SDSU is coming off a successful weekend where they went 2-0 in the SDSU Invitational by beating Ole Miss and Wyoming.
In the Jack’s first matchup of the weekend Friday night, they faced Ole Miss. SDSU swept the Rebels 3-0.
The Jackrabbits won the first set 25-20. In the second, they got their largest victory of the night, defeating Ole Miss 25-18. The final set of the night ended with a final score of 25-20 to solidify the Jackrabbit sweep.
On Sunday afternoon, the Jacks went up against the Wyoming Cowgirls, where SDSU came out with a 3-1 win. Wyoming was coming off a tough 3-1 loss to Ole Miss on Saturday.
In the first set, Wyoming came out firing, taking a 1-0 match lead after defeating the Jacks 25-20. The Jacks won three straight sets to take a 3-1 win over the Cowgirls. It wasn’t an easy win, with sets two and four going into extended sets, with the Jacks winning set two 28-26 and set four 26-24.
SDSU is led by junior outside hitter Sylvie Zgonc. Zgonc is the reigning Summit League Player of the Year and is already making her case for a back-to-back. In this young season, Zgonc has tallied 62 kills and 68 total points, which ranks her second in the Summit League in kills per set and points per set. Zgonc has also added 42 digs on the season.
The Jackrabbits’ second leading scorer is sophomore Madison Burr, who has 47 total points with 35 kills and 18 blocks.
Another key Jackrabbit contributor is freshman standout Hannah Klein, who has 39 kills and 42.5 points.
Dayton
The Jacks’ next test will be this Friday at 3 p.m. in the Diet Coke Classic hosted by Minnesota. The Jacks will play against a Dayton team that is receiving top-25 votes.
Dayton is 3-2 on the season, with their first loss coming to a top-25-ranked Utah team and the second loss to Western Kentucky.
Dayton’s leading scorer is junior outside hitter Kamryn Hunt. Hunt has 53 total points on 47 kills while adding 23 digs and six blocks.
Senior Liana Sarkissian is second on the team in kills and points with 37 kills and 46.5 points.
The Flyers have two other players with over 30 kills on the year, with redshirt freshman Corrie Anderson tallying 33 and Senior setter Viktoria Wahlgren recording 32 and 42 assists.
USF
The University of South Florida will be the second team on the Jacks’ schedule this Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Diet Coke Classic.
USF is 2-3 on the season and looking to improve on their season last year, where they went 19-10 and 14-2 and won the American Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship before losing in the second round of their conference tournament.
Senior Maria Clara Andrade leads the Bulls in points and kills with 70 kills and 82 points while adding 44 digs and 12 blocks.
Two other players with 50+ points are Arianna Beckham with 52 kills and 55.5 points and Addy Brus with 41 kills, seven blocks, seven service aces and 51.5 total points.
Minnesota
Number 13-ranked Minnesota is on a five-game win streak heading into the Diet Coke Classic.
After a four-set loss in their opening game to the number eight-ranked Texas A&M, the Gophers haven’t lost since to make their record 5-1.
And if the Gophers continue their win streak, they could be on a seven-game winning streak by the time they see SDSU on Sunday, September 14, at 3 p.m.
The Gophers are led by Julia Hanson, a senior from Savage, Minnesota. Hanson has 96 kills and 104 points on the season, which places her top five in the Big Ten in both categories. Junior middle blocker Calissa Minatee is second on the team in scoring with 49.5 points and 40 kills.
Middle blocker Lourdés Myers is another key scoring threat for Minnesota, tallying 29 kills, 23 blocks and 44 points.
The next time you will be able to see the Jackrabbits at home will be Friday Sept. 19 and Sept. 20 when they host Boise State.
The Jacks will open Summit League play in Denver October 2.
