Abby Winkels

CHICAGO, Ill. -- Gina Baldwin had 38 set assists to lead The University of South Dakota volleyball team to a 25-22, 25-15, 25-18 sweep of Chicago State in Great West Conference action Saturday in Chicago.

Baldwin (Sr., Mitchell, S.D.) also had 12 digs for USD (12-14, 6-5 Great West). Bailey Reshel (Fr., Hortonville, Wis.) led US with 11 kills, while Tahnee Reed (So., Pierce, Neb.) had nine and Jenna Hatfield (Sr., Norfolk, Neb.) eight. Abby Winkels (Fr., Watertown, S.D.), seeing her most extensive playing time of the season, took advantage with a career-high seven kills.

Chicago State (0-23, 0-11 GWC) battled the Coyotes tough in the opening set, holding an 18-17 lead at one point. However, consecutive kills by Winkels pushed USD ahead 19-18.

The Cougars held a 22-21 lead before USD responded with the final four points of the game. Hatfield and Reshel had kills, while Baldwin’s service ace finished off a 25-22 Coyote first-set win.

The second set was tied at 8-8 before USD broke open a comfortable lead with an 11-2 run. Reed keyed that stretch with three kills, while Reshel and Taylor Russell (Fr., Council Bluffs, Iowa) had two each.

The Coyotes were never threatened after that spurt in rolling to a 25-15 win.

The third set followed a similar pattern as the score was tied at 9-9 before USD answered with a decisive 10-0 run to take a commanding 19-9 lead. Hatfield had four straight kills to start the run, while Reshel added two.

USD rolled to the 25-18 win to complete the sweep.
The Coyotes hit .227 for the match, compared to .089 for the Cougars.

Mallory Mork (Fr., Sac City, Iowa) had a match-high 13 digs for USD. Russell finished with five kills and led with three block assists. Jolene Slagter (Jr., Roseville, Minn.), Baldwin and Hatfield had two service aces each.

The Coyotes get back into action on Monday, Nov. 9 at home against Drake. The match, which begins at 6 p.m. at the DakotaDome, is USD’s home finale and will also be Senior Day.