The SDSU volleyball team began their season over the past week with three losses, all of them being on the road against Iowa State University, Texas A&M University and North Dakota State University.

The Jacks started on Friday at the North Dakota Classic with a 3-0 loss to No. 15 ranked Iowa State by the set scores of 25-17, 25-12 and 25-18.

“We knew going in to this first match that we would be challenged against Iowa State, they’re a big physical team,” head coach Phil McDaniel said. “I was happy with our composure in sets one and three. We blocked the ball fairly well and played aggressive defense.”

Mikala Hora led the Jackrabbits with eight kills in her Jackrabbit debut on 19 swings and one error for a .368 hitting percentage. She also led the Jackrabbits with 11 digs in the loss, which dropped the Jacks to 0-1 heading into Friday afternoon’s match with Texas A&M.

Wagner Larson added six kills in the loss, while Courtney Roberts and Tiara Gibson both finished with four kills in their collegiate debut.

Playing her first match as the Jackrabbits’ libero, Lizzie Palmer finished with 10 digs.

Iowa State’s Ciara Capezio led all players in the match with 12 kills and Mackenzie Bigbee 10 kills for the Cyclones, who improve to 1-0. Kristen Hahn led all players with 22 digs in the match.

 

Texas A&M 3, SDSU 0

 

Up against the Texas A&M Aggies, the Jackrabbits fell again by a familiar score of 3-0.

Courtney Roberts and Mikala Hora each led SDSU with five kills apiece, while Hora, Alanna Pengilly and Lizzie Palmer all had seven digs.

For Texas A&M, Angela Lowak led the way with nine kills, as Kelsey Kinley recorded 12 digs for the squad. Taking in account the eight other members of the team who recorded kills for their squad, the Aggies were able to find a recipe for victory against the Jackrabbits.

 

North Dakota 3, SDSU 0

 

Host North Dakota handed the Jackrabbits a 3-0 loss in the final game of the North Dakota Classic on Saturday, downing the Jackrabbits by the set scores of 25-13-25-18 and 25-16.

The loss drops the Jackrabbits to 0-3 on the season, while North Dakota improves to 1-1, with a match against Texas A&M still on the schedule for Saturday evening.

“Many lessons learned this weekend. We’ll take this information with us as we head to practice this week,” head coach Phil McDaniel said. “I expect a different intensity and focus with our team next weekend.”

Wagner Larson led the Jackrabbits with seven kills in the loss, with Courtney Roberts adding five kills and a solo block. Lizzie Palmer led the defense with 11 digs, while Mikala Hora finished with 10 digs to go with her three kills.

Ronni Munkeby led all players with nine kills, and North Dakota’s Lauren Clarke finished with a game-high 22 digs.

The Jackrabbits return to action on Friday, when they travel to Des Moines, Iowa to take on Eastern Illinois in the Drake Invitational at 5 p.m., followed by matches against DePaul and the host Bulldogs on Saturday.