Sept. 1, 2000

SIOUX CITY, Iowa - The University of South Dakota women's volleyball team improved their record to 4-3 on the season by defeating Winona State University in three games (15-11, 15-13, 15-10) at the Morningside College Labor Day Volleyball Tournament on Friday evening. With the win, first-year head coach Darin Weber's squad has already won as many matches as they did during the entire 1999 season.

The Coyotes, who earlier on Friday fell to Quincy University three games to one (15-13, 5-15, 13-15, 15-17), are 1-1 in the tournament and play Wayne State College at 8 AM Saturday morning at Allee Gym. The Coyotes will play Morningside College at noon on Saturday.

The Coyotes were led by junior Nicole Johnson of Slayton, Minn., who had a career-high 15 kills on 25 total attacks for a hitting percentage of .560. Freshman Sarah Vollertson of Palmyra, Neb. continued her outstanding play with 13 kills on 28 total attacks for a .393 hitting percentage. In the past three games, Vollertson has recorded 42 kills (14 per game). Johnson and freshman Becky Olson of Norfolk, Neb. had four block assists and added nine kills on 23 total attacks while sophomore Amber Abrams of Rapid City, S.D. added nine kills on 19 total attacks and had nine defensive digs. Sophomore Leslie Fusinato of Spring Valley, Ill. led USD with 10 defensive digs and recorded four serve aces. Freshman Angela Golesh of Lakewood, Colo. led the Coyotes with 36 set assists. Overall, the Coyotes recorded 56 kills in 126 total attacks for a .294 hitting percentage. USD had 44 set assists, seven serve aces, 53 defensive digs and six team blocks.

Lisa Schlaak led Winona State with 12 kills on 31 total attacks. They converted 40 kills on 120 total attacks for a .192 hitting percentage.

In an earlier match on Friday against Quincy University, Vollertson led USD with career-high 16 kills on 38 attacks for a .289 hitting percentage. She also had career-high seven solo blocks and two block assists. The Coyotes, who got 28 assists from Katie Wancho of Reddick, Ill., recorded 41 kills on 147 total attacks for a .129 hitting percentage.

The Coyotes also got nine kills on 26 total attacks from Abrams, who also contributed 14 defensive digs. Fusinato had 8 kills on 31 total attacks and had five defensive digs. Olson added 14 defensive digs. Against Quincy, the Coyotes recorded 37 set assists, 59 defensive digs and recorded 16 team blocks.

Quincy had 68 kills on 191 total attacks for a .120 hitting percentage. They added 77 defensive digs and 64 set assists. Quincy was led by Chris Shimkus with 21 kills on 44 total attacks and 23 defensive digs. Brenda Walters had 61 set assists.