Coyotes Split Opening Matches at UCA Tournament

CONWAY, AR -- The USD volleyball team split its opening two matches at the Central Arkansas Tournament by sweeping Arkansas-Pine Bluff and losing to Central Arkansas in four sets.

Sophomore Kendall Kritenbrink (Gretna, Neb.) led the Coyotes (4-5) in kills and digs in both games with a combined 28 kills and 17 digs.  Amber Aschoff (Ankeny, Iowa) had 19 kills between both games and Natalie Walseth (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) had a 13 kill day.

Setter Tori Kroll (Germantown, Wis.) also had a solid day with 59 assists and 15 digs.

The Coyotes overran Arkansas-Pine Bluff with a 25-11, 25-16, 25-18 win. The Coyotes held a 19-1 serving ace advantage.  Kritenbrink had 10 kills and six digs to lead the effort with Aschoff adding nine kills.

South Dakota was competitive against undefeated Central Arkansas, but lost 22-25, 25-17, 25-21, 27-25.

Kritenbrink had 18 kills and 11 digs in the game, and Kroll added 10 digs.  Aschoff recorded 10 kills in the match, while Walseth had seven kills and six blocks.

South Dakota will play two more tomorrow.  The Coyotes will have a rematch against Jacksonville State, who they lost to in five sets on August 25, and finish the tournament with Jackson State.

Courtesy:  University of South Dakota