DENVER, Colo. – The fourth-seeded Omaha volleyball program secured a four-set win over top-seeded South Dakota Saturday afternoon inside Hamilton Gymnasium.
The Mavericks won 21-25, 28-26, 29-27, 26-24 over the Coyotes.
NOTES
• Omaha advances to The Summit League Championship Final for the first time since 2015.
• The Mavericks handed South Dakota its first loss since Sept. 3.
• Omaha also ended South Dakota's 24-game winning streak.
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Isabella Sade led the way with 17 kills.
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Alexa Blase recorded a career-high 15 kills.
Anna Blaschko also had 15 kills.
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Sami Clarkson almost had a double-double with 52 assists and eight digs.
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Claire Mountjoy recorded 22 digs while
Kenzie Michalek had a career-high 20.
INSIDE SET ONE
Omaha fell into an early 7-4 deficit, but fought back and cut the score to just one (12-11) after an ace by
Courtney Morehead. A block assist later evened the score up at 14-all. Omaha trailed by as many as five in the set, but eventually took its first lead of the game at 15-14 and forced a Coyote timeout. In an intense opening-set, the Coyotes won 25-21.
INSIDE SET TWO
A wild second set fell in the favor of Omaha, 28-26. Once again, Omaha trailed early but three-straight points sparked by a Sade kill tied the score up at 10-all. The Mavericks fell behind 22-21 late in the frame, but a few points later, Mountjoy notched a crucial ace that evened the score at 23-23. South Dakota had the set point in sight up 26-25, but a kill by Blase kept Omaha alive. A kill by Sade and a Michalek ace sealed the second set for Omaha, 28-26.
INSIDE SET THREE
South Dakota sparked a 7-2 lead to open the set. The Mavericks eventually clawed their way back into the match and tied it up at 12-12 on a 5-0 scoring run. Limback blasted a rocket a few points later and gave Omaha its first lead of the set, 15-14. The Omaha run continued as the team led 24-19. A 6-0 South Dakota run gave the Coyotes a 25-24 lead, but answered. USD had the set point on two more occasions, but the Mavericks refused to waiver and found three-straight points for the 29-27 win.
INSIDE SET FOUR
A back-and-fourth set saw four ties, but Omaha never relinquished the lead. A crucial kill by Clarkson gave Omaha a 17-14 lead and forced the Coyotes to use a timeout. Omaha's lead built to four (20-16) after an ace by Clarkson. Omaha eventually built its largest lead of the match at 22-17 after Blase recorded a kill. Two points later, Blaschko's kill put Omaha up 24-21 with the match point in sight. Once again, South Dakota lingered around and went on a run to even it up at 24-all, which forced an Omaha timeout. Out of the break, a kill by Blaschko and a USD attack error sealed the match victory for the Mavericks.
LOOKING AHEAD
Omaha plays in The Summit League Championship final for an opportunity at an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament tomorrow, Nov. 24, at 3 p.m. (CST). Omaha will meet the No. 2 seed Denver for the championship. Links to follow will be available on OMavs.com.
