South Dakota began its first Summit League Commissioner’s Cup title defense the same way it did en route to earning the elusive cup a season ago, on top of the standings through the Fall Championships.
The Coyotes secured the top spot after the fall-stretch by collecting 25.5 points between their men’s and women’s programs through the first four Championships of the 2019-20 academic year.
South Dakota is also first in the Dr. Helen Smiley Women’s All-Sports Award Standings with 20.5 points, while South Dakota State is leading the Dr. William Steinbrecher Men’s All-Sports Award Standings with 7.0 points.
The Coyotes built their lead in the fall thanks to a first-place finish in volleyball – the first outright title in program history, a second-place finish from the women’s cross country team, and a third-place finish from the men’s cross country team. South Dakota also got 4.5 points from its soccer team to take the lead in the women’s standings.
South Dakota State holds a half-point on Oral Roberts in the men’s standings. The Jackrabbits got all seven of their points on the men’s side from the cross country team, who set a Summit League Championship record by having the top five finishers from the same squad.
