SDSU BEATS ILLINOIS IN SEASON OPENER

Friday, August 29

Cedar Falls, Iowa

1:00 p.m.

South Dakota State University

1-0,0-0Summit League

Illinois

0-1,0-0Big Ten

South Dakota St.

Illinois

Photo by: UNI Athletics

8/29/2025 6:19:00 PM | Women's Volleyball

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The South Dakota State volleyball team opened the season with a 3-1 victory over the Big Ten's Illinois Friday afternoon at the McLeod Center.

Set scores against the Fighting Illini went 25-23, 25-22, 23-25, 25-20. The contest featured 29 ties and 14 lead changes.

The Jackrabbit victory was the result of an all-around effort as four players finished with at least eight kills and five Jacks had at least eight digs. SDSU hit .270 for the match and out-blocked Illinois 11-5

Junior outside Sylvie Zgonc led all players with 18 kills on the afternoon to go with eight digs and a pair of ace serves. Hannah Klein, a freshman tallied 13 kills while hitting .323. Her 13 kills is the most by a Jackrabbit freshman in a season opener since 2008 (Ellyce Younger vs. Southeast Missouri, 13 kills). Madison Burr was also in double figures with 12 kills and notched three blocks and two digs.

Rylee Martin dished 41 assists for SDSU, her career high for a four-set match. Martin added 12 digs, three kills and two blocks.

On the defensive end, Rachel Wieber paced the Jackrabbits with 16 digs. Libero Joslyn Richardson added 13 and posted career highs in assists (eight) and aces (four).

Sydni Schetnan took part in seven blocks (six assists, one solo). The redshirt senior also contributed eight kills with no errors at a .444 clip. Annalee Ventling-Brown had five kills and four blocks assists.

Illinois was led by 15 kills from Taylor de Boer. Sioux Falls native Taryn Kirsch recorded 16 digs, the second-most for the Illini.

Set one: Neither team was able to gain much separation in the opening set. Illinois was the first team to lead by more than two points when it notched an ace to go up 16-13. The Illini led 18-15 before a four-point run that included consecutive Joslyn Richardson aces pushed the Jackrabbits ahead, 19-18. Kills from Sylvie Zgonc and Hannah Klein made it 22-21 for SDSU. Illinois regained the lead following an SDSU service error and attack error, forcing a Jackrabbit timeout down 22-23. The Jacks put together a three-point run out of the break to win the set with a kill and ace from Madison Burr and a kill by Klein. Burr and Zgonc had four kills apiece in the first set and Klein and Sydni Schetnan each had three.

Set two: A 5-0 stretch that included two Burr kills and a Zgonc ace gave the Jackrabbits an 8-5 lead in set two. Maggie Meister put down an ace that faced an Illinois timeout at 13-8. Illinois scored four straight to come back within one of SDSU at 16-15. The sides went back-and-forth from there as SDSU held off Illinois the rest of the way.

Set three: Despite SDSU jumping out a 10-0 lead to start the third set, Illinois won the third, 25-23. Strong serving from Richardson and four unforced Illinois errors helped the Jacks during the stretch. Illinois made quick work of its comeback, taking the lead at 15-14. SDSU regained the lead by winning five of the next six points and forced an Illini timeout at 19-16. Illinois battled back and extended the match with a 25-23 win.

Set four: Illinois led early in set four, but the Jackrabbits eventually took the lead at 12-11 following a kill and then a block from Annalee Ventling-Brown. Klein notched two kills during a 5-0 stretch to extend SDSU's lead at 20-14. Zgonc ended the match with back-to-back kills.

NOTES

SDSU is now 1-1 all-time against Illinois.
SDSU's win is the program's first against a Big Ten team and third against a power conference opponent in the Division I era (first since 2006).

UP NEXT
The Jackrabbits take on RV Northern Iowa Saturday evening in Cedar Falls.

-GoJacks.com