USD falls in championship

USD falls in championship The University of South Dakota volleyball team earned runner-up honors at the National Transitional Tournament in Smithfield, RI on Saturday as the Coyotes suffered a tough 3-2 loss to Houston Baptist University in the championship match. USD lost by scores of 25-12, 23-25, 22-25, 25-16 and 8-15. The Coyotes finish the season 23-4 overall, which ties the school record for wins in a season. South Dakota was led by All-Tournament team selection, Kathleen Hruska (Sr., Sioux Falls) who had 20 kills and a team high .366 hitting percentage. Hruska was one of three players to record double-digit kills. Kristin Kritenbrink (So., Gretna, NE) was second on the team with 16 kills while Laura Slagter (Sr., Roseville, MN) had a double-double performance of 10 kills and a team-high 28 digs. Heather Hult (Sr., Davis) added eight kills. Gina Baldwin (RJr., Mitchell) also had a double-double performance of 42 set assist and 17 digs. On defense, seniors Amber Kobus (Sr., Columbus, NE) and Gabi Jarchow (Sr., Lincoln, NE) combined for 33 digs as Kobus tallied 21 and Jarchow had 12. Kobus finished her career surpassing the 2,000 dig mark as she now has 2,019 career digs. Despite having a team hitting percentage of .194 and holding Houston Baptist to a .129 hitting percentage, the Coyotes fell in their last match of the 2008 season.