This week’s Lots O’ Stuff does not have a sponsor, having pulled out when I was unable to make deadline again.
In this episode it’s all information on area graduates.
Volleyball
Jackson County Central graduate Alaina Wolff and the University of South Dakota volleyball team opened Summit League play with a pair of big wins.
The Coyotes, who were picked to finish second in the conference’s preseason coaches poll, started their league scheduled by hosting the teams picked to finish first and third.
USD opened with a 3-2 win over No. 3 Omaha with Alaina recording 13 digs and one set assist.
On Saturday, she had a season-high 15 digs, one service ace and one set assist in a 3-1 win over No. 1 Denver.
South Dakota is 13-1 overall and has won 13 straight, the second-best win streak in the nation. The lone loss for the Coyotes is to then-No. 4 and currently No. 2 Louisville in their home opener.
USD is at North Dakota State tonight (Tuesday) and South Dakota State Saturday.
JCC graduate Sadie Voss, a freshman at the University of Sioux Falls, had nine kills, 14 digs, six ace serves, one block and one set assist in a 3-2 win at Bemidji State Friday.
She followed that Saturday with eight kills, 12 digs, one service ace, one block and one set assist in a 3-0 win at Minnesota-Crookston.
The Cougars are 9-4 overall and 5-1 in the NSIC. USF is one of five teams at 5-1 tied for second behind 6-0 Wayne State.
Sioux Falls hosts St. Cloud State Friday and Minnesota-Duluth Saturday.
Football
JCC graduate Will Freking is a freshman defensive lineman at St. Olaf College.
He saw action in the Oles’ 38-32 win at Macalaster Saturday night in their MIAC opener and dad tweeted about it:
St. Olaf is 2-1 overall and hosts Augsburg in homecoming game this Saturday.
Cross country
JCC grad Olivia Anderson, a freshman at Minnesota State University, placed 242nd out of 382 runners with a 6k time of 26:52.3 at the Roy Griak Invitational at the Les Bolstad University of Minnesota Golf Course in Falcon Heights.
MSU was seventh of 30 teams in the Maroon Division, which was for Division II, III, and NAIA schools.
Fairmont graduate Hannah Neusch, a sophomore at South Dakota State, was 208th of 224 runners in the Gold Division for Division I teams at the Griak Invite with a time of 25:34.2.
The Jackrabbits were 11th of 20 teams.
Hannah has also been named a Student Athlete Ambassador by Special Olympics Minnesota:
Two area graduates are running cross country at Iowa Central Community College.
JCC graduate Andrew Boyum, a freshman, finished 190th out of 318 finishers runners with an 8K time of 28:13.4 at the Greeno/Dirksen Cross Country Invite at the University of Nebraska.
Martin County West grad Jake Lewis, a sophomore with the Tritons, was 231st in 29:13.9.
Iowa Central placed fifth of 31 teams. The Tritons are ranked second in NJCAA Division I.
Baseball
Fairmont graduate Luke Becker recently completed his season with the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes of the independent Atlantic League.
He the Genomes in eight offensive categories:
Games: 123
At bats: 484
Runs: 107
Hits: 149
Doubles: 30
Triples: 5
Home runs: 23
RBI: 98
Becker’s RBI total was third in the league and he was sixth in home runs.
He had an on-base percentage of .392, slugging percentage of .533, stole 14 bases in 21 attempts, and had an OPS of .925.
The Genomes, a first-year member of the Atlantic League, finished with an overall record of 67-65. They were fourth in the South Division and were four games out of a wildcard playoff berth.