North Dakota vs. South Dakota | Sept. 25 (7 p.m.)
92nd career meeting | UND leads 52-39 | Last meeting, Oct. 31, 2024 | USD 3 – UND 1

Grand Forks, N.D. (Betty Engelstad Sioux Center)
TV: Midco Sports
Weekly Presser: Coach Jesse Tupac
FULL GAME NOTES ARE HERE

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The North Dakota volleyball team opens Summit League play with a home matchup against South Dakota at 7 p.m. on Thursday. It will be the 701 Block Party, with 701 T-Shirts given out (while supplies last), $7.01 tickets and a $7.01 concessions deal.

The Hawks sit at 3-8 on the season, winners of their last three-of-four matches. UND is coming off a 2-1 road trip down at the Mercer Invitational, defeating UT Martin on Friday and West Georgia on Saturday.

Scouting the Opposition
The Coyotes come into this matchup with an 8-4 record on the year, defeating Drake last Saturday 3-0. South Dakota is led offensively by Lauren Medeck (180 kills) and Avery Van Hook (475 assists), with Medeck leading the conference in kills and Van Hook leading in assists.

Aces Up
The Hawks registered a season-high 13 service aces against West Georgia on Saturday, the most in a match since Aug. 30, 2019, against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Matthea Dalton (4) and Sadie White (3) each had career highs in aces in the match, as UND ranks second in the Summit League in aces this season with 75.

Welcome to the Barber
Outside Hitter Paige Barber has recorded 15 or more kills in four consecutive matches, averaging 16.0 kills/match during that stretch. Barber tied a career high 19 kills on Friday against UT Martin, as her 140 kills on the season ranks second in the Summit League.

Izzie at 1,000 and Counting
Libero Izzie McCormick became the 21st player in program history this weekend to record 1,000 digs in her career. McCormick set a new career high of 29 digs on Friday against UT Martin and has 98 over her last five matches. Her 143 digs ranks fourth in the Summit League.

Historic Rugley
Middle Blocker Kimanni Rugley made history this past weekend, hitting for an .818 attack percentage against UT Martin on Friday, good for the highest attack percentage in a five-set match in program history. Her nine kills in that match were a career high.

Sadie Dimes Up
Setter Sadie White has recorded 298 assists on the season, including 114 this past weekend in three sets. She set a new career high of 51 assists against UT Martin, good for the most in a match since the 2019 season. White has two double doubles in 2025.

Pregame Notes

• Four of the six meetings between these two programs have gone five sets under head coach Jesse Tupac
• Matthea Dalton totaled a career high 17 kills against UT Martin last Friday
• Lauren Perugini has three consecutive double-digit kill matches, mounting 38 kills over her last three
• Marianna Rivera had a career high eight blocks against UT Martin last Friday
• Barber has averaged 10.0 kills/match in her five career matches against USD
• Perugini had a career high 18 kills against USD last season