Creighton Dominates South Dakota to Advance in NCAA Volleyball Tournament

The Creighton Bluejays delivered a commanding performance in the first round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament, sweeping the South Dakota Coyotes in straight sets (25-10, 25-17, 25-14) on Thursday night. Playing in front of a raucous crowd of 2,517 at Sokol Arena, the second-seeded Bluejays extended their winning streak to 23 matches and improved their […]

Dec 6, 2024 - 15:30
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Creighton Dominates South Dakota to Advance in NCAA Volleyball Tournament

The Creighton Bluejays delivered a commanding performance in the first round of the NCAA Volleyball Tournament, sweeping the South Dakota Coyotes in straight sets (25-10, 25-17, 25-14) on Thursday night. Playing in front of a raucous crowd of 2,517 at Sokol Arena, the second-seeded Bluejays extended their winning streak to 23 matches and improved their season record to an impressive 30-2.

Creighton now advances to face Ole Miss in the second round on Friday at 7 PM.

Creighton Cruises Past South Dakota

Creighton wasted no time asserting their dominance in the opening set, jumping out to a 9-1 lead. Their aggressive play continued as they maintained at least a 10-point advantage throughout the set. Norah Sis played a key role, with one of her three kills in the first set helping her surpass Leah Ratzlaff to claim second place on Creighton’s all-time kills leaderboard. Sis now has 1,631 career kills, trailing only Jaali Winters with 1,843.

Sis acknowledged the program’s growth and inspiration from past players, saying, “Jaali came to one of our practices and really encouraged us. She told us how much she believes in us and has seen this program grow.”

The set concluded with a Sis kill, giving Creighton a decisive 25-10 win. Ava Martin contributed heavily with six kills in the set.

Maintaining Momentum

The Coyotes managed to stay competitive in the second set, briefly leading 3-0. However, Creighton quickly regained control, taking a 9-8 lead after a net violation by South Dakota. Building on their momentum, the Bluejays created an 18-12 cushion, forcing South Dakota head coach Leanne Williamson to use her final timeout.

Despite a spirited effort from the Coyotes, Creighton maintained their dominance. The set ended with a decisive kill by Kendra Wait, giving the Bluejays a 25-17 victory. After two sets, Creighton led South Dakota 38-10 in kills, highlighting their offensive superiority.

Closing Out in Style

Sensing victory, Creighton came out strong in the third set with an 8-2 lead. While South Dakota attempted a late 6-0 run, it was not enough to shift the momentum. The Bluejays sealed their win with a kill by Sis and a combined block from Sis and Kiara Reinhardt, taking the final set 25-14.

Ava Martin led the Bluejays with 13 kills, while Sis added 11. Wait orchestrated the offense masterfully, tallying 35 assists. On the opposing side, Kylen Sealock, a former standout at Lincoln Pius X, led South Dakota with nine kills.

South Dakota head coach Williamson praised Creighton, saying, “Set one got away from us, and we struggled to find our rhythm. But Creighton is an incredible team, and it was exciting to compete against one of the best in the country.”

Ole Miss Awaits Creighton in Round Two

Creighton’s next opponent, Ole Miss, advanced after a thrilling five-set win over Florida State earlier on Thursday. The Rebels overcame the 21st-ranked Seminoles (20-25, 25-16, 23-25, 27-25, 15-13) in an intense match that lasted five sets.

Trailing 2-1 in sets, Ole Miss rallied in the fourth set, erasing a Florida State match point at 25-24 and scoring the final three points to force a fifth set. In the decisive set, Ole Miss maintained control and clinched the victory with a kill from Payton Brgoch, who led the Rebels with 19 kills.

Other key contributors for Ole Miss included Nia Washington with 15 kills, and Shayla Meyer and Sasha Ratliff, who added 13 kills each. Meyer also led the team with nine digs.

The Rebels (18-11) now prepare to face the Bluejays on Friday in the second round. Creighton will look to continue their impressive run and punch their ticket to the Sweet 16.

The Bluejays’ dominant performance against South Dakota showcased their depth, offensive firepower, and ability to execute under pressure. As they prepare for a tougher test against Ole Miss, Creighton appears poised to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament, solidifying their status as one of the nation’s elite programs.