photo by: Kansas Athletics

KU sophomore London Davis prepares to swing at a ball during the Kansas volleyball team's five-set victory at Kansas State on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 in Manhattan.

Five players tallied at least seven kills and Kansas won a pair of hotly contested sets that went to extra points on its way to a 3-1 home exhibition win over South Dakota on Saturday.

Junior opposite hitter London Davis led the way with 10 kills, closely followed by returnees Caroline Bien and Rhian Swanson and transfers Toyosi Onabanjo (Iowa) and Reagan Cooper (Texas Tech). Camryn Turner, a preseason all-conference selection at setter, posted a double-double for KU with 41 assists and 12 digs.

KU battled its way through an extended first set and eked out a 30-28 win to open its 2023 campaign. The Jayhawks widened their margin with a 25-15 victory in the second frame but saw the Coyotes, the reigning three-time Summit League champions, reverse that result in the third, aided by a .524 hitting percentage, to prolong the match.

KU emerged with the 3-1 victory after weathering 13 ties and five lead changes in a 27-25 fifth set.

Freshman Raegan Burns, earning early opportunities as a defensive specialist, led the Jayhawks with 13 digs in her first appearance at the Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena.

They will now open their season in earnest in Omaha, Nebraska, where they will take on neutral-site opponent Pepperdine on Friday afternoon before taking on the host Mavericks the following night.

The Jayhawks are back home Aug. 31 to take on Purdue in further nonconference action.