South Dakota State’s volleyball team is perfect this season.
And star player Sydni Schetnan isn’t far behind.
With a 5-set victory Tuesday night over rival South Dakota, the Jackrabbits ran their record to 19-0. As usual, Schetnan had a key role in the victory. The junior from Sioux Falls had 8 blocks and 8 kills in the win.
Her performance continued her strong play this season.
Schetnan paces the team with 1.42 blocks per set totaling 101 so far this season. She also gets it done on the offensive side sitting at second with 2.72 kills per set.
“There’s no way I would be able to do it without my team behind me,” said Schetnan, a 6-foot-5 right side/middle blocker.
Schetnan recently received not one, but two back-to-back Summit League Offensive Peak Performer of the Week awards bringing her total on the season to four.
“Individual awards are nice, but I think Sydni cares more that we are winning as a team,” her coach, Dan Georgalas, said.
Schetnan started her college career at University of Louisville in Kentucky, on the volleyball and the basketball team. Both teams went to their respective Final Fours that year, and Georgalas said that experience has helped contribute to Schetnan’s championship mindset.
But after her freshman year at Louisville, she was ready to come home to South Dakota.
Following a long line of family members who participated in SDSU athletics, she chose the Jackrabbits to help build the volleyball program and be closer to home and family. Family has always been important to Schetnan.
“My parents have been to every single game this year, which has been amazing,” Schetnan said. “So, that was a huge driving factor for me to come back to SDSU.”
But the transition to being a Jackrabbit hasn’t always been easy. During her first volleyball season at SDSU she switched positions to become a middle blocker due to multiple team injuries, which forced her to relearn the way she plays the game.
“She had to learn a lot of new techniques in both blocking and attacking, and she really committed herself and has been a great learner,” Georgalas said. “And now you’re just seeing some amazing results.”
Through this experience Schetnan has proven that she has the traits to be a star player on and off the court. It has helped her lead the Jackrabbits to perfection on the season. At least so far.
“We just give her a ton of credit,” Georgalas said. “Her work ethic and her commitment to our team has allowed her to be a standout player for us this season.”
For her part, Schetnan gives repeated credit to her teammates and says she will do everything she can for them.
“I’m going to do anything for this team. If they want me to be a libero I’ll do it, but right now the middle position is definitely for me,” she said.
Her teammates are happy she decided to return to South Dakota. Not only does her coach praise her for her work ethic and commitment, but her teammates do too.
Outside hitter Katie Van Egdom said Schetnan is a calming presence on the court and calls her the glue that holds the team together.
“It’s obvious when you come and watch a game how much of an impact on the game she has, and I’m really happy to have her on my side of the net,” Van Egdom said.
Schetnan’s cousin and teammate, Joslyn Richardson, also commented on her personality in practice: “She doesn’t take things too hard. If you need to be checked she’ll do it and move on.”
Schetnan and the rest of the team are focusing on staying consistent for the rest of the season, hoping to make their mark by winning the Summit League Championship. The championship takes place in Kansas City, Missouri, Nov. 24-26.
While this isn’t Schetnan’s last season playing volleyball for SDSU, she hopes to have more chances to play, even after college. She’s unsure exactly where the future will take her, but Schetnan believes volleyball might still be a part of it.
“I would love to play professionally, whether or not that’s overseas or in the U.S.” she said. “If I can continue playing the sport that I love, I’m going to do it.”
