Best Moments in Sports

Here are what the editors thought were the biggest moments in USD sports this year. It started with securing a comeback Dakota Days victory with a second-string quarterback. Then volleyball defended their Summit League title and track and field won both the men’s and women’s championships. Photos by The Volante photographers: Sydney Johnson and Adam Pearson.

Oct.

The Coyotes hosted the Southern Illinois Salukis in the 105th Dakota Days’ game. With 2:43 left in the second quarter and down 21-7, USD benched starting sophomore quarterback Carson Camp and brought in redshirt freshman and Iowa State transfer Aidan Bouman who led the team to a field goal on his first possession. Bouman and the Coyotes rallied in the second half, winning the game 27-24 after a game winning field goal in the final minutes.

Nov. 07

On April 11, 2022, Kayla Karius was named as the next head coach of South Dakota’s women’s basketball team after the departure of Dawn Plitzuweit. Fast forward five months, Karius made her debut on the sidelines as the head coach of the Coyotes. The Coyotes won Karius’ first game at the helm, 106-41, over the Midland Warriors.

Nov.

Like Karius, head coach of the men’s basketball team Eric Peterson was also victorious in his coaching debut in Vermillion, as the Coyotes rallied in the second half to defeat the Lipscomb Bison 85-77. Redshirt sophomore A.J. Plitzuweit returned to the Sanford Coyotes Sports Center for the first time since his injury in 2021 and scored 33 points in the win. Nov.

After a 14-58 loss in the season finale to Northern Iowa and missing out on the playoffs, USD’s Athletic Director David Herbster immediately following the game, announced in the post-game press conference that football head coach Bob Nielson will remain the coach for the “foreseeable future.” As head coach of the Coyotes, Nielson has an overall record of 28-42.

Over Thanksgiving break, the Coyote volleyball team won their third straight Summit League Tournament Title in a championship rematch against the Omaha Mavericks. This was the Coyotes’ fourth title in the last five years. Three Coyotes were named on the all-tournament team: freshman setter Madi Wooden, sophomore outside hitter Kylen Sealock and tournament MVP junior outside hitter Elizabeth Juhnke.

The win over the Mavericks sent the volleyball team dancing into the NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball Tournament. South Dakota went on to play No. 23 Houston in the first round. After going down two sets early, the Coyotes railed back as they forced a fifth set but fell just short to end their 2022 season.

Nov. 26

Volleyball Claims

Fourth Title in Five Years

Dec. 02

Volleyball Wins

First Set in NCAA

Feb. 14

The Coyotes officially launched GoYotes TV as the men’s basketball team hosted the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. USD partnered with 13 cable providers across South Dakota to broadcast athletics and other events around campus.

GoYotes TV Goes

Live Against North Dakota

For the first time in program history, South Dakota swept the Indoor Track and Field men’s and women’s Championships. Sophomore distance runner Abirelle Jirele was named as the Summit League Track MVP as she scored 21 points through three events. Junior sprinter Dylan Kautz tied for the men’s MVP but lost the tiebreaker.

Feb. 25-26

Track and Field Sweeps Championships

Following the Summit League Championship victory, South Dakota sent four athletes to the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. The Summit League Champion, sophomore Marleen Mulla, led with a third place finish in polevault, followed by junior Gen Hirata finished in eighth and sophomore Cassidy Mooneyhan placed 14 in the event. Sophomore Danii Anglin finished in 14 in the women’s high jump. Mulla and Girata received All-American honors as Mooneyhan and Anglin were named second-team All-Americans.

March 10-11