WHO- Denver (3-7, 2-0 Summit League) VS South Dakota State (3-11,1-1), South Dakota (6-6, 0-1)
WHAT- Summit League Play
WHERE- Brookings, S.D.
I Vermillion, S.D.
WHEN- September 28 (6 p.m. MT), September 30 (11 a.m. MT)
SERIES HISTORY VS. SDSU
Thursday marks the 23rd-ever meeting between Denver and South Dakota State. DU is 21-1 in the series with the most recent victory coming as a 3-2 victory in Omaha, Neb.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTH DAKOTA
Denver is 13-12 all-time against South Dakota, including a 9-4 record at home, 3-6 in Vermillion and 1-2 at neutral sites. The most recent victory for the Pios came Oct. 16, 2021 in Hamilton Gymnasium (3-2).
THE PENDERGAST FILE
Pendergast is in her first season in charge of the Pioneers as an NCAA head coach after stints as an assistant coach at UCLA, Oklahoma and Tulsa. In her career as an assistant, Pendergast helped her teams to a 166-104 record, including 103-71 in conference games and 73-41 in home games. In her last three seasons as an assistant at UCLA, the Bruins went 59-25 and 43-17 in the Pac-12.
WATCH LIST
Denver was picked to finish sixth in the Summit League in a vote of the league's coaches before the start of the 2023 season.
Gianna Bartalo and
Cadi Boyer were tabbed as players to watch by the league. The Pios are tied for first place in the Summit League after an undefeated weekend of conference play. Boyer was tabbed as the TicketSmarter Summit League Offensive Performer of the Week after posting 20 kills, nine blocks and six service aces against a pair of North Dakota opponents.
NEWCOMERS
Since Pendergast's hiring in June, the Pioneers have added both assistant coaches and four new student-athletes to round out the 2023 roster in
Kate Perryman,
Briley Decker and
Molly and Emma Mirabelli. Baylor transfer
Cassie Davis was also added in the offseason to bring the newcomer list to five.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for the 2023 volleyball season are on sale now and can be
purchased here.
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