FOOTBALL
SDSU’s football team looked a lot different then it did the previous year. Quarterback Mark Grownowski, safety Tucker Large and head coach Jimmy Rogers among those that were no longer with the team. SDSU football has a certain pedigree to it though, and expectations remained the same, being among the best in the FCS. New starting QB Chase Mason and first year head coach Dan Jackson took on big roles on a team that fought hard to match that expectation. SDSU faced some ups and downs with injuries, but forced their way into a playoff spot with a 34-31 overtime win against UND in the last game of the season. In the first round the team faced New Hampshire and won convincingly. Their title aspirations were put to a halt though in the next round. Montana would defeat the Jacks 29-50 to put their season to an end.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Like teams do every year, SDSU’s women’s basketball team had to figure out life without some of their best players. Paige Meyer and Mesa Byom, who combined for nearly 50 minutes per game, graduated, leaving a void that the team filled to put out a top-notch Summit League team. Among players that stepped up were Emilee Fox, who shot a blistering 49.1% from three while earning more than 200 more minutes on the court compared to her last season. The Jacks would end the regular season with a 27-7 record, going 14-2 in the conference. In the Summit League, SDSU beat Kansas City, USD and NDSU to win their fourth straight Summit League Title. SDSU’s season would end earlier than wanted though, the Jacks losing in the first round of the NCAA playoffs to the six seed Washington. Throughout the season SDSU faced three ranked opponents, No. 12 North Carolina, No. 2 Texas and No. 25 Washington.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
A new head coach took over for the men’s basketball team, Bryan Peterson taking the position following Eric Henderson’s acceptance of Drake’s head coaching position. Numerous players stepped into bigger roles following several players transferring, Damon Wilkinson and Jaden Jackson both transitioning into starters for the team. For the first team in many years, though, the Jackrabbits ended the season with a losing record. SDSU previously had a 15 season long stretch of winning seasons spanning from their 2009-2010 season. In the Summit League playoffs, the Jacks faced off against No. 2 St. Thomas in their third matchup of the season. SDSU had previously lost their past two matchups and despite putting up a good fight in the first half, St. Thomas pulled away in the second and ended SDSU’s season with a 67-80 win. The Jacks ended the season with a 14-18 season, going 7-9 in the conference.
VOLLEYBALL
SDSU’s volleyball team displayed a level of dominance in the regular season that has become expected to some. They ended the season with a great 23-5 record, which was the best in the Summit League. In the conference they didn’t lose a single game, going 16-0 against Summit League foes while also defending the home court, going 12-2 at First Bank & Trust Arena. Despite the amazing regular season performance, the team wasn’t able to pull off a tournament win, losing to St. Thomas in the second round of the Summit League playoffs 1-3. After their Summit League run ended early, they were slated to play Arizona in the first round of the NCAA playoffs. The Jackrabbits would go on to lose the game 1-3 to end the season.
