South Dakota
Groft has compiled a 665-93 record in 22 seasons as Northwestern’s head coach
RAPID CITY — Northwestern High School volleyball coach Nora Groft is the newest member of the South Dakota Volleyball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Groft, who has spent 28 years in the Northwestern program and led the Wildcats to a 665-93 record in 22 seasons as head coach, was inducted Saturday night during the state high school volleyball tournament in Rapid City. She received her award from former Northwestern head coach and fellow SDVBCA Hall of Fame member Kathy Graves.
The Wildcats have won nine state championships (2020, 2019, 2017, 2016, 2011, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003), two runner-up finishes (2018, 2008), and two consolati 022, 2002) during Groft’s tenure.
A 2018 National Volleyball Coach of the Year Finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association, Groft received the South Dakota Volleyball Coach of the Year award in 2017 and 2006, the South Dakota Sportswriters Association Girls’ Prep Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2017, the Aberdeen American News Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2016, and the AVCA Region 7 Volleyball Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2019. She received Region I Coach of the Year honors in 2017, 2016, 2008, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002 and served as the North All-Star head coach in 2017 and 2008 and assistant coach in 2019 and 2005.
The Wildcats received the Adrenaline Volleyball Team of the Year Award in 2020 and the South Dakota Sportswriters Association Prep Girls Team of the Year in 2019 when her team went undefeated, 41-0.
Groft is past president of the South Dakota Volleyball Coaches Association, served two terms as the Class B Representative on the South Dakota High School Activities Association Volleyball Advisory Committee, and currently serves on the In and Out-of-Season Advisory Committee.
Prior to being head coach, Groft served as an assistant coach for six years Graves, winning state championships in 2001, 2000, and 1999. Groft received Class B Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2001 and 2000.
A former Wildcat setter, Groft played on the first Northwestern volleyball team to advance to the state tournament and earned first-team all-state honors in 1992.
Groft teaches English and serves as athletic director at Northwestern High School, earning her CAA in 2023. She and her husband, James, have four grown children: Isaac, Peyton, Madalyn and Samuel.
The Western Illinois Leathernecks (3-5) host the South Dakota Coyotes (5-3) after winning three straight home games. The Leathernecks are favored by only 1.5 points in the contest, which tips at 2:00 PM ET on Sunday, December 3, 2023. The matchup’s over/under is set at 145.5.
Place your bets on any college basketball matchup at BetMGM, and sign up with our link for a first-time deposit bonus!
South Dakota vs. Western Illinois Odds & Info
- Date: Sunday, December 3, 2023
- Time: 2:00 PM ET
- TV: ESPN+
- Live Stream: Watch this game on ESPN+
- Where: Macomb, Illinois
- Venue: Western Hall
Watch live college basketball games from all over the country, plus ESPN originals and more NCAA hoops content on ESPN+!
| Favorite | Spread | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|
| Western Illinois | -1.5 | 145.5 |
Sportsbook Promo Codes
Coyotes Betting Records & Stats
- South Dakota has combined with its opponent to score more than 145.5 points only twice this season.
- South Dakota has a 152.0-point average over/under in its contests this season, 6.5 more points than this game’s total.
- South Dakota is 2-2-0 against the spread this year.
- Western Illinois (2-4-0 ATS) has covered the spread 33.3% of the time, 16.7% less often than South Dakota (2-2-0) this season.
South Dakota vs. Western Illinois Over/Under Stats
| Games Over 145.5 | % of Games Over 145.5 | Average PPG | Combined Average PPG | Average Opponent PPG | Combined Average Opponent PPG | Average Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Illinois | 2 | 33.3% | 70.3 | 152.9 | 71.9 | 141.3 | 142.2 |
| South Dakota | 2 | 50% | 82.6 | 152.9 | 69.4 | 141.3 | 146.8 |
Get tickets for any college basketball game this season at Ticketmaster!
Additional South Dakota Insights & Trends
- The Coyotes’ 82.6 points per game are 10.7 more points than the 71.9 the Leathernecks allow to opponents.
- When it scores more than 71.9 points, South Dakota is 1-1 against the spread and 5-1 overall.
Bet on this or any college basketball matchup at BetMGM
South Dakota vs. Western Illinois Betting Splits
| ATS Record | ATS Record Against 1.5+ Point Spread | Over/Under Record (O-U-P) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Illinois | 2-4-0 | 1-0 | 2-4-0 |
| South Dakota | 2-2-0 | 1-1 | 2-2-0 |
South Dakota vs. Western Illinois Home/Away Splits (Last Season)
| Western Illinois | South Dakota | |
|---|---|---|
| 10-4 | Home Record | 8-6 |
| 5-9 | Away Record | 2-11 |
| 7-4-0 | Home ATS Record | 7-4-0 |
| 7-7-0 | Away ATS Record | 3-9-0 |
| 80.4 | Points Scored Per Game (Home) | 78.3 |
| 66.1 | Points Scored Per Game (Away) | 61.5 |
| 8-3-0 | Over-Under-Push Record (Home) | 6-5-0 |
| 5-9-0 | Over-Under-Push Record (Away) | 7-5-0 |
Rep your team with officially licensed college basketball gear! Head to Fanatics to find jerseys, shirts, and much more.
Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER.
© 2023 Data Skrive. All rights reserved.
No. 1 South Dakota State won its 26th straight game Saturday, beating Mercer 41-0 in the second round of the FCS playoffs. The Jackrabbits are the defending national champions and haven’t lost since dropping a 7-3 decision to Iowa on Sept. 3, 2022.
South Dakota State was one of five seeded teams to win Saturday in the six games that have been completed. No. 6 Montana State was the only seeded team to lose, dropping a 35-34 decision to North Dakota State.
Saturday’s other scores: No. 3 South Dakota 34, Sacramento State 24; No. 5 UAlbany 41, Richmond 13; No. 7 Furman 26, Chattanooga 7; No. 8 Villanova 45, Youngstown State 28.
There are two more games to be played today: Delaware at No. 2 Montana at 9 p.m. ET; and Southern Illinois at No. 4 Idaho at 10 p.m. ET.
Saturday’s winners advance to next week’s quarterfinal round.
Hunter Poncius, center, came up with the game-winning block for North Dakota State on Saturday. (Tim Sanger / NDSU Athletics)
Saturday’s highlights
- South Dakota State finished with 571 yards of offense, 346 rushing and 225 passing.
- North Dakota State won its game on a blocked extra point in overtime.
- Furman trailed early 7-0 but scored the final 26 points of its game.
- Richmond outgained UAlbany 314 yards to 311 but lost the turnover battle 3-2.
- South Dakota quarterback Aidan Bouman completed 11 of 16 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns.
- Villanova quarterback Connor Watkins completed passes to eight receivers for 275 yards.
Quarterfinal matchups
After Saturday’s games, there will be eight teams alive in the playoffs. Here are next week’s matchups:
No. 8 Villanova vs. No. 1 South Dakota State
Southern Illinois-No. 4 Idaho winner vs. No. 5 UAlbany
Sacramento State -No. 3 South Dakota winner vs. North Dakota State
Delaware-No. 2 Montana winner vs. No. 7 Furman
(Photo of Isaiah Davis: Zoey Schentzel / South Dakota State Athletics)
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – It’s been arguably the best college football season in South Dakota history with what local schools have accomplished. Two defending national champs trying to go back-to-back with the Northwestern Red Raiders in the NAIA and of course, the Jacks who dominated NDSU in Frisco back in January. The USD Coyotes have gone from 3 wins last year to the #3 seed this year.
Our sports team was in Brookings and Vermillion on Saturday morning to recap the season, interview players, coaches, and fans, and preview an exciting Saturday for South Dakota college football.
Watch the full Road to Frisco road show in the video player above.
Copyright 2023 KSFY. All rights reserved.
NCAA Volleyball Regional Start Times Set
Nevada’s defense sets the tone in romp over Loyola Marymount; Wolf Pack improves to 6-0
N.H. tree workers save jet skier from drowning at Lake Winnipesaukee
2-alarm fire breaks out at housing community in New Jersey
Rivalry Renewed as NM State Suffers 44-Point Loss to UNM – KVIA
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
DeSantis says conservatives won’t be ‘gaslit’ by ‘people who think we’re dumb’ after Newsom debate
Explosion during Catholic mass in Philippines kills three, injures nine
Iran-linked cyberattacks threaten equipment used in U.S. water systems and factories
DeSantis loses another super PAC official, the second in the last 2 weeks to leave his presidential campaign
Major harnessing of trolls shows threat to Hungarian democracy is real
-
Science1 week agoUSC neuroscientist faces scrutiny following allegations of data manipulation
-
Business1 week agoAs most stores close for Thanksgiving, Black Friday may bring the biggest crowds since before COVID
-
Business1 week agoColumn: An exhaustive debunking of the dumbest myths about Social Security
-
Movie Reviews1 week agoMovie Review | Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler shine in latest ‘Hunger Games’ movie
-
Politics1 week agoPope Francis dines with transgender women for Vatican luncheon
-
Politics1 week agoSen Kennedy’s IQ dig at VP Harris sparks backlash from White House, DNC
-
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25110664/Screenshot_2023_11_25_at_9.28.54_AM.png)
Technology1 week agoThe best Black Friday deals you can still get for under $25
-
World1 week agoViolent protests in Dublin after children injured in knife attack