The South Dakota State volleyball team split its weekend series against Boise State, sweeping the Broncos 3-0 Friday before falling in a five-set match 3-2 Saturday.
The Jackrabbits are now 8-3 on the season.
Game one
Junior Sylvie Zgonc led the match in scoring with 17.5 points. She had 16 kills and three block assists.
Sophomore Madison Burr also had a strong performance. Burr recorded six kills, but most of her impact came on defense, adding five block assists and three solo blocks for 11.5 points.
Junior setter Rylee Martin recorded 32 assists, five kills and eight points.
Boise State did not have any players with double-digit points. The Broncos’ leading scorer was Eliza Sharp with seven kills and 8.5 points.
The first set started close, with the two teams tied at 12-12. SDSU then went on a 3-0 run. The Jackrabbits continued to pull away, stretching their lead to 20-14 following a Hannah Klein kill. At 24-18, a Rylee Martin service ace sealed the first-set win.
The second set was also a close start, with SDSU clinging to an 11-10 lead. A 4-1 run gave the Jacks a 15-11 advantage. Boise State was not able to close the gap, and SDSU won the set 25-18 to go up 2-0 in the match.
To start the third set, the Jacks took an early 9-5 lead, but Boise State rallied to make the score 11-9. SDSU then dominated, taking a 20-11 lead. The Broncos put together a late charge to cut the deficit to 24-22, but a kill from Zgonc gave the Jacks a 25-22 set win and the match sweep.
Game two
Zgonc again led the Jackrabbits in scoring Saturday with 18 points, recording 17 kills and 18 digs.
Fifth-year senior Sydni Schetnan was second on the team with 15.5 points, finishing with 10 kills and nine total blocks. Freshman Hannah Klein also had 10 kills and added four total blocks for 12 points.
Two players led Boise State’s offense Saturday. Bridey O’Connor had a match-high 19.5 points on 16 kills and seven block assists. Layla Smith tied for second in the match with 18 points from 12 kills and 11 total blocks.
SDSU got off to a fast start in the first set, going up 4-0 before Boise State rallied to tie the set at 8-8. The Jacks responded, going up 15-10 and eventually winning the first set 25-21.
SDSU again started strong in the second set, holding a 16-9 lead. Boise State came back to tie the game at 21-21 and won the set 25-21, tying the match 1-1.
The third set started close, with the two teams tied at 6-6. After a solo block by Madison Burr, the Jacks took a 16-11 lead and rolled to a 25-15 set win.
With its back against the wall, Boise State took an early 7-3 lead in the fourth set. A Martin kill eventually tied the game at 15-15, but the Broncos responded with a 4-0 run to win the set 25-19 and force a fifth set.
In the deciding fifth set, Boise State took a 6-3 lead before extending it to 9-5. SDSU closed the gap to 14-13 before a kill from Smith handed SDSU a 15-13 set loss and the 3-2 match defeat.
Up next
The Jackrabbits will look ahead to their Summit League schedule after a challenging nonconference slate.
SDSU will host Omaha on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 7 p.m. in First Bank & Trust Arena.
