Laura Slagter had 16 kills and 15 digs in the Coyotes' 3-1 win over UND Saturday.

VERMILLION, S.D. – The University of South Dakota volleyball team earned its 20th win of the 2008 season Saturday with a 23-25, 25-22, 25-20, 25-21 victory over North Dakota at the DakotaDome in Vermillion, S.D.

The victory helped the Coyotes (20-3) reach the 20-win plateau for a second straight year, and for the second time in the program’s history.

Kristen Kritenbrink (So., Gretna, Neb.) led the Coyotes with 17 kills.

Fittingly, on Senior Day, it was the seniors who shined for the Coyotes. Laura Slagter (Sr., Roseville, Minn.) had a solid all-around match for USD. She had 16 kills, hitting .300, to go with 15 digs and two assisted blocks. Heather Hult (Sr., Davis, S.D.) hit a team-best .375 for the match as she collected 11 kills. Kathleen Hruska (Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) added 11 kills and three assisted blocks for the Coyotes, who erased an early 1-0 deficit in the match.

Amber Kobus (Sr., Columbus, Neb.) had 23 digs for USD, while Gabi Jarchow (Sr., Lincoln, Neb.) added 16. Jarchow also had a team-high with two service aces.

Gina Baldwin (RJr., Mitchell, S.D.) paced the Coyotes with 37 set assists to go along with five kills, while Jolene Slagter (So., Roseville, Minn.) added 14 set assists.

USD finished with 62 kills as a team, compared to 50 for UND. The Coyotes hit .192 in the match, compared to .142 for USD.

The Coyotes also wrapped up a perfect 9-0 season record at the DakotaDome with Saturday’s win.
USD returns to action Saturday, Nov. 8 when it will face UND again. The match will begin at 2 p.m. in Grand Forks, N.D.

Notes: The 20 wins are the most ever for a first-year Coyote volleyball coach. Matt Houk is in his first season as USD’s head coach…it was USD’s second win over UND this season. The Coyotes won a five-game match in Seattle, Wash., on Oct. 11…it marked the final home match for Coyote seniors Laura Slagter, Kobus, Hruska, Jarchow and Hult.