BROOKINGS, S.D. - Playing in South Dakota State's new First Bank and Trust Arena for the first time, the Omaha Mavericks dropped their first Summit League match of the season to the unbeaten Jackrabbits (25-18, 25-21, 25-21).
For the Mavericks (5-9, 3-1), graduate student
McKenna Ruch reached a milestone, picking up her 1,000th career kill just moments into the opening set, putting Omaha up 7-5. The Millard North High School product is the 23rd woman to reach 1,000 career kills for Omaha. Teammate
Shayla McCormick crossed that mark earlier this season. McKenna finished with 11 kills and six blocks, McCormick had five kills and seven digs, and
Kali Jurgensmeier had 11 kills and a block.
The Mavericks dropped the opening set to SDSU (RV) for the first time in the series dating back to 2016. The Jackrabbits (15-0, 4-0) stayed disciplined in a set that saw them deliver a .417 hitting percentage, compared to Omaha's .235.
Omaha tightened their play to start the second set, taking a five point lead at 12-7 on
Ivy Leuck's service ace. It was the largest lead of the set for either team. SDSU finished the first two sets on impressive runs, scoring six straight to take the first set and five of the last six and three in a row to seal the second set, 25-21.
Trailing by six midway through the third set, the Mavericks reeled off four straight points behind their front line to pull within two at 18-16. Jurgensmeier and Ruch combined for a block, with Ruck coming up with a solo and a kill in the run. SDSU finished off the match 25-21.
Omaha had not been swept by a Summit League foe since falling to South Dakota in the 2022 conference tournament final (11/26/22) and hadn't been swept in a regular season league game since SDSU in 2021 (3/6/21).
The Jackrabbits are one of two remaining unbeaten teams in NCAA DI this year. The nation's top ranked team the University of Pittsburgh is 15-0.
The Mavericks return to Baxter Arena to host North Dakota State on Saturday, October 12th at 6 p.m. CT.
Remaining Mavericks matches are televised on the Summit League Network. Tickets are available at
OMavs.com.
