KANSAS CITY, MO (SDSU) — The top-seeded South Dakota State team accomplished a reverse sweep against the fifth-seeded Denver in the Summit League Tournament semifinals on Monday, securing their spot in Tuesday night’s championship game. After losing the first two sets, the Jackrabbits rallied to win and make it to the tournament title match for only the second time in program history.
Set scores were 23-25, 22-25, 25-22, 25-18, 15-10.
Sylvie Zgonc led the Jackrabbit effort with 24 kills, just one shy of her season high and two away from her career best. She also recorded 14 digs, marking her 18th double-double of the season. After a slow beginning, the Summit League Player of the Year came alive, contributing 13 kills in the final two sets, including seven kills on 12 attempts for a .583 hitting percentage in the decisive fifth set.
Sydni Schetnan added 16 kills with a .400 hitting percentage and was involved in nine blocks, including one solo block. Katie Van Egdom and Annalee Ventling-Brown contributed seven and six kills, respectively, while Ventling-Brown and Alyssa Groves each recorded four blocks.
Camryn Honn and Rylee Martin both registered 26 assists, an ace, and a combined 12 digs. Joslyn Richardson led the defense with 17 digs—her highest total against a conference opponent this season—and served two aces. Rachel Wieber also reached double digits in digs with 11, along with a pair of aces.
Overall, the Jackrabbits outperformed the Pioneers with 63 kills to 59, 8 aces to 6, and 14 blocks to 13. The Jackrabbits had a hitting percentage of .233 for the match, including .471 in the fifth set, while the Pioneers managed .179.
Denver had four players with double-digit kills, led by Molly Mirabelli, who notched 15 kills and a match-high 11 blocks, achieving her second career double-double.
Set summaries:
Set One: Denver started strong, quickly pulling ahead 8-1. Though South Dakota State managed to take a brief lead, Denver ultimately secured the first set after a late rally by the Jackrabbits tied the score at 22-22.
Set Two: The Jackrabbits held a 6-3 lead early on, but the teams exchanged momentum. Denver’s Jamia Johnson contributed key kills, allowing the Pioneers to maintain a slight lead and win the set, putting them up two sets.
Set Three: In a crucial set, South Dakota State led throughout and closed it out 25-22, cutting Denver’s lead in half with a kill from Freshman of the Year Madison Burr.
Set Four: The Jackrabbits took control, with Zgonc and Schetnan each contributing six kills, finalizing the set at 25-16 and leveling the match.
Set Five: After a tied score at 7-7, South Dakota State scored three straight points and, despite Denver tying it again at 10-10, the Jackrabbits finished strong, winning the set 15-10.
NOTES:
- South Dakota State will make its second appearance in the championship game, the first since 2007.
- Zgonc recorded her seventh match of the season with at least 20 kills.
- The Jackrabbits improved to 5-1 in five-set matches this season.
UP NEXT: South Dakota State will face the third-seeded South Dakota in Tuesday night’s championship match, with the first serve scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Swinney Center.
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