Huskies Take Down South Dakota in Residence Opener

STORRS, Conn.- UConn volleyball defeated South Dakota on Thursday night time in 4 units (26-24, 25-21, 25-27, 25-23) on the UConn Volleyball Center. 

Emma Werkmeister took management early with three kills and two aces to place UConn up 10-7. The Coyotes fought again with three straight factors to knot the rating at 12-12, pulling forward on the first media timeout following an ace from Kamryn Farris. Audrey Rome pulled the Huskies degree at 17-all with a kill and a block. Ava Ball chipped in two kills for South Dakota, giving the guests the lead at 20-18, however kills from Werkmeister, Jess Perry, and a mixed block from Werkmeister and Anna Herman evened the rating once more at 22-22. Perry introduced the Huskies to set level in an intense first set, with Brenna Wyman closing out the set for UConn, 26-24.

UConn jumped forward 6-3 within the second set following two kills and a loud block from Rome. The hosts maintained their benefit all through the body, as Herman and Werkmeister mixed for a rejection to increase the UConn result in 15-10. The service line continued to be the story all through the match, with McKenna Brand and Wyman firing in aces to maintain the Huskies in entrance 20-16. South Dakota secured 4 of the next 5 factors to degree the set at 21-21, however two consecutive clutch aces from Isabella Suhy lifted the hosts to a 2-0 lead, taking the second body 25-21.

South Dakota strung collectively two consecutive blocks to take an early 7-5 lead within the third. However, Werkmeister took over for the Huskies, with three aces in speedy succession to spice up the hosts in entrance 11-7 to ignite a raucous UConn crowd. The visiting Coyotes responded, preventing all the best way again to take a 17-16 lead after a 4-0 run later within the set. UConn answered with six of the subsequent 9 factors out of a timeout, with kills from Perry and Maria placing the Huskies again in entrance 22-20. South Dakota staved off two match factors to tie the rating at 25-25, in the end taking the third body 27-25.

The Coyotes carried over their momentum from the third to take a 4-1 lead within the fourth body. Kills from Herman and Perry introduced the Huskies inside some extent at 6-5. Perry continued to shine for the Huskies with two consecutive kills to get UConn in entrance with a 13-12 lead. The heavyweight duel within the fourth set continued all through, with the perimeters buying and selling factors all through the body, night the rating at 20-20. Rome got here up clutch for the Huskies with two consecutive aces to get UConn in entrance 22-21. South Dakota went up 23-22, however the Huskies wouldn’t be denied of their pursuit of a victory, with Herman and Werkmeister pushing UConn throughout the end line for his or her fourth straight victory to begin the season.  

Hear from the Huskies

“We worked as a team. We knew we had a battle against a great team,” Werkmeister mentioned. “I know my teammates are working so hard to get that ball up there, so I know I have to be there for them like they are there for me.”  

Up Next: The Huskies return to motion tomorrow at 4:30 pm towards Ball State.