South Dakota @ Omaha | Saturday Oct 22 | 3PM CST (free)

[kiyoat]

                       

USD

@

Omaha

Omaha, NE

Saturday, October 22nd

3:00pm CT

Watch (free): link

Stats: link

               

	@
#48* USD Coyotes		#72* Omaha Mavs
19-2 (8-1 #1)		13-7 (8-2 #2)
*RPI

South Dakota		Omaha
Schedule		Schedule
Roster		Roster

_          Series History

All-time: Omaha leads the series 30-25

Division-I: USD leads 18-7

in 2021: Split the series, then USD won 3-0 in championship match

in 2022: USD won 3-2 in Vermillion

     

Odds/ Predictions

Massey: Omaha wins 3-2 (59%)

[kiyoat]

Meet the Coyotes


Elizabeth Juhnke

Junior all-American outside hitter Elizabeth Juhnke continues to lead the nation in kills.


Madison Harms

Middle blocker Madison Harms added double-digit kills in three of the last six matches and is coming off an 11-kill performance vs Kansas City in which she hit .611 (11-0-18), her second-highest percentage of the season, and a career-high 13-block performance at Denver.



Lolo Weideman

Fifth-year defensive specialist Lolo Weideman continues to lead the Summit in digs per set.


Brooklyn Schram

Junior Brooklyn Schram is second in the Summit in assists.

[kiyoat]

Meet the Mavs



#4 McKenna Ruch

In the last meeting with South Dakota in Vermillion, McKenna Ruch tallied 12 kills and led the team with nine total blocks.



#11 Shayla McCormick

In Thursday night's win over South Dakota State, McCormick was everywhere on the court, leading the team with 19 kills and finishing second in digs with 16, giving her her 11th double-double of the season.



#23 Marriah Buss

Buss also racked up 16 kills for her 11th double-digit kills match of the season, ...



#3 Kali Jurgensmeier

while Jurgensmeier had 11 kills, giving her nine matches in her rookie season with at least 10 kills.



#33 Mariah Murdie


Basketball star turned volleyball player Mariah Murdie made her second career start in Thursday's match, giving her best performance yet as she set career highs in kills (5), digs (4), and blocks (8). Her eight total blocks were also the most of any player in the match.

[Gladys Kravitz]

kiyoat I know you support USD but I have to pick the host to win this match. Home Court advantage.

[kiyoat]

Oct 21, 2022 10:52:08 GMT -5 Gladys Kravitz said:

kiyoat I know you support USD but I have to pick the host to win this match. Home Court advantage.

That's how it went down last year.  Each team won in their own gym.  Omaha is on a roll, and USD just struggled to put away Denver, so I get the odds.  Hard to count out the "Cardiac Coyotes, though.  They make a career on 5-set matches and reverse-sweeps.  They don't always start fast, but they usually finish strong.

One thing to watch for in this match is the connection between Schram (S) and Harms (MB).  Coach W talked about how they needed to get on the same page after the ORU match on last Thursday.  So they worked hard on it in the gym that evening and Friday.  The result?  Double-digit kills for Harms on Saturday, and 8 yesterday.  Harms is also blocking much better, getting a personal best 13 yesterday.  I think she will be a factor.

Listening to a recent interview with Omaha's coach Buttermore, it sounds like their staff puts a lot of effort into game-planning.  It's an interesting contrast with South Dakota's staff.  Coach Williamson likes to talk about focusing more on making themselves better than on game-planning the opponent, and has the "going 1-0" mantra.  Kind of a psychological thing, to focus on what you can control in the moment.  To be fair, Buttermore also talks about not getting too low or too high based on past results.  Keeping an even keel.  Similar thing, but not exactly the same.  I definitely wouldn't call our bench players "even keeled".  They go nuts, and keep things lively with antics.  Some coaches might frown on that, but they are having fun.  As long as they dont' lose focus, I think it's a good thing.  Denver's bench all had to hold clipboards when they came to Vermillion(I assume to keep focused on the match).  Different strokes, I guess.

I find those little contrasts in coaching philosophy interesting.  Both Coaches have had success, and both have been named Summit COY.

[Steve vb]

Mariah Murdie is improving quickly, but she has started the past two matches because freshman MB Morgan Debow injured her ankle. Murdie, with her height and athletic ability, is effective at blocking other middles, but is still in the learning process of blocking pin hitters. She has turned out to be a valuable off-season pick-up.

[kiyoat]

Another thing about USD playing at UNO, is that there are a ton of current and former players for both teams who have family in the Omaha metro. It would be a big deal even if these two teams WERE NOT at the top of the conference, which they are, of course…

[kiyoat]

1-1 tie heading for the third set

[kiyoat]

2-1 South Dakota up….

Set point…..

[kiyoat]

Yotes win!!!!

[kiyoat]

Omaha set an arena record attendance of about 1,600

[bigfan]

Oct 22, 2022 17:06:37 GMT -5 kiyoat said:

Yotes win!!!!

Well done USD Coyotes!