SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Four members of the South Dakota State volleyball program were recognized by the Summit League Saturday in the conference’s year-end awards, with three picking up individual accolades.
Outside hitter Sylvie Zgonc was selected as the Summit League Player of the Year, Madison Burr was tabbed Freshman of the Year and Dan Georgalas was named Coach of the Year. Sydni Schetnan landed on the All-League First Team.
Zgonc, who is just the second Jackrabbit to claim the league’s top honor, ranked first in the Summit League in kills per set (4.42) total kills (265), points (295) and points per set (4.92) during the 16-game league slate. The Hartford, Wis. native also ranked in the top five in total attacks with 683.
The Jackrabbit sophomore is the third player in Summit League history to win Freshman of the Year accolades then follow that up with Player of the Year honors the following season. She is the first player to achieve the feat since 2008-2009 when Chrissy Knuth did the same for North Dakota State.
Burr made it two consecutive years that a Jackrabbit claimed Freshman of the Year honors. The SDSU newcomer helped lead the Jacks’ defensive efforts as she ranked sixth in total blocks (64) and sixth in the league in blocks per set (1.07). The Goodhue, Minn., native was also a force offensively as she hit .397 with 121 total kills. She was also deemed honorable mention all-League.
Georgalas secured his first Coach of the Year award in five seasons as a head coach. The honor is the first by a Jackrabbit head coach since Andrew Palileo claimed the honor in 2007. He guided the Jackrabbits to their first Summit League regular season title in 17 seasons after they were projected to finish sixth in the preseason coaches’ poll. South Dakota State only dropped one match during the regular season to take a 26-1 overall record in the Summit League Volleyball Championship.
Schetnan, a redshirt junior, hit .386 in Summit action, ranking third, and tallied 1.15 blocks per set, which was fourth. Her 2.42 kills per set ranked second for the Jackrabbits behind Zgonc.
Individual Awards
Player of the Year
Sylvie Zgonc, South Dakota State
Defensive Player of the Year
Kamryn Farris, South Dakota
Setter of the Year
Morgan Kealy, St. Thomas
Freshman of the Year
Madison Burr, South Dakota State
Coach of the Year
Dan Georgalas, South Dakota State
2024 All-Summit League Volleyball Team
First Team
Cassie Davis, Denver, OH
Kaia Dunford, Kansas City, OH
Kamryn Farris, South Dakota, DS
Lauren Galvin, St. Thomas, OH
Ali Hinze, North Dakota State, OH
Kali Jurgensmeier, Omaha, OH
Morgan Kealy, St. Thomas, S
McKenna Ruch, Omaha, MB
Sydni Schetnan, South Dakota State, MB
Kylen Sealock, South Dakota, OH
Megan Wetter, St. Thomas, MB
Sylvie Zgonc, South Dakota State, OH
Honorable Mention
Madison Burr, South Dakota State, MB
Shayla McCormick, Omaha, OH
Molly Mirabelli, Denver, MB
Tezra Rudzitis, St. Thomas OH/RS
Avery Van Hook, South Dakota, S
Ella Voegele, St. Thomas, DS/L
Freshman Team
Morgan Bode, South Dakota, MB
Madison Burr, South Dakota State, MB
Vanessa Imoh, North Dakota, OH/RS
Jamia Johnson, Denver, OH
Lauren Medeck, South Dakota, OH
Anzley Rinard, Oral Roberts, OH
Addie Schmotzer, St. Thomas, MB