The SDSU volleyball team has been running through the gauntlet lately.

And it doesn’t get much easier.

The Jacks are currently on a four-game losing streak, but their two most recent opponents are near the top of the league.

On Thursday, the Jackrabbits matched up with Omaha for the first time since beating them Sept. 24 in five sets. The Jacks played it close throughout, stealing one away from the Mavericks, but lost a total of three sets to one. 

Crystal Burk led SDSU with 20 kills while recording three total blocks and one service ace. Anna Nerad had six rejections at the net with eight kills of her own. 

SDSU then continued their tour south, heading down to Denver to take on the Pioneers. Denver held Burk to just nine kills on the day. Their attack was on point as well, allowing only four blocks total by the Jacks.

South Dakota State has two more games on the road before returning to Frost Arena, both of which are Dakota Rivals.

USD is up first, the only match during Hobo Week. The in-state rivals will face off for the second time this season at 7 p.m. Friday in Vermillion. 

The Coyotes are, once again, on a tear winning all their games since getting upset by North Dakota State Sept. 27. 

Elizabeth Juhnke collected her sixth Summit League Offensive Peak Performer of the Week last week. She had a total of 40 kills in USD’s wins against Oral Roberts and Kansas City. She also set a program record of 24 kills against the Golden Eagles.

Juhnke had 19 kills in the teams’ last meeting earlier this season in front of a record-setting 1,524 people. Burk had 18 kills, getting some support at the net from Ella Thompson, who had seven total blocks.

Their next matchup after the SD Showdown will be against one of the teams that has beat the Coyotes. North Dakota State is sitting at 8-2 in the Summit League, which is directly behind South Dakota for the lead.

If you can’t make it down to Vermillion then you can watch it on Midco Sports Plus at 7 p.m.