KANSAS CITY, Mo. (USD) — The Coyotes swung at a season-high .426 percent as they swept their way into the Summit League Tournament Semifinals after downing Kansas City in straight sets Sunday night.
Kylen Sealock led the way with 12 kills on a red-hot .455 hitting percentage and was followed by Lauren Medeck’s 10 kills on a .476 swing rate. Morgan Bode and Amanda Loschen each had seven kills, while Cheyene Hlady added six. Bode also took part in four blocks with two solo rejections. All five players recorded a swing rate of over .300 for the match.
The Summit League’s Defensive Player of the Year, Kamryn Farris, continued her impressive season tallying 21 digs tonight to go with a career-high matching three service aces. Avery Van Hook had a double-double with 35 assists and 11 digs, and in the first set eclipsed the 2,000-career assist mark at USD.
It was all Yotes in the first set, as they took the frame by a score of 25-11 behind a blistering .630 hitting percentage with 17 kills and no errors. Sealock set the tone early for USD, as she put away seven kills on eight swings with no errors in the opening set. The Coyotes raced out to a 10-2 lead, behind three kills from Sealock, and would force KC to call its first timeout following a Loschen kill that put USD up 19-6. The Yotes closed out the set with back-to-back kills from the team’s pair of Summit League All-Freshman honorees, Bode and Medeck.
The Roos battled in the second set, but the Coyote attack continued its torrid pace with 17 kills on a .342 swing rate. While Sealock had the hot hand in the opener, it was Medeck who brought the heat in set two with seven kills, no errors and a .636 hitting percentage. Loschen put away a kill, Bode had a solo block and Farris notched an ace to kick start a 7-2 USD run that put the Yotes up 17-11. The teams traded points late, and the Yotes reached set point after a KC error. Bode sent the match to the third set with the Yotes leading 2-0 with her fourth kill.
Looking to close out the 3-0 sweep, the Coyotes gained the momentum early and held on to it as they built up a 12-4 lead. Sealock tallied two kills, Bode and Hlady teamed up for a pair of blocks, Farris notched her third ace of the night and Cora Hokenstad capped off the strong start with an ace. The Coyotes cruised through the third set, registering a .345 attack rate while holding KC to a .070 swing rate. For the second straight set, Bode put away the 25th point to give USD the 3-0 sweep. Bode tallied three kills on a .375 swing rate and had three blocks (one solo).
The Coyotes will now square off against Omaha, the No. 2 seed, Monday night at 7:00 p.m. at the Swinney Center.
Notes
- South Dakota moves to 19-9 on the season and advances to the Summit League Tournament Semifinals
- Kylen Sealock has now reached double-digits kills in 13 straight matches
- The Coyotes registered a season-high .426 hitting percentage
- All five of the Coyotes that had 10+ attacks held an attack percentage over .300
- Avery Van Hook had 35 assists on the night and reached 2,000 assists in her career
- Kamryn Farris dug up 21 attacks, the 10th time this season she’s recorded 20+ digs
- Farris also tied her career-high with three aces
- USD won all three matches against the Roos this season
- USD held the advantage in kills (45-31), aces (4-2), blocks (5-2) and digs (55-37)
