The South Dakota State Jacks volleyball team traveled to Denver to take on the Pioneers on Thursday, Oct. 2. The Jacks took care of business by beating Denver 3-1 before traveling to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and sweeping the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles 3-0 on Saturday, Oct. 4th.

The Jackrabbits now move to 9-3 on the season and 3-0 in conference play, while Denver falls to 11-4 and 3-1 in conference play.  Oral Roberts moves to 2-14 and 0-3 in conference play.

Against Denver, Sylvie Zgonc led the Jackrabbits in scoring with 19.5 points. Zgonc also secured another double-double with 16 kills and 10 digs while adding three block assists.

Sophomore Madison Burr also had a big night with 16.5 points on 14 kills and five block assists. 

Freshman Hannah Klein had another double-digit performance with 12 points on 11 kills and two block assists.

For Denver, Ava Reynolds was a standout performer with 22.5. Like Zgonc, Reynolds also achieved a double-double with 20 kills and 14 digs.

Alicia Thibodeau also added on a near double-double with 10 kills and nine digs. Thibodeau ended the night with 12 points.

The first set was a close one with SDSU leading 13-12. SDSU pulled away and won set one 25-20.

In the second set, Denver led 15-14 in a close set. Denver started to pull away and eventually won the set 25-21 to tie up the match 1-1.

Set three was close. The two teams found themselves tied 22-22. They battled, but SDSU came out on top 27-25.

The fourth set was relatively close, with SDSU winning 25-19. The Jacks won the match 3-1.

Junior Sylvie Zgonc led the Jackrabbits in scoring with 13 points on 11 kills and three total blocks.

Freshman Hannah Klein scored 10 points on nine kills.

Junior setter Rylee Martin tallied two kills on the night. She had 32 assists and two block assists.

Freshman Hayden Hart led the way for Oral Roberts. Hart was the only player in double digits for ORU with 10 kills.

SDSU held an early lead to start the first set. ORU closed the gap, but it wasn’t enough and SDSU won the first set 25-17.

In the second set, SDSU dominated from start to finish. The Jackrabbits went up 3-0, eventually pushing the lead to 10-2. SDSU won the second set 25-11.

Set three was tight to start. The two teams traded body blows, eventually finding themselves tied 19-19. SDSU pulled away to win the set 25-20 and won the match 3-0.

SDSU will now host the Kansas City Roos Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. The Roos started the season 2-15 with a 1-3 conference record. The Roos have had a rough start on the road, starting 0-7.

In the teams’ matchups last season, SDSU got the better of the Roos both times. SDSU swept Kansas City 3-0 in their first matchup. Sylvie Zgonc had a big day with 18 points. The second match was more of the same. SDSU swept the Roos and Zgonc had another 18-point performance.

For SDSU, Sylvie Zgonc is one of the key players to watch. Zgonc leads the Jacks in points with 200.5 and 182 kills. Zgonc has also added 123 digs on the season.

Sophomore Madison Burr is second on the team in scoring with 148 points and third on the team in kills with 106. Burr is also second on the team in blocks, recording 60 on the season.

Freshman Hannah Klein has tallied 111 kills on the year and 124.5 total points.

The Kansas City Roos are led by sophomore Ryanne Wattree. Wattree has tallied 157 points on the season with 143 kills, 54 digs and 27 blocks. 

Redshirt sophomore Ledisi Kpea isn’t far behind Wattree. Kpea sits at 151.5 points with 116 kills. The redshirt sophomore is not only an offensive threat but a defensive threat, too. Kpea leads the team in blocks with 59, including 12 solo blocks.

After SDSU hosts the Roos, they will stay home to play the St. Thomas Tommies at 7 p.m. on Hobo Day, Saturday, Oct. 11.

The Tommies have started hot with a 10-4 record and an undefeated 3-0 conference record. Unlike the Roos, the Tommies have been solid on the road with a 4-1 record.

Last season, the Tommies and the Jackrabbits met twice. In the first match, SDSU came out with a 3-1 win, which was headlined by a 20-point performance by Sydni Schetnan. In the second meeting, the Tommies handed SDSU their first loss of the season after a 22-0 start. Lauren Galvin led St. Thomas in scoring with 18 points while Sylvie Zgonc tallied 22 for the Jacks.

St. Thomas’s leading scorer this season is freshman outside hitter Anya Schmidt. Schmidt has 207 points on the season with 162 kills. The freshman has 38 service aces and 90 digs.

Tied for first on the Tommies in kills is senior Tezra Rudzitis. Besides her 162 kills, Rudzitis also has 17 blocks for a total of 172 points.

After these two matches, SDSU will stay home to face North Dakota State on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 7 p.m.