Minnesota was named the #12 seed and will face Summit League champion South Dakota Friday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at the Maturi Pavilion.
South Dakota (20-9) defeated Omaha in the Summit League title match in three sets to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four years. The Coyotes fought off three match points by beating rival South Dakota State in the semifinals Friday.
South Dakota are coached by eighth-year head coach Leanne Williamsom, who is 163-75 in that time. Williamson also spent five seasons as an assistant under then Coyotes head coach Matt Houk. Houk is currently an assistant coach at Minnesota under Hugh McCutcheon.
Lakeville North product Elizabeth Juhnke is a three-time first-team All-Summit League selection. The junior ranked second in league play in kills per set (4.08) and first in total kills (290) with 212 digs and 33 total blocks.
Madison Harms, a junior from Sergeant Bluff, Iowa, led the Summit League in hitting percentage (.440) while ranking third in blocks per set (1.25) during league play. The two-time first-team Summit League selection also contributed 178 kills, 14 solo and 71 assisted blocks from her middle blocker position.
Madison Jurgens, a senior from O’Dell, Nebraska, earned All-Summit League honorable mention honors for the third time in four seasons. The setter ranked third in Summit League play with 10.86 assists per set while also contributing 29 service aces and 165 digs and 15 total blocks.
Sami Slaughter, a senior from Harrisburg, S.D., ranked 10th in the Summit League and second on the team in kills per set during league play at 2.72. She added 50 digs and 44 total blocks in league play.
This will be the first-meeting ever between South Dakota and Minnesota.
Stanford and Iowa State will face off in the first match on Friday in the Minneapolis region.