BROOKINGS, S.D. - Omaha volleyball visits Summit League rival South Dakota State in a battle of league unbeatens Thursday night in Brookings, S.D. The match begins at 7 p.m. CT. 

Much like last season when the Mavericks followed a challenging non-league slate with an impressive 12-4 league mark and ultimately a conference tournament title, Omaha's record (5-9, 3-0) is deceiving. SDSU (RV) (14-0, 3-0) is on a historic run of their own this season, their unbeaten ledger making them one of two remaining DI unbeatens in the nation (Pitt).

In winning their first three league matches of the season over North Dakota, St. Thomas and South Dakota, the Mavericks have dropped just one set. Omaha is led by their impressive kill squad of grad student McKenna Ruch (157 kills), junior Kali Jurgensmeier (156) and senior Shayla McCormick (125). Ruch is one shy of joining McCormick in Omaha's 1,000 career kills club. Ruch (1.6 b/s) and Emily Huss (1.4) sit atop the blocks category in conference play thus far.

In the first three league matches so far, Omaha tops the conference in points (18.6 avg/s), opponent hitting percentage (.113), hitting percentage (.273), kills (14.5 avg/s) and blocks (3.1 avg/s). 

The schools have a long and storied history in women's volleyball. Omaha leads the all-time series 39-24 and have claimed the last three meetings, most recently a straight set win at Baxter Arena that earned the Mavericks a share of last season's Summit League regular season title (11/11/2023, 25-21, 25-21, 25-9). 

All Summit League matches are broadcast live on the Summit League Network.

Tickets are on-sale now at OMavs.com/Tix.

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