SIOUX FALLS -- The University of Sioux Falls Volleyball Team is looking forward to the fall 2021 season after a hard working spring season which followed a canceled 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to new USF Head Coach Dan Mathews, the Cougars have had a solid spring practice session as they have integrated a new system. And, he has noticed the dedication and commitment of a group that includes a mix of veterans and newcomers.

"When I took over I saw that we had two obvious things - a hard-working team in the classroom and on the volleyball court," said Mathews, a former professional volleyball player and All-American at The Ohio State University, who came to USF after leading both the Cardinal Stritch women's and men's volleyball programs in Milwaukee, Wisc., over the past four plus seasons. In 2018, he was the NAIA Men's Volleyball National Coach of the Year as selected by the American Volleyball Coaches Association.

"I implemented some small changes that takes time to learn and adjust to. But I think we have made incredible progress through this season so far," said Mathews, who is assisted by Assistant Coach Mariah McPartland.

As the Cougars prepare for the 2021 season, they will return a full squad, as well as some new additions, who are all eager to get back out onto the court and compete again. It will be a team led by senior setter Krista Goerger, junior middle blocker Kenzie Byers, junior defensive specialist TiaRose Nagami and junior outside hitter Averey Yaksich among several others, who recorded a 17-11 record and earned the program's first national ranking in the AVCA in 2019. Goerger, who was the NSIC Elite 18 Award winner, is a three-time Academic All-NSIC performer, who has established a school record with 2,397 career set assists over her 78 matches. She also has the program's two top marks for set assists average of 10.37 in 2019 and 10.36 in 2018.

"It's been fun but it's been a challenge learning a new system with a new coach. I am just glad to be back on the court with my team," said Byers, a Goodyear, Ariz., native, who is focused on the fall and putting together a memorable season in one of the elite leagues in NCAA DII - Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. During her career at USF, Byers has 240 kills and a .266 kill percentage and stands ninth in career kills per set at 1.95 in USF's DII history with the sixth-best blocks per set (.65) total.

Yaksich of Omaha, Neb., who was named All-NSIC in 2019 when USF won 20 matches for the first time at the DII level, is another USF standout ready to get back on the court and play a sport she loves.

"I'm excited to get to fall and start competing again," said Yaksich, who played all but one set for USF in 2018 before missing most of 2019 due to injury. "We haven't competed in such a long time; we're all really looking forward to that," said Yaksich, who recorded 298 kills in 2018 or 2.68 kills per set on 900 attacks and had 237 digs which ranked third on USF's squad. In the DII era, she ranks 10th in kills with 519, fifth in kills per set at 2.51 and sixth in points per set at 2.99.

TiaRose Nagami, a junior defensive specialist from Pearl City, Hawaii, agreed the team has worked through some challenges this spring but  are looking to the fall with optimism. "Things have gone pretty good for us," said Nagami, who was named Academic All-NSIC in 2019. "We had to learn a new system but we worked through it and things were really good this spring."

Mathews understands there will be pressure on the team once they hit the floor for real competition and not just practice. Not only do they play in one of the best DII leaves but they have been away from competition for awhile. Still, he said, the team has unwavering optimism which will make a big difference as they look forward to the start of practice and then the season opener in early September. 

"I'm sure there will be some nerves and some jitters," said Mathews. "For some of these players it's been over two years since they've played a match, but I think everyone will be excited and thankful to be back out on the court," he said. 

"It's such a special time to be able to come back together as a team and play the sport that we love," said Mathews, who just took over the helm of the program in January. "I know as a coaching staff, we're really excited to be able to coach this sport that we love."

The Cougars will begin their season on the road with two matches at the Colorado School of Mines September 3-4 in Golden, Colo., and two matches at Pittsburg State Sep. 10-11 in Pittsburg, Kan. From there, they will begin their NSIC season with a match at Minnesota Crookston on September 17. USF's first home match will be Friday, Sep. 24 at 6 pm when they will host Minnesota Duluth in the Stewart Center.