high with 21 kills, a mark she hit in the season-opening sweep of Fordham
• It was Sealock’s fifth match this season with a hitting percentage of .350 or higher
• Avery Van Hook notched her eighth double-double of the season
• Cora Hokenstad has increased her career-high in digs in two straight matches with 12 tonight

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